Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Yes, I love the food, but more importantly I love our family time together. When was a kid I loved the smells that filled the house when my Mom would cook her home made pies the day before Thanksgiving. I loved the smell of the turkey that always went into the oven very early on Thanksgiving morning and would fill the house all morning long. Mom would make all the regular dishes: dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, scalloped corn casserole, green bean casserole with dried onions, Grandma's homemade egg noodles and homemade gravy. There was nothing better than a big spoon full of mashed potatoes with a spoonful of noodles put right on top! Carbs for everyone!!

The kitchen table was covered with flour and noodles being rolled out, cut and left to dry. There were pots of water boiling for potatoes and noodles. The mixer humming and spoons hitting the side of bowls while my Mom was whipping up her Thanksgiving master pieces. I cherish those memories. As I start my pie baking on Wednesday my Mom will be in my thoughts as I use all the tricks she taught me to make pies lip-smacking good.

As I got older and we would go to my older siblings' houses for Thanksgiving, there were always some of the old dishes, but also something new and delicious ones. When our extended family was small we would all still get together and bring a dish to contribute to the old regular dishes. Then the families just got too big and wanted to start their own traditions and family get-togethers. We also had years when we went to our in-laws for Thanksgiving and shared in their traditions.

Now, I have my own family with adult children and grandchildren, and we have our own family traditions and traditional foods. The pie baking has stayed the same as when my Mom made them.  I make my turkey with a mixture of recipes from both my Mom and my Mother in-law. But I still make the dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes the way my Mom made them. Our traditional foods now also include a broccoli casserole, carrot souffle, and grape salad. I save my Grandmas homemade egg noodles for the left over turkey. I always make turkey and noodles, and turkey enchiladas with our turkey leftovers. So, I now have Thanksgiving traditions and after Thanksgiving leftover traditions. We are overachievers, LOL!

As on all Thanksgivings I am thankful for the memories. The memories of Thanksgivings as a kid in a house full of love. The memories of the great food made by my Mom, the prayer of thanks by my Pop, and the fun and games with my brothers and sisters. Now I get to help my kids and grandkids form their Thanksgiving memories and hope they look back at past Thanksgivings with as much love and happiness as I do.

Happy Thanksgiving!