Thanksgiving Dinner Preview

I’m cooking Thanksgiving Dinner this year. Don’t ask. If you have followed me for a while (more than a few years) you’ve probably picked up that Thanksgiving is

a) My favorite holiday, and

b) My least favorite holiday

Go ahead… try and figure that one out.

I always loved Thanksgiving as a kid… as an adult, I’ve hated it for a number of reasons, mostly because it never ended up being like I remembered it as a kid. I hosted Thanksgiving a few years ago and swore I would never do it again… primarily because it is

a) A lot of work, and

b) A lot of work

Last year I was so fed up with the holiday that I packed up my family and we went out of town to celebrate. It was glorious. Mostly because we didn’t have any arguments about what was being served (we ate at a restaurant) and it was just the 5 of us spending quality and quantity time together.

My husband enjoyed being away, but he mostly did it to make me happy. This year he wasn’t going for it again… so he decided WE were going to host it this year. Of course, when the husband says WE… what he really means is

the wife will shop and clean for days, cook all the food, set the table, stress out like nobody’s business, have to put all the leftovers away while clearing the table and doing the dishes and then trying to reconcile why we spent hundreds of dollars on one dinner.

But really… I’ve decided that I don’t give a #$%^ what anyone else thinks this year because I’m preparing my feast for MY children. I’m doing it this year so Thanksgiving will become their favorite holiday. I want them to grow up with good memories of turkey and sweet potatoes, fresh baked rolls and a bounty of desserts. My girls are excited to help (that is, until I actually need the help) and if my girls can crawl into their beds at night with happy thoughts of Thanksgiving then I’ve done a good job.

So here it is… my Thanksgiving Banquet Menu:

Turkey with Gravy
Sweet Potato Casserole
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Homemade Applesauce
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Fresh Baked Rolls
Orange Cranberry Sauce
Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie

What’s on your Thanksgiving menu?