Thanksgiving 08 (Carmel, Washington, Monroe: bars, best, oven)

[CoastalMaine]

When I do roasted root veggies, I mix any of these according to what I have on hand..

beets, carrots, turnips, sweet potato, pumpkin, parsnips, onions and garlic cloves. I cut them in chunks, slices, etc. and pour into a large bowl. Toss them with some olive oil and add some fresh rosemary and black pepper. Then I pour it into a casserole and bake for about 1 hour at 425 degrees, turning about every 20 minutes. Yummy!!

[tapestry]

Arrrgh!!! You guys are making me soooo hungry!!

[American girl]

We're driving to Warren, Ohio to have T-day with my dh's family. I'd rather eat turducken than go to Ohio. You know the worst think about turducken is that it starts out with turd

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by genmomto5

Send them here. We won't even notice the increased crowd.

Thanks for the offer though I was really only kidding....in-law type joke. They're actually very nice people, they just like to eat much earlier than we do. We hunt on Thanksgiving so traditionally we always ate dinner right after dark. They always ate at around 2:00PM which screws up the whole day for hunting. We now eat closer to dark, not perfect, though much better.
Compromise!!! It keeps us all happy!

[genmomto5]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Thanks for the offer though I was really only kidding....in-law type joke. They're actually very nice people, they just like to eat much earlier than we do. We hunt on Thanksgiving so traditionally we always ate dinner right after dark. They always ate at around 2:00PM which screws up the whole day for hunting. We now eat closer to dark, not perfect, though much better.
Compromise!!! It keeps us all happy!

Is eating early related to football? We always ate early like that growing up so that the men could watch the game after while the women cleaned up. I think even for the non game watchers eating early can remain a tradition just because that's the way it's always been done.

[island mermaid]

We prefer to gather a little later, around 2PM. We have fun hanging out and munching together and doing stuff with the little ones. We won't eat dinner until around 4 or 5PM. Everyone jumps in and helps clean up. The game will be on in the background. Usually the guitars and harmonicas come out, the wine (or whatever) flows heavily and then the singing and dancing. Lot's of singing - old stuff - classic rock, some Blues (BIL loves playing the Blues). Neighbors join us and bring their guitars and deserts, before you know it - it's just a big party!

Ohhhh..... I'm getting excited!

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by American girl

We're driving to Warren, Ohio to have T-day with my dh's family. I'd rather eat turducken than go to Ohio. You know the worst think about turducken is that it starts out with turd

At least you don't have to live here!!!

[American girl]

Originally Posted by dramamama6685

At least you don't have to live here!!!

The Ohio part is fine. The mother-in-law smokes like a chimney and is the unhappiest person on the planet....and wants you to be too. The sister-in-law could put a whirling dervish to sleep. I'm not a food weenie - or a foodie -but I just can't do sausage gravy and it's cousins. And I have to be away from our pups and kits for a whole week. But this too will pass and I won't have to worry about it for another year or two.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by genmomto5

Is eating early related to football? We always ate early like that growing up so that the men could watch the game after while the women cleaned up. I think even for the non game watchers eating early can remain a tradition just because that's the way it's always been done.

No it has to do with my FIL wanting to eat early then go home and sit on his own couch. He likes to get the family obligations over with quickly!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Fort Lauderdale mermaid

We prefer to gather a little later, around 2PM. We have fun hanging out and munching together and doing stuff with the little ones. We won't eat dinner until around 4 or 5PM. Everyone jumps in and helps clean up. The game will be on in the background. Usually the guitars and harmonicas come out, the wine (or whatever) flows heavily and then the singing and dancing. Lot's of singing - old stuff - classic rock, some Blues (BIL loves playing the Blues). Neighbors join us and bring their guitars and deserts, before you know it - it's just a big party!

Ohhhh..... I'm getting excited!

Now that's fun right there!