WILLARD started going out to everyone’s email boxes today; it takes two days for the whole list to go, and even though you might have just read yourself practically silly, you know there could be a surprise for you here, and of course, there is! ♥ But perhaps we need a little mood music? Here’s a song to dance you down the page; great soundtrack from the movie French Kiss . . .
This is a photo of my heart-shaped Lemon Pepper Tea Biscuits, just out of the oven, still warm, ready for someone to slather them with butter and Cranberry-Orange Marmalade. They are one of the recipes featured in a new cookbook I’m very excited about — it’s from Where Women Cook Magazine, and it’s called CELEBRATE!
I am one of the twenty-eight women featured in this book; honored to be included with such luminaries of the food world as Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman), Angie Dudley (Bakerella) and Molly Wizenberg (Orangette). One of the special things about this book, besides the obvious, is that each woman is pictured doing her thing in her own kitchen; there are tons of wonderful photographs, sixty recipes, and lots of tips for celebrating life, with cooking as the magical ingredient. My chapter is called “Kitchen Table Tea.” The kind of everyday celebration we have in the kitchen with our girlfriends. ♥ Each contributor chose a different theme to focus on.
(Do I like tea, really, or is it just the dishes? That’s the question!) Anyway, I have the first copy (still warm off the press) of CELEBRATIONS that was sent to me here on the island. I’m going to sign it and send it to one of YOU as a Thanksgiving present! Just leave a comment at the bottom of this post, and on Friday we’ll let the RNG (Random Number Generator) pull a name out of our hat and see in what corner of the world this book ends up. But for all of you, my girlfriends, scroll to the bottom of this post, and I’ll give you the recipe for the Lemon Pepper Tea Biscuits. ♫ Do I love you, Oh yes I love you . . . ♪
For me, the Thanksgiving countdown has begun . . . I started making my shopping list this morning . . .
Taking center stage is my grandma’s stuffing, which requires real bread that has to be air-dried for three days. Two days won’t do it. Don’t even think about putting it in the oven to dry. Those are the rules. So, I need to be ready. My ironing board does double duty as drying rack for the bread, spread out on cookie sheets in the pantry.
Plus, right now is gravy-making time; I need it for dinner, but I also need it for leftovers, so I start early and make extra. I learned to make gravy when I was very young, but still tweak it a little bit every year; a little of this a little of that; vermouth? Red wine? Plain this year? Joe always has his family’s 2¢ to add to the pot; sometimes requiring a restraining hand on his pouring arm. Shall we have sage? A teeny bit of cloves perhaps? Perfect gravy is the mark of distinction in our family — no one can describe exactly what makes it perfect, but we sure know it when we taste it!
I’m already done making the butters:
One for each biscuit plate (the baking powder kind). Yum.
I use leaves for place cards at Thanksgiving (as long as there isn’t snow on them!). I made these from rhododendron leaves, which are the perfect size, especially if you have a “Marjorie” coming to dinner, because her whole name fits on one! Plus they’re smooth and flat and don’t break too easily. I pick the leaves the day before and keep them in the fridge so they stay fresh, then write the names on as big as possible with a correction pen (after first practicing on a paper towel!).
OK, so would you like to go to the grocery store with us? This was yesterday!
We’re almost there, I kept thinking the leaf would jump off, but apparently it really wanted to get to the supermarket parking lot, and wasn’t going to give up until we were there!
OK, that’s enough of that. It’s been a red letter week for me, a feature in a new book, and another really nice article in the winter issue of Cape Cod Home Magazine. ♥ You guys must be spreading the word, something crazy is going on; so much to be grateful for. Plus, we have best friends coming from England next week! And to top it off, I already figured out what I’m giving you for Christmas! And I’m excited because I think you’ll like it!
So I am off to the City (that’s Domesticity City of course); I’m taking the day off to play with my house, nurk around in the guest room, organize the pantry, play ball with the new Kitty, hug Girl, kiss Joe, watch old movies, nap, and so on. But before I go, I want to give you that recipe and remind you to leave a comment to enter the drawing for the book — tell us the strangest, most quirky, or favorite thing you ever had at Thanksgiving — for me it’s always the same, Rainbow Jell-O, not very strange, but definitely quirky, and also a favorite. How about you?
LEMON PEPPER TEA BISCUITS
If you want your biscuits to be heart–shaped you will need a miniature muffin pan with hearts! I have this cast-iron one and I love it. This easy quick recipe makes one dozen delectable biscuits.
- 1-3oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 c. butter, softened
- grated zest of one lemon
- 1/2 c. sour cream
- 1 c. self-rising flour, sifted
- 1/3 c. either chopped dried cranberries or currants
- coarsely ground black pepper
- sanding sugar (opt.)
Preheat oven to 400°F. In a deep, medium-sized bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and zest with mixer on med speed until smooth. Scrape down bowl. Stir in sour cream. 
Gradually beat in flour until well blended. Stir in cranberries or currants. Put a heaping tsp. of dough into each cup of an ungreased miniature muffin pan, filling the space completely and leveling the surface of the dough. Grind pepper over the top. Sprinkle with sanding sugar (if desired). Bake for 15 min. or until light brown. Pop out muffins into a basket lined with a tea towel; cover to keep warm. ♥
Guess what? A foghorn is blowing, I can hear it sounding out up from the water. Later gators. ♥ have a wonderful day! xoxo
One year when I had begun making Thnanksgiving dinner by myself and for myself I thought the gravy should have more color and added a drop of red food coloring. We call it the Year of the Pink Gravy. Not a good idea. I would love to receive “Celebrate” if you should pick me! Love all your work, it brings comfort and inspiration. Thank you!
LOL bursting forth!!! LOVE THAT!! I might just have to do it on purpose!!! Just for the quizzical looks when I served it, it might be worth it!
Thank YOU Jane!
The strangest thing? The Thanksgiving I tried to make Sangria like I had recently had in a restaurant. Didn’t turn out exactly the same, but we finshed all I had made! It was good and different! No one complained about it.
Good then, it all worked out!
I would love to recieve the Celebrate Cookbook. I love the magazine “Where Women Cook” and also the “Where Women Create”. Such treasures within those pages! I had to tell you a little tale after seeing your bread drying on the ironing board. Our Thanksgiving stuffing recipe has always included dried bread. We usually cut large Italian loaves into cubes and lay it out to dry in the basement for three days (or somewhere out of the way so the dog doesn’t nibble it). Last year I lay it on cookie sheets and put it down in the back room of the basement and thought I shut the door TIGHT. When I went down to turn it over a day later, for optimal drying, there was KITTY lying right in the middle of it! She thought all that nice bread made a wonderful mattress. Needless to say, we started again with new bread and a TIGHTLY closed door. 🙂
Perfect! I was sort of waiting for that! 🙂
The strangest Thanksgiving was when we had Mexican food for our dinner with neighbors to celebrate with a change of regular menu – – – – it just was NOT right – – – should not be done!! Now I love Mexican food and my neighbor was a wonderful chef, but it left me wanting my known favorites – – – Keep it as you know it – – you’ll never be sorry!
This is very true!!!
Hi! I have to say I have similar quirks w/ others. The “CAN-berry” vision in my head sticks out the most–LOL! It isn’t fall for me, until I have made your corn pudding! One tradition I have started w/ my girls is we make a pretend turkey and colorful paper feathers. Each family member writes something they are thankful for on a feather and stick it back on the turkey:) Also, when they were younger I had each girl make turkeys by painting their palm and thumb brown and each finger was a different color (for a feather). We put them all over a large piece of muslin. We also painted leaves and imprinted them onto it. Now we have a special tablecloth keepsake to use every year 🙂
That’s wonderful Carol!
So wonderful to see a new blog entry this morning! I am new to reading your blog (where in the world have I been???) and I look forward to hearing from you. The oddest item on my Thanksgiving table has got to be the sweet potato brule my daughter made a few years ago — and is scheduled for a reappearance this year. Although she served it as a savory along with the turkey most of us considered it an “early” dessert. My grandmother dried bread for stuffing so seeing yours all laid out brought back memories. She had two sage bushes whose only job was to add to the stuffing. Although she has been gone for over fifty years I can see her preparing Thanksgiving dinner in your beautiful pictures. Thank you for the beautiful memories of my special Grandma.
Awww, very sweet Patricia! Glad you’re here, you probably didn’t miss too much, my blog has only been going since June! You’re actually quite prompt to the party, the guests are still arriving!
One Thanksgiving around twenty years ago, my husband and kids decided to take me out to a dinner that I didn’t have to cook myself so that I could relax with the rest of the family. They made reservations at a very fancy restaurant. We got all dressed up and when we arrived and were seated at our table, I felt like a queen! However, through the whole dinner, all I heard were comments like “this stuffing isn’t as good as yours” and “the gravy tastes strange” and “we won’t have leftovers (sigh!)” At the end of the dinner, everyone was trying to be upbeat but I knew they were disappointed because it wasn’t the Thanksgiving they looked forward to. The next day, I woke up early, went shopping, and made another full Thanksgiving dinner at home. Reward … smiles, smiles, and more smiles! That was our one and only Thanksgiving dinner out.
PS – I realize that the difference between the dinner out and the dinner at home was not the food but the warmth and comfort of being together in a familiar setting. Our Thanksgivings now include assorted relatives, in-laws, and friends … we have a lot to be thankful for!
PPS – Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
I did that once, pulled away from the tradition, and learned never to do that again!!! 🙂
Good morning! Nice jaunt to the market. That leaf sure wanted to go along for the ride. I’d love to get my flour covered hands on the featured book…whether it’s as the gift from you 🙂 … or if I have to search it out and buy it for my own self. Looks like a fun read. Hope Girl is accepting the new kid on the block by now. Have a beautiful leading up to Thanksgiving kind of day.
She’s trying, I think! Thanks Kathy!
Being a friend from north of the 49th parallel, I celebrated Thanksgiving in October. But for a number of years we lived in South America with many USA ex-pats. Our tradition was to go to the beach during the Thanksgiving school break – it wasn’t a local holiday so the beaches were deserted, except for us. Someone would always cook a turkey ahead and bring down slices for us to eat. One year we had a hot dog roast, and I remember sitting by the fire, on the beach, singing Christmas carols while we all thought of loved ones and home so far away.
Congratulations on your many successes, Susan. You’ve always been an inspiration to me.
Thank you Lorrie, that was a wonderful memory!
Susan, I love that you are the center of all that loveliness on the cover of the new book – as it should be! And thank you for the biscuit recipe – I’ll be trying that one soon.
Love that you mentioned the Rainbow Jello, for that is how I learned about you: my cousin had your cookbook (the only one you had written at that time) and made the jello for a family party. We couldn’t get over how wonderful it was, and she pulled out your recipe book to show us…and I was hooked. Nice to know you have addictive qualities for your fans, isn’t it? Just hope they never find a cure for this addiction.
Our quirkiest item, I think, is scalloped oysters (since we’re in the Midwest, oysters are a bit out of the ordinary for our menus). A guest brought it to Thanksgiving dinner one year, and ever since then, it’s had a place on the menu. My mom is the one who makes it now.
Thank you, Susan, for the love and joy you bring to so many of us!
Thank you Ginnie, love to hear the stories of how we find each other!!!
I love the new cookbook! Cooking is, indeed, a Celebration! Somerset Studios’ publications are some of my favorites, and I look forward to getting this one. Thank you, Susan for the heads up, AND, of course, the contribution in the book!
Growing up, we ALWAYS had on the Turkey table, along with the mashed taters’ Mashed Rutabaga. You just peel, chop and boil as potatoes, add butter, salt and pepper, and viola’! Delicious. I love them and always included them. This year, however, my family is scattered and I believe I will be flying solo, so that in itself, may be the strangest experience yet.
A little roast chicken.
thank you for that thought, Susan! I may try to tempt some wayward family to just stop by for dessert, and I can do my key lime pie, and cheesecake!
Hi Susan ~ I would LOVE to have the cookbook featuring all you creative women in your own kitchens. I started making Danish Red Cabbage at Thanksgiving and Christmas for my husband when we were first married 39 yrs ago, got the recipe from a little cookbook we bought in Solvang. I admit I wasn’t crazy about it at first, but it has become a family favorite over the years. The sweet and sour goes so well with the turkey. Your post today was so fun … especially the drive to your grocery store on the island with the leaf on your windshield, and your cute idea of the leaf placecards. I too dry out the bread for the stuffing and loved seeing yours drying out on your ironing board in the pantry:) Thank you for sharing what you do with us!
Thank you Doris . . . I bet the cabbage is pretty on the plates too, there is quite a lot of brown for Thanksgiving!
Yes, it does add color to the plate! Here’s the recipe…
Red Cabbage (Rod Kaal)
1 head red cabbage
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup red currant jelly
1 apple cubed
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. salt
Finely chop the cabbage and sprinkle with the vinegar. Melt butter in a large pan, add sugar and salt. Add cabbage and let cook 15 min. Add rest of ingredients and let simmer about 2 hrs.
Mmmmm I like the jelly and the apple in there with the vinegar!
Hi Susan,
I don’t know if this is quirky or not, but back in 1977 I cooked my first Thanksgiving Dinner for my husband and my parents. My daughter was about 4 months old then and she and the turkey were just about the same size! I had an awful time stuffing that turkey and putting it in the oven! And come to find out, one of the coils in the oven (electric oven!) was broken and we had to eat a half-raw turkey! (Which I would NEVER do today!) But I also had baked my first apple pie and it was beautiful!! I have never forgotten that Thanksgiving and I have also never had another electric oven!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Joe and the kitty-kats!
xoxo Kathy L
I am now very aware of the need to measure the oven before choosing what size turkey I’m getting. You only have to do some things once! 🙂
Oh! That reminds me of the year we raised little baby turkeys and all summer and fall those turkeys always rushed to me and spread their tails and wings and flirted with me every time I was near! They were so friendly and trusting! Along came Thanksgiving week and just a couple days before the big day, my husband walked in with a 44# turkey hanging by it’s little bare feet and I was so horrified I could hardly look at it! Not being raised as a country girl, I had the idea that these were our pets. My husband knew better than to tell me ahead of time. (I told him we could raise cows – I have just the place to bury them when they die of old age!) I know, I know. How naive. Just can’t help it, though. On top of all of that – the fellow didn’t even fit in my oven! My handy husband quickly made a huge pan to fit him. We ended up taking him over to a friends much larger oven to cook him and run back and forth all day to baste him. Boy, did he take a LOT of stuffing! Needless to say, we’ve never raised turkeys since!
Thank you again, Sue, for shaking the dust off old memories! It’s so much fun!
Love the new cookbook! Can’t wait to go buy it – or maybe win it, who knows!?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Susan,
Love this blog. Look for new posts every morning. My most favorite thing about Thanksgiving is taking out ancient recipe box and unfolding recipe for making turkey and dressing. My mother wrote it out for me 40 years ago and still looking at her handwriting. Just saw you in San Luis at the Madonna antique fair. What an experience!
My absolute favorite thing at Thanksgiving is my Nanna’s cornbread dressing. I’ve never had anything like it, nor have I tried to make it myself (the day when I host Thanksgiving is far in the future!). She’s a true Southern cook, born and raised in South Carolina, and it shows through in her food.
Plus, this year we are having lots of family come in for the holiday – we’ve never had a giant holiday before, so that may take over as my most favorite thing!
It’s something from my childhood that no one has ever heard of and usually thinks is odd…Banana Salad. It’s what my kids ask for every holiday now and I’m happy to make it and put in my crystal bowl. About 4 or 5 sliced bananas, a large can of drained pineapple chunks, a big handful of chopped pecans, and a rounded serving spoonful of mayonnaise or enough to moisten …not too much. You can always add a little bit more mayo but you can’t take it out. It’s delicious! Happy Thanksgiving!!,
Hello dear Susan,
I must say the strangest thing we’ve had at Thanksgiving was made by me. I was a new bride and had never made a turkey by myself. I love to cook but my Mom always got up with the chickens and put the bird in the oven. So I had never seen her “process” of preparing the turkey for the oven. Well to make a long story short, I was hosting Thanksgiving and I failed to remove the giblet package and cooked that plastic bag inside the turkey! My family thought the turkey was good and I have been brunt of this “mistake” for 43 years.
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Susan, and know you are one friend I am very thankful for! xoxo♥
Quirky? I suppose it would be the “roast” made of various nuts which we purchased for a few years for our then-vegan son and his friends (he now enjoys the turkey with the rest of us, though). Thank you for the recipes — and also for letting us “hitchhike” along with both of you and “your” leaf through the streets of Martha’s Vineyard, Susan. Your blog is my happy time & place every day!
I’ve never had this myself, but the strangest thing for Thanksgiving sounds to me like Tofu Turkey. Lol…I wouldn’t want to ruin the best part of Thanksgiving by serving only the Tofu Turkey.
Hi Susan, I would like to add my strange Thanksgiving Day item. It is more like clever, though. My anxiety over trying to use 4 stove burners and 1 oven and prepare turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, corn, green beans and some sauerkraut and cranberry relish and dinner rolls and time everything to a certain time AND have it all hot at serving time and sliced, mashed and transfered to serving dishes and the table set and welcome the family (10) and get coats hung up and drinks poured so we can be seated (plus homemade desserts made the day before!!!! So, long before microwave ovens, I decided that a big dutch oven of potatoes to peel and cook and season and mash and keep hot was too much. I bought big baking potatoes (12), cleaned them and let them bake for 1 hour while I whizzed aroung the kitchen and did all the above!! There were comments of disappointment before hand in disbeflief of the “sainted” mashed potatoes not being offered. Then the compliments of added butter and salt and pepper really was not much different after all, especiallly when gravy was going on top of them. It truly made the perfect solution for the meal. Thanks for the opportunity to get a great cookbook. I still have my first little girls cookbook which taught how to make GRILLED CHEESE!!!! LOL
My mother was the Queen of Gravy! I’m pretty good, but it never tastes quite as good as mom’s does it. I never have made gravy ahead though, so glad for your suggestions on that. My motto for Thanksgiving has always been “gravy on everything!” Oh, and no salad allowed. Don’t want to fill up on greens before I’ve had my fill of the mashed potatoes.
Strangest Thanksgiving was the one when I didn’t celebrate it at all. Instead, my daughter and I went to London for the week, and had lunch at the Tower of London. We got bargain fares we couldn’t pass up, and it was a very memorable week. My husband and sons stayed home and were happy to substitute steaks that day. Since I had already made Thanksgiving dinner for more than 30 years previously, I didn’t even feel guilty – well maybe just a little bit.
Hi. The most “different” Thanksgiving item I’ve had, not really quirky but rather a cultural difference, was the year we were in Iowa and ate Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant in the Amana Colonies. It was served family style and the unexpected item placed on the table in a bowl was sauerkrat! It actually tasted good with the turkey, sort of like the Scandinavian idea of making the red cabbage at holidays though the latter is more colorful…I make that for my Norwegian husband every Christmas… 🙂
Hi Susan! Thank you so much for the biscuit recipe! I can’t wait to try it out and share with my co-workers! Hopefully I will have some more new recipes to try with the Celebrate Cookbook! 🙂 My Thanksgiving memory from growing up is that the only time we had a “real” Thanksgiving dinner is when my family and I would go to my grandparents house. If we stayed home (just four of us) my Mom would cook her wonderful chicken and cheese enchiladas. It was always such a treat when she would make them! Now that I’m older and have my own place I have taken on the role of cooking all Holiday meals for my family..after four years of doing so..I think I may make chicken and cheese enchiladas this year! 🙂 Don’t know how my Grandma could cook a wonderful Thanksgiving meal for all those years. 🙂
At my school, the cafeteria always serves a Thanksgiving lunch on the Wednesday before the holiday, so the kids that are not American can get a feel of what it’s like in the States. The weirdest thing that was served for Thanksgiving lunch was chicken (because they couldn’t find turkey at the store that year)… 🙂
Thanks for helping me remember that story! Your blog brings me such joy!
I just finished sighing over your Willard. I thought I was the only one in the world that went outside to look in on the family as they gathered around the tree or the table or each other in that wonderfully golden light. I felt like the Ghost of Christmas’s Past and Present looking through the window of time…feeling in my heart the utter joy of that family I was seeing, but the absolute wonder of my home…my home that will very soon not be my home any longer due to….well, circumstances….I’m so grateful I took all those pictures with my heart and have all those gaspy moments to remember…bathed in memory and love and wonder and joy…all every-bit-of it. Thank you for doing that…I know just how you felt at that very moment. Thank you for all of your inspiration and the joy you have in the little things. I don’t even think the big things count as much as all the little things leading up to the big thing. Happy every-single-day.
Thanks for sharing this recipe, love it! I too use real bread, makes a big difference. Thanks for all your touches and ideas here..pictures are so great! 😀
Thank you too Julie!
Thank you for the opportunity! I just love all of your beautiful ideas and photos that you share
Thanks Becky!
Hi Susan The oddest food on our thanksgiving table came from my brother, bless his heart, he wanted to bring something and appeared with two bowls of ice cold, half chopped, half mashed potatoes! He was so proud of his contribution so my mom took them and worked some magic and they appeared on the table. They didn’t taste half bad either. He is married now and his wife has taken over the cooking. whew! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Sherry
One winter, just before Thanksgiving in Eastern Oregon, the snow began to fall and fall and fall. We realized that our vehicles could not make it to town (60 miles away) when even the trucks used to feed hay to the cattle were getting stuck in the snow. That year, we made a Thanksgiving Feast of Venison! It was most “untraditional” but we were grateful to have a special dinner, even if it was nothing like Turkey and Dressing.
Oh so many books so little time…this time of year we are so busy but to have an opportunity to get a new cookbook and some new ideas it is like Christmas came early…Susan you are so good to us. Thanks for doing this as we all know you are so busy too!
Hey Susan,
Just love reading your blog everyday. The one dish that bothers me at Thanksgiving is sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows. For the life of me I just don’t like to see sweet potatoes all done up that way!! But that’s just my opinion and I may be alone in this thinking. Sweet potatoes are so wonderful without all that added white fluff. But that’s just me. Thank you for all you do for all the “girlfriends.” Say hi to Jack! And Girl Kitty, too!!! Happy Cooking!
Barbara from Georgia
Thank you Barbara! I’m not wild about marshmallows on sweet potatoes, but I have siblings that can’t live without it :-)!
Hi Susan, It was fun to hear about all of your preparations and to hear about the book! I am looking forward to Thanksgiving too, although, the food won’t be quite the same as we had when I was growing up and it was just our family. This year, we will be with my husband’s side of the family and my parents will be traveling to Chicago to be with my brother and his family. Anyway, my mom’s parents are both German so we had some traditional German foods with our Thanksgiving dinner while I was growing up. I think my Grandma thought it was OK to eat some “non-traditional” Thanksgiving foods since the holiday is really about just giving God thanks and enjoying good food with family. We did have turkey, but we also had red cabbage, sauerkraut, and potato dumplings. So yummy!
Several times over the years I’ve had to order a prepared T-day dinner from a local supplier. One such occasion followed the birth of my youngest son. Happily, my mother (and father) came to help us out with Thanksgiving – and celebrate their newest grandson. Mom was dubious about a prepared meal from the get-go, I must say. And her reservations were borne out, but not for the reasons she expected. As she was taking the turkey & stuffing out of the oven, the too-flimsy pan it was in gave way and everything spilled onto the kitchen floor. Mom never believed in the “5-Second Rule,” so she was completely mortified. We soothed her with a glass of wine, sat down to enjoy the “sides” and called for pizza delivery. Our older children and other family members remember this a one of our best Thanksgivings ever!
Our Thanksgiving are pretty traditional and not too creative on the menu ideas. So, I have nothing quirky or unusual to report. Last Thanksgiving my sister-in-law dropped the whole pan of stuffing all over the floor. Just found out that she scooped it up and served it anyway! Fortunately we had only stayed for appetizers and had gone to another home for dinner so we missed the flipped stuffing!
my most favorite thing about thanksgiving is my moms corn bread dressing and giblet gravy… it is so moist and delicious and it would not be thanksgiving without it! love your blog!
i am going to try your Grandma’s stuffing recipe this year. it just sounds too good not to. my favorite thing of Thanksgiving is pumpkin pie. i LOVE pumpkin pie….all year lonnnng!
Hope you like it! I adore pumpkin pie too!
The biscuits are adorable! I wonder if they make gluten-free self rising flour. Time to do a little research!
The strangest thing I’ve ever had on Thanksgiving was cold peanut soup that my aunt served. It was nastyyyyyy!
ps…it looked like you had three kinds of bread. white, brown and…???
Just two, white and brown, and it needs to be a cheap brand, the cheaper the better. For some reason the Pepperidge Farm types don’t get doughy enough.
I come from a family who was always delighted with “scratch” dinners. It wasn’t so much as having the French Chef for a mom, it was a matter of economics. We were poor, lived on a farm, and my mom was the best cook ever. Well, everything except cakes. So having something “scratch” was normal. Then I met my husband’s family. It was just the opposite, and the food was often unedible. I guess I never realized until I was in my 20’s just how diverse some families’ food is, sadly for them! To this day, I have not met anyone who could do pie crust like moms! Love to you all, Kate
That Cranberry Orange Marmalade is the best! I keep extra bags of cranberries in my freezer just so I can make it through the year. I’ve always wondered if I could put it up in jars and can it since it has orange marmalade from a jar in it? Don’t know why that would matter….but just wondered if that’s ok? Anyway, I just love it! Thanks for all you do for us. Hugs to all our kindred spirits here. I’m so grateful for my “Susan Friends”.
I know, I wonder myself, but I have never had any last long enough, I’ve never tried to can it . . . but I would imagine it could be done, boil it and can it!?
Thank you so much for the delicious tea buscuit recipe! My husband and I enjoy having tea together on the weekends. Can’t wait to try these tea buscuits!
I love how over the years the mainstays of Thanksgiving dinner are truly a “quilt” of love bringing recipes from friends and family over the years together every year. My cranberry relish is a recipe from my veterinarian friend many years ago (with that many cats you come to know your vet very well!) and my yeast rolls are my mom’s secret recipe – yes — secret because even though I have the recipe they never turn out like hers! Susan – thanks for making my day brighter!
I can almost “feel” Thanksgiving when you talk about it. It makes the holiday come to life and feel so good….. thank you so much for that. All your comments on your blog are truly delightful. Each time you have a new blog it is like a little present in my day and picks me up so much to read it. Thank you for sharing all that you do…. you are truly a blessing to so many!
The Happiest of holidays to you and everyone else. You are dellightful!!
Thank you so much Robin, and same to you!
It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving at my house without my mother-in-law’s unusual dressing. It’s made with dried out hamburger buns, chopped sweet pickles, chopped onions and the delicious broth from the roasted turkey. When I married into this family, I couldn’t believe anything good could come from such a concoction. I was wrong! The smell of it wafting from the oven brings everyone in the family surrying to the table.
Your blog is my favorite! Thank you so much.
This year we are not having turkey, we are having a beef roast. We’ll see if this turns out to be the strangest thing ever….if so we will go back to turkey.
Susan;
TURKEY FLAMBE’
I think the FUNNIEST and MOST HORRIFIC Thanksgiving for our family was when I had both sides of the family for the Holiday! Four kids, chaos, Mother in law giving me advice, “You must put the turkey in a plastic bag for moist turkey..”, Paternal Grandfather slapping bacon grease on it first!, “This is the way I always make the BEST Turkey”, What we found out was 2 different OPINIONATED cooks and then…COMBUSTION!!!
About an hour into the turkey baking, A FIRE!!! TURKEY ON FIRE! So, we were able to save the turkey but not the gravy or drippings.:( My husband ran to the store for a foil baking dish and then back into the oven our TURKEY FLAMBE went. I was able to pull it all together, making fake gravy from a packet but it wasn’t one of my finer moments…
MORAL OF THE STORY: NEVER take everyone’s advice at the same time! 🙂 Especially an Irishman’s and a German Mother in law!
Happy Thanksgiving my Secret Friend,
Wendy Rohs
Idaho
Our kids still talk about that day! I survived and believe me, I can make a turkey without it torching!!!!
My family always serves something called “dressing” instead of stuffing and it seems to include everything from boiled eggs to turkey. It looks like a casserole. Most of them like it, but to me, it’s just weird! I think it’s a southern thing, but as long as they’ve been serving it, I’ve been avoiding it! I’m not really into the yam and sweet potato dish either. My brother makes a great smoked turkey, so I’m looking forward to that this year, and all those pies…
Dear Susan,
The new book looks divine! I really want to thank you for the little tour of Martha’s Vineyard. My husband is a golf pro here in Delaware, so summers to the Vineyard are just a dream as it is his busiest time of the year. It is on my bucket list of places to visit…so thank you so much for sharing a space in the car for all of us! It was a simple, but wonderful treat!
xoxo Kathy
Susan, Susan !!! I’ve only just opened both Willard and your new post and cannot stop to read any farther because I have to tell you, immediately, how much I adore the new painting of Jack on the Peter Rabbit books. Please, it absolutely must be in a book or somehow in something we can own from you. Have I said how much I love this painting? xxoo
I’ve calmed down enough to actually read everything so this is my official entering-the-give-away post – I can’t think of a thing strange we’ve had at Thanksgiving. I did have goose one year at a pre-Thanksgiving dinner at my in-laws. Unusual for me, WA city girl eating that at a midwestern farm.
Works!
I have to say, I kind of love it myself!!! Thank you Barbara!
Don’t you just love the enthusiasm Susan brings out? Love this stuff! So much fun!
Don’t know if this is strange or not but my mother and grandmother alwas served cole slaw on Thanksgiving and whole green onions in a relish dish with salt cup to dip them in and I still do this.
I would love to have this cookbook! You & Ree are my favorite heroes!
Oh Susan~ you, your books and your delightful and much inspiring blog make my heart sing! It dances too! I have always LOVED thanksgiving so much. Coming from a family of italian restaurant owners, cooking was center of every holiday. But Thanksgiving was absolute American all the way! No pasta! Turkey, veggies, homemade dinner rolls, traditions on platters and desserts to boot decorated our dining table. But when we had this wonderful Dutch family over one year, the dearest grandma (of the family) brought a beautiful salad in a beautiful crystal bowl. (Or so it looked crystal to my 12 year old eyes :D) But this was not your salad of greens, nuts and cucumber. Oh no… it was pink with white frosting on top! How delicious and beautiful all at once! My mother, bless her heart, having been raised a strict traditionalist to the cookery took the beautiful completely nontraditional pink salad with a thankful smile and sat it down on the table. Careful not to let her smirk of “what is this?” get noticed, she took the dear lady’s coat and continued in the kitchen. We sat down, said grace and began our Thanksgiving feast. Spoons clanking on perfectly picked out bowls, beloved family recipes passed around the table on beautiful platters, moms fluffy golden dinner rolls in her Indian corn linen lined basket and summers legendary blackberry jam. All earned staples around the table. Then the unexpected “cyrstal” bowl of pink and white. Hesitant at best was the reaction while spooning it onto our plates. But then something shifted. Something remarkable and exciting happened. It was as though bubbles and stars were dancing in our mouths. This salad was far from a salad! It was a jello salad. But not just a jello with mixed fruit. Delicious as that is in it’s own right. No, no, this was Frost Jello! Jello made with not water but 7-up, walnuts, bananas, custard and dream whipped on top! I now, 30 and my sister 21 years of age simply cannot fathom a Thanksgiving with out the dear dutch lady’s Frost Jello! Indeed, it stands out above the rest.
Sounds pretty wonderful! Making me want some!
Loved the drying bread! I labor over the stuffing, cutting the veggies into miniscule pieces, so every forkful has all the flavors.
Ooooh, gotta have that cook book!
I’m not usually a contest winner, though, so it’s going on my Christmas W*sh List!
Thank you Susan for another wonderful post and another generous and thoughtul give-away!
We’re getting really excited about Thanksgiving here, too, with company coming to us from as far away as New York! (We’re in N.Cali.)
I can’t think of an unusual or odd dish we’ve had for Thanksgiving, but can I share one from Christmas instead? Will that count?
I prepared Christmas brunch one year for my children, my best friend, and her children (the kids were all Jr. High/High School age). I made a baked egg dish that did NOT turn out well. 🙁 Maybe I didn’t bake it long enough? Maybe I measured wrong?) I don’t know, but the sad dish came out of the oven bright yellow and JIGGLY! and it became not-fondly known as “Egg Jello.” (You have to say it while making an “ewwwwwwww!” face!)
My kids still tease me about it, ten years later. Whenever I ask if they have any special dishes they would like me to prepare for them, they’ll often say “Anything but your ‘Egg Jello’!” 🙁
No worries ~ no more ‘Egg Jello’ from this Mom!!! 🙂
Hi Susan!
So glad to see the new blog notes today. Especially since it is so dark and dreary outside – your blog is bringing sunshine with it this afternoon. I am a tad late getting to my CPU today. Well all I can say is I don’t recall of any really weird dishes for Thanksgiving at all – how unfortunate, eh? But I will say one year some newly married kids adopted a recipe and decided to mix the potato peels in with the mashed potatoes which they called dirty potatoes and I just looked at it and thought “Ya got to be kidding me right?” I never touched the potatoes and I never accepted anymore invitations for awhile. We laugh about it now…As for the new exciting cook book, oh my gosh – I will say like the Duggars, there is ALWAYS room for one more! Would love to have it!
Hi Susan,the Netherlands is a nice little corner of the world don’t you think?
We do not celebrate “Thanksgiving”in Holland but we are making plans for christmas and dec.5th we celebrate “Sinterklaas”,he is a very old man on a white horse called “Americo”, from Spain, who visits Holland and Belgium to bring presents to children.Children leave their shoe by the fireplace,sing a song before they go to bed and look for a present in their shoe the next morning!
Beautiful!
Susan, watch your little puttee tat Jack! That ironing board could come tumbling down, bread and all. Years ago at our house the “dressing” bread (which includes cornbread for us SEMO folks)left out to dry on the dining room table was t-o-t-a-l-l-y consumed by our yellow lab puppy whose real name was Ellis, but we’re sure he thought it was NOellis. Quirky Thanksgiving food…… blue, yes, BLUE mashed potatoes, brought by friends, when we were on sabbatical in San Diego, CA! We learned that you should never trust just anybody to bring the foods that must taste like Momma’s for it to be Thanksgiving.Thanks for the leaf placecard idea….and all the other “oh, this girl knows my heart” ideas, photos and words.
Happy Thanksgiving, Girlfriends! Blessings, DonnaRay
P.S.Who said we should never pick up hitchhikers…..fun!
I always get so excited each time Willard is delivered to my email and now to have double the pleasure of reading your blog! It’s pure heaven on a cold morning!
My husband’s family always wants, believe it or not, taco dip before or after the meal. Doesn’t sound too much like a Thanksgiving dish to me, but I do it for them.
Hugs,
Catherine
Would love to win the cookbook, love the cover! I don’t think I’ve ever
had anything really quirky for Thanksgiving but one year in college we cooked
a turkey in a brown paper grocery bag… interesting.
The most interesting thing I ever had at Thanksgiving was my first try at gravy!! What a disaster – luckily I had a can or two for back-up. I’m still trying to get enough nerve to try it again – maybe I shouldn’t wait until the actual day – right?
Right!!! Just get some turkey legs and make it from that . . . chicken giblets too …
Hi Susan,
This is not something that we ate that was quirky or different but what I did to the turkey that was different. I was told by a friend to inject rum (a good brand not a cheap version) under the skin. Through the process of roasting, the rum taste would not be there. I was told that the turkey would be so moist. AND it was. I had compliments upon compliments on how moist especially the white meat was and they had no idea what I had done. So the next year I decided that if a little rum was good, more would be better. Not a good idea. The turkey had an alcohol taste. So this year, I will go easy on the rum!
A gentle restraining hand is need, just like Joe!
Forgot to say………”nurk around”??? Does that involve chocolate in any way? Like maybe hiding it all over the room for guests to discover!…..like I just did in my sewing room with the left over Halloween Snickers….fun size, of course!
Might.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for all of the lovely things that you share with us each and everyday. Your blog is like a little present everyday to open and enjoy !!! The strangest thing that we ever had for Thanksgiving, was the year that my brother-in-law decided to smoke the pheasent that he had gotten a few days before. They were so dry that the only thing we could do with them was feed then to the dog. She thought she had died and gone to heaven. Susan, I hope you and Joe have a Warm and Memorable Thanksgiving with all the trimmings !!! Janet
Well Susan, I just can get enough of you – the blog, the books, the online store, Willard, magazines…- you name it, I’ve got it or I will. So naturally, I’ve got to add my two cents to be entered into the drawing for the cookbook – how can I not!?! Seems like everything you touch turns to a homespun, heartwarming, cozy magic! Thank you for all you do and share with us!
xoxo,
Jeanette,
Thanks so much Jeanette!
I was just looking at that book recently, particularly YOUR “chapter” (I do probably love the dishes used for tea parties at least as much… if not more sometimes… than the food!).
I’d love to win a copy.
Hi Susan
That was fun driving with you to the grocery store. How funny that the leaf would not come off your car. I was wondering the whole time if it would.
That was a great post today, lots of fun things to read. I can’t believe how cold it got overnight there. Wow, but its so refreshing.
I hope I win. !!!!
okay so the only thing that comes to mind about something strange on Thanksgiving is the first one I hosted when I was first married. I left all the plastic wrapped goodies on the inside and we were surprised with it when we went to cut the Turkey. We have all the traditional Thanksgiving foods so I couldn’t come up with anything. Oh thanks for that wonderful recipe. They look so yummy. Happy Day Susan
deezie
Susan…good morning from Colorado…it is a beautiful 47 degrees…so far…
LOVE your Willard and Blog today…of course they ALL warm my heart, but today’s has wrapped me in a cozy coverlet and excited me even more about this time of year… : )
Each Thanksgiving has its own special memories that hide in your heart and “pop” out at the oddest times making you smile, laugh out loud and sometimes give up a tear and little sniffle or two. Sometimes we remember something that didn’t go as well as we had hoped…a new recipe that rated a -5 on a scale from +1-10…a turkey that wasn’t quite done and had to go back into the oven thus delaying dinner…a little tiff with someone that has lost its significance over time…a spilled glass of milk or wine…nothing big, just stressful at the time…not really worth taking up space in your memory, but we as women do tend to remember little stuff!
Reading your Willard today, I especially love the part about stepping outside and looking thru the window as your guests come to the table to enjoy the wonderfully prepared dinner. What you see thru that window is what is important…the people you love…your many blessings…the best part of every Thanksgiving Day celebration.
Thank you for the many blessings you have brought me thru your Willard and Blog…best wishes to you and Joe for a lovely Thanksgiving with your family and friends.
The same to you Sherrill!
Thanks for that wonderful music and for all the joy you bring to our days. Can’t wait to try those tea biscuits! (And I can’t wait to get myself a copy of that book, whether I’m the lucky winner or not!)
My “quirky” Thanksgiving offering? Stuffed pickled jalepenos, a family tradition that goes back as far as I can remember, thanks to my dearly beloved and sadly departed mama. Cut the jalepenos in half, scooping out the seeds, if there are any; stuff ’em with cream cheese and top ’em with a pecan half ~ Nummers!
I have just started subscribing to your blog. Your writing and photos are so inspiring; I am totally enjoying being a reader! I have vacationed in Oaks Bluff, what a truly spot on this magical earth! I hope someday to reside in MV… dreams!
My best turkey I ever cooked was with the skin lifted slightly then the turkey rubbed with lemon zest, chopped proscuitto and butter. It had to be the most delicious turkey ever!
Celebrate Autumn,
Amy
I bet, proscuitto would be wonderful! I’ll tell Joe about that!
So that’s what the ironing board is for–drying bread. I’ve always wondered. . .
Zakly!
Hi Susan,
Thanks for the recipe, I have a tea date with a good friend on Friday. I am going to make these yummy little hearts.( I even have a heart shaped iron muffin pan). Yay!
I am a cookbook junkie. The “Celebrations” cookbook will be under my Christmas tree one way or another, Heavy “hinting” on my part.
I loved your comments at the end of the last Willard. I was blurry eyed reading it. You expressed yourself so well. I feel the same way.
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
xo, Cinda
Just like you Susan, I have my shopping list ready to go. The tables are set in place and soon I’ll begin setting out the serving dishes with little notes as to what goes where. The linens will be ironed and will wait with quiet anticipation for their big day! In our house, pie crust is to us as gravy is to you! My mom will taste while having that far off look in her eye to see if she can tell whether I used “real” butter. Which, OF COURSE I DID! How else can you make pie crust? Here’s just a small hint about pie crusts. They can be made ahead and frozen if you like. Go to your local pizza parlor and along with your pizza ask for an unused box to take home. Those work perfectly for storing your homemade crusts flat and safely in your freezer until you need them. I love this time of year with everyone coming together for great food and great times. We always have an extra place as someone brings someone along that had no where else to go. Those “extras” usually end up being recurring guests for us! Here’s to everyone having a fabulous Thanksgiving! Of course, I would LOVE to have your book as we are always introducing new recipes into our meals and it would look wonderful on my counter! Thanks Susan for all of your wisdom and motivation that you send to each and every one of us!
Loved that Holly!
Susan, as always, you just made my day. I got to Willard first as I have two email accounts then I got to read your blog. Willard was absolutely FABULOUS!!! Just reading it warmed my heart. I am now ready to go out and conquer the day! I have to say that my favorite thing to do is just pull one of your cookbooks out and leaf through it to enjoy the pictures and the description of the great recipes. You are such a great inspiration. God bless you and may your Thanksgiving be as wonderful as you are!!! Love you! Donna
Thank you Donna, have a wonderful day!!
Although I’ve read your books & your Willards, I just got in on your blog and have been happy to see all the goings on in your house.
I wanted to tell you about our quirky Thanksgiving tradition of having a butter duck on the table. My grandma started the tradition, passed the torch to my mom and now I do it. This guy is super fancy and kind of weird at the same time. It’s delightfully greasy and messy to sculpt with your hands and a knife. We run butter through a sifter to make his wings, tail, and very coiffed top-knot. There is a celery leaf in his beak and parsley leaves all around him. My kids all sit QUIETLY (nearly unheard of!) to watch me make one!
My in-laws thought I was crazy when I brought one to their Thanksgiving table many years ago and could not understand why someone would make this thing (although it’s always cute)! Some years it looks more like a swan. Some years we have to debate on not only WHAT type of bird it more closely resembles, but who it kind of looks like. Oddly, it never has resembled a turkey. Of course it’s always a big joke at the table to see who is perverse enough to decapitate it.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
LOL, funny — that’s different, and I like it!
wish you had posted a picture of that butter-bird!happy thanksgiving to all!
I don’t know that this is a strange dish, but it was when I first met my husband. He makes a dish called Cranberry Fluff, a semi-sweet, tart dish that includes cranberries, pineapple and tiny marshmallows. I came from a very steak-and- potato type family so I refused to try this at Thanksgiving or Christmas until about 5 years ago. IT IS AMAZING! It’s a favorite of ours at every holiday now, July 4th included. Yum.
I grew up with the traditional sage and giblets dressing, but after tasting my future mother-in-law’s Cuban turkey and dressing in 1977 I asked her to teach me how to make it and it is now our traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meal. My Cuban mother-in-law told me they have this turkey and suckling pig at Christmas time only, but when she started a family in the US she adapted it for Thanksgiving as well. It is so moist and delicious and makes the BEST turkey sandwiches EVER! The turkey has dry white wine, oregano, cumin, garlic, salt and pepper sprinkled on it and is then placed in the fridge for at least 24 hours. The dressing is ground beef, ground pork, onions, bell peppers, plenty of olive oil, garlic, cumin, pepper, a little saffron, stuffed green olives and a little of the olive vinegar, chopped nuts and raisins. After stuffing the turkey, olive oil is mixed with salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, granulated garlic, and saffron and brushed on the turkey and placed into the oven (putting the bird in the oven is my husband’s job – it is heavy!) For our family of 5 this is the traditional Thanksgiving turkey!
Beautiful, sounds delicious!
PS – What fun, going on the car ride with you, Joe and the leaf! Such a beautiful day in a beautiful neighborhood. (Loved seeing the cemetary and its stone wall, too!)
I love old graveyards, we have some pretty ones here, old, 1700’s on up, one right up the street from me . . . I was just wondering today if the girlfriends would like a little video walk through one of them?
Oh yes Susan, I think that would be really interesting, seeing all the old stones at the cemetery and some of the inscriptions, especially since they date back to the 1700’s.
Oh YES, what a pleasure it would be to join you on a “walk” through some of your graveyards! Two girlfriends and I (here in rural Eastern Washington) enjoy finding and visiting old cemeteries; many of them so far out and remote that it’s like finding lost treasures. These discoveries are all thanks in great part to the local historical society, as well as old farming families sharing info, and to the super-sleuthing and sense of adventure of one of the GF’s!
Love walking through old graveyards as well. Would very much enjoy having a walk through yours with you! We have a graveyard here in our town that is divided by a US highway. I believe it’s one of the only ones that is like this.
OK, we’ll go out there and kick up some leaves!
Yeeeeees, pretty please!
I will love to do it!
Susan…I have a P.S. as well….
I agree with Kim…the ride was lovely! I did notice the cemetery and, being a genealogist, I leaned in closer to my monitor to see if I could read any of the headstones! Ha!
I would LOVE to walk thru any of the old cemeteries near you. There is a lot of history there. : )
Oh good, now we are 2!
Yes Please…I would love a graveyard walk. Could be a Halloween Tradition but I don’t wanta wait that long. But definitely something to look forward to. Happy Day.
OK, we are a party of three that would like it! We’ll do it!!
Yaaayy!
Wow I can just never get enough of reading your blogs. This year we will be having thanksgiving dinner here in the Netherlands holding up the tradition my boyfriend grew up with; including the homemade stuffing, although every year I have to call my mother in law and ask how to make it again. But haven’t found the perfect way yet…. Some day I will though!
Yes you will!
Along with your corn pudding – which has now become a family favorite – was my dear Grandma’s Holiday Apples – which she only made for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Apple slices cooked in sugar and cinnamon candy red-hots, then drained and layered with sweetened whipping cream and chopped walnuts.
My favorite memory of Thanksgivings past was when our baby-boomer families outgrew Grandma’s home and we had to rent the Sheriff’s Posse House to contain all the giggling cousins and laughing aunts and uncles in. Heart felt wishes and blessing to you and Joe, and gathering friends and family this year!!
Thank you SO much for posting this blog. I look every morning before I go to work and love it when I see a new blog. Thanks also for making it so easy to find the utensils you work with (links). Love that! Love the ongoing stories about Jack. He is something else. Love the tuxedo cats. :))
Something quirky for Thanksgiving I had years ago was a green jello concoction called cement salad because the serving bowl was so heavy with jello, cottage cheese, crushed pineapple, celery and walnuts….really pretty tasty!
Ahh, what a lovely giveaway book, you are always so fun to read thank thank thank you!! This isn’t odd now but when I first had it it was and it is succotash… I didn’t grow up with it, but my east coast hubby did and also maybe oyster dressing….which I say no way! I do enjoy the succotash now and have it every Thanksgiving… Funny how we always want what we grew up with. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
You too Rebekah!
Thanksgiving has to be one of my favorites and my Grandma Bobbie always made “Fluffy Fruit Salad” When I got married 17 yrs ago my sweet new sister -in-law Loved it so now it is a must every year at our house. I think it may be so she can have leftovers to take home.
Happy cooking everyone!
Tickled pink I am all over that little leaf person who just had to take you safely to market to market (did you buy a fat pig?)
Gravy, gravy, and more gravy! When you said that magic word along with leftovers I was whisked away to my childhood and the most amazing soup my Nanna would make for me. Only she knew the recipe, so I cannot recreate it, no matter how hard I try! Believe me, I have tried! I know it had left over gravy and chicken pan drippings and onions, but what else I do not know. Real, rustic, po’folk food it was. Gravy is one of those things that is often better reheated too. My favourite comfort food is mash potatoes, fried onion gravy, and (vegetarian) sausages.
I don’t know that I’ve ever had anything strange or quirky at Thanksgiving . . does that make me a boring person? Does this mean I have not lived? I will share my very first Thanksgiving memory though . . I was newly wed, to a USN Petty Officer, I was in Jacksonville and he was out at sea. I was all alone in a strange country (well, not that America is strange, but I am Welsh) and knew nothing of Thanksgiving. A few days before, I’d bought myself a turkey TV dinner tray (sad, I know) and not really looking forward to a day completely on my own while everyone else was having big family gatherings and loads of home cooking. About 10:00 a.m. there was a tap on my door, it was my lovely neighbour. She said, “C’mon Deb, get your glad rags on, you’re coming to St Augustine with me to my folks for Thanksgiving!” I will never forget that first Thanksgiving. I learned a lot about the good folks of America and their incredible hospitality at inviting a total stranger into their home for what is essentially a family day. Since then, my house became an open door, mainly for the single and unaccompanied at the barracks, on Thanksgiving Day, and I’ve catered dinners for small gatherings up to 36 squeezed in to all too small a space. I’m back to celebrating on my own these days, but I always celebrate Thanksgiving in my little corner of Wales.
SUCH a nice story . . . xoxo
Loved your story. Generous hospitality always puts tears in my eyes. 🙂 The good kind of tears.
Now THAT is what Thanksgiving is about! Lovely story.
I am so thankful that you have started a blog. It has become one of my favorites. I found one your cookbooks in my mother in law’s house years ago and have since acquired all of them. The blog is a wonderful supplement to your books. You have the market cornered on cozy!
Thanks Victoria!
Many, many years ago at my parents home (both are deceased) my dad decided he wanted to barbecue the turkey – and that was that – his decision. HOWEVER, my mom, to afraid of the outcome – roasted another, just in case. Dad towered over the barbie all day, watching to be sure everything was working out and perfect – which it turned out to be. SO – TWO turkeys that year…lots of turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, turkey casseroles. I, personally, was a very happy camper.
Hahaha!
I love tea. Every day, it starts my day.
I love dishes. Pretty dishes, flowers and swirls and mixed together patterns.
I love tea pots. I have seven.
I love my friends. I love having them come over to talk and talk.
I love to serve tea and goodies to my friends drinking tea at my table with a tablecloth while we are having a good chat.
I would love love love this book!
My favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner (besides being with my wonderful family) is “the leftovers” ! I like that better than the main, hot meal ! I love cold turkey sandwiches on toast, with a little mayo, and a layer each of cold dressing (stuffing) and cranberry sauce (has to be “whole” cranberry sauce). 🙂 Then on Thanksgiving evening, I start thinking about getting the Christmas decorations out the next day – and starting my Christmas cards ! 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone ! Take care.
Thanks Helen!
Dear Susan~
Thank you for this wonderful glimpse into your life….your blog. It’s so fun to find a new one! As awesome as your pictures and your stories are…I have to say my favorite thing is reading the comments from all of our girlfriends! I have laughed out loud more in the past couple of days between the Margot story and the quirky Thanksgiving stories! ….too funny! ….and what fun memories have been awaken in me!
Our traditions are just beginning to change since 2 of our 4 grown children have recently married and we are expecting our first granddaughter any day now. Actually, next week, George and I will be flying to SC to meet the precious baby. So our family will be split up on the holiday but everyone will be with family and friends….that’s all that matters, right? When we ARE all able to be together, it will be a celebration ~ a Thanks-giving ~ and I’ll pull out as many traditions as possible, including the homemade bread stuffing with fresh sage from my herb garden!
Congratulations on all the well-deserved recognition, Sue! I’ll be looking for both the book and the magazine.
Enjoy the next few days of “setting the stage” and all the reflection on just what it is we have to be thankful for….
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
xoxoDebbie
The same to you Debbie . . . and I agree, I laugh every day at the great comments, or cry!
My family has always been very traditional with the holidays, including turkey and homemade rolls and pumpkin pie etc. One Thanksgiving I like to remember that reminds me to count my blessings was when our first son was just a baby. We had moved to a new state just prior to his birth and had no family, few friends and little money. So little money that spaghetti was our Thanksgiving meal. And thankful we were for that. Little did we know that some generous families from a little country church would show up at our door with weeks worth of bags of groceries for our pantry! It’s interesting how difficult it can be to be on the receiving end of kind generosity. And now we pass it forward for truly Happy Thanksgivings!
By far easier to give than to take, but a beautiful thing on both sides.
Susan, How many of you ARE there? Willard AND a new blog post? I am getting spoiled. I thought you would like to know that today is National Bundt Day! Your chocolate tree cake on Willard reminded me. My newest bundt pan is one that makes 4 different mini bundts! Can’t wait to try it. Thanks for your lovely images, both visual AND the one’s conjured by your written words.
You are welcome Julie! Happy National Bundt Day — love that!
Susan, I love how you prepare for an “event”. I also like to prepare as much in advance as possible. I love Thanksgiving. Your leaf name place cards are adorable. I make really good Southern Cornbread Dressing and great gravy. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! But one must have my mom’s congealed Cranberry Salad and delicious Maple Dressing to serve with it. I really like the magazine”Where Women Cook”. May you and Joe have a blessed and glorious Thanksgiving!
Spiced peaches—always spiced peaches at my grandmother Elsie’s Thanksgiving table–cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little allspice! The books looks lovely–crossing my fingers and hoping to win!
V
Susan,
This is a first….leaving a comment on anyone’s blog. I love all that you do, but
most of all, I love the spirit in which you do it. At Christmas, I’m allowed to
be “quirky,” but not at Thanksgiving. My husband likes to be home, having the same meal we’ve had for the last 33 years. His comment is, “I have so much to be thankful for, I want to be home and eat at our table.”
Your words in Willard were wonderful. “It’s a Norman Rockwell moment…..and in the mind of God.” Such a glorious thought.
Thanks so much,
Rachel Scott
You are welcome and thank you for leaving this nice comment!
The most wonderful thing I ever received on Thanksgiving Day was my second child, a beautiful baby girl who will turn 15 in a few days — not on Thanksgiving this year, but who arrived on Turkey Day in 1996!
Now that’s the best of all! 🙂
good morning Susan, i do have a funny Thanksgiving story that sort of grwew into a tradition for about 5 years, but first i have to ask you a question about the stuffing. my grandma used to take pieces of dried bread break them into 2 halves, put butter on them and sprinkle sage on them and stuff them into the bird, came out as the best stuffing i ever ate, she also made stuffing the conventional way but i was wondering if you had ever heard of this way of doing stuffing??? now for the funny story. when i was growing up, we lived in a very close knit neighborhood and of course every kid knew knew all the other kids on the block. well this couple had moved into the neighborhood and they had grown kids so we didn’t know them too well. but it appeared that the wife did not how to cook or this was her first Thanksgiving and it started off with a bang…literally. now while the adults are all talking and watching football and so on, the kids were all out playing and goofing around like kids do. when we heard a loud sort of boom/bang and then smoke began to pour out these folks’ kitchen window. seems the wife had overstuffed the bird, and sewn all the holes closed( well skewered them shut i guess) and the bird blew up in the oven and caught the kitchen on fire. being kids we had to go see what was going and watch the fire dept arrive and put out the fire. the couplke went out to dinner for Thanksgiving and thats where the story became a tradition, each year for 5 years the bird blew up in the oven, they went out to dinner and she got a new kitchen each christmas and every kid for blocks around would camp on the lawn across the road from them and bet on the time when the bird would blow up and when the fire dept would arrive. we had the grown-ups in on the fun and the bets by the second year. got to be a regular Thanksgiving tradition to wait for the bird to blow up and the fire dept to show up. the funniest dish i can remember was when my mom tried and tried to bake a pumpkin pie and it kept coming out soupy, finally my aunt pointed out the pie would come out okay if she would remember to close the oven door and turn on the oven. got to be a big laugh every year with us. i love the idea of painting on the leaves the guests names, i usually make the leaves and color them myself in all the Autumn colors for the table. a very Happy Thanksgiving to you, joe and to girl kitty and jack from our household and cats. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!! 🙂
Pat, that is such a funny story…about your neighbors! Great way to get a new kitchen if you are in need of one! Ha!
Hi Susan! That recipe for the biscuits sounds delicious, I’m going to have to give those a try. Wow, that’s so great you’re featured in that book and magazine — We have been trying to keep you a secret, but I guess the word got out!
Well, as far as quirky Thanksgivings I have to say was my first Thanksgiving after my husband and I were married in 1968. We decided since it was only the two of us and we had no family near, we should go out to eat. The problem was the only restaurant we could find open was a Chinese one. We were about the only couple in the restaurant now that I remember, too. We ordered a turkey dinner, but since it was a Chinese restaurant I don’t really think they had any turkey. So what they brought to our table I think was actually a TV dinner that they had cooked and turned out on a plate for us. It did look much better at least on a plate than in the aluminum container. Think of The Christmas Story with Ralphie and his family, and you can kind of get the picture, except they didn’t come to our table and sing. It looked kind of like the same restaurant actually, too! Thanks for sharing your days with us Susan, I hope you know how much we all love and appreciate you! OH – and I’d LOVE to win the book! Sharon xxxoo
I have just finished reading your Willard and must tell you I think it just might be your best one ever. I smiled and giggled as I read about your little gymnast kitty cat, but when I read about the reason you step outside on Thanksgiving… oh my goodness, so.very.beautiful. Thank you for sharing that, Susan. You touch my life in more ways than you may ever know, but that is such a wonderful ritual you have and put’s it all into perspective so well. I wish that (don’t want to say too much in case some haven’t read Willard yet) whole thing could be put into one of your books at some point. I know I will be re-reading it often.
I love your post today too. In fact, I think I may be on an overload of wonderfulness … car trips with a little leaf, recipes, beautiful memories, lovely table settings, etc … I can’t really think of any strange foods we’ve had at Thanksgiving, but I can tell you we will also be having rainbow jello. It is a highly requested dish with our family. So pretty and tasty and reminds me of my mom :).
One last thing, I wanted to mention that I recently saw the movie “J Edgar” and in one of the last scenes he was eating dinner and on the table was a Victorian banana bowl. Having never heard of one until your giveaway, I couldn’t stop looking at it. It looked like they had something other than bananas in it and I was trying to figure out what. LOL. It looked like maybe carrots. Funny as before your post on this item I wouldn’t have even noticed it.
Thank you, Susan, so very much for everything you do to spread happiness and joy.
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