LESLIE BUDEWITZ: It’s the season for gatherings. After a year without cookie exchanges, game day chili feeds, and holiday gatherings, most of us are more than ready to set that big, beautiful turkey on the table for a Thanksgiving dinner with friends and relatives.
Mr. Right and I love hosting Holiday Brunch on a Sunday in mid December, a tradition I started ages ago as a young single woman. I was still teaching myself to cook, and always tested every dish before it went on the menu—a lesson learned after the bread didn’t rise and I had to run to a bakery-café a few blocks away with my fingers crossed!
It’s a great excuse to decorate the house and, on the day itself, to drink champagne in the morning! Some of our friends met through our brunch and now get together at other times of year; some only see each other once a year. Most are artistic—musicians, painters, and writers, with or without a day job. One year, we introduced an oil painter and a pastel painter who had admired each other’s work and been in the same galleries, but had never met. And each has her own special dish she contributes!
A buffet works best for us, with coffee and other beverages set up on a table just inside the front door to minimize the kitchen chaos. I love using my mother-in-law’s dishes and my mother’s tablecloths and sterling—and the champagne glasses she bought for us at thrift stores!
(We do recognize not everyone is ready to gather in person. We’re grateful you’re gathering with us here at the Kitchen, and lift a glass to you.)
What about you, blog sisters and readers? Do you like to host? Prefer to be a guest? Is there something you always ask someone else to bring? Share a favorite party tip, if you’d like. Leave a comment below, with your email address, for a chance to win this month’s fabulous prize package.
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MADDIE DAY: I love this topic, Leslie. I can't wait to host Thanksgiving this year, as I always do, with the exception of 2020. This year we'll have my older son and his wife, and our good friends who come each year. I'm grateful my goddaughter will be there with her four year old and four-month-old son, who can't be vaccinated. All the rest of us are and are super careful people. We might open the windows if it's not too cold out!
A version from six years ago |
I usually set the table with white damask topped with a smaller fall tablecloth, my mother's lovely Lennox Wheat china, and my grandmother's silver. I make three or four pies the day before. On the feast day I roast a turkey and make my mom's bread stuffing, smashed potatoes with skins, and gravy. (And yes, morning drinking has been known to occur...) The guests bring all the rest!
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LESLIE KARST: This is what Thanksgiving looks like in Hawai‘i—or at least what the host’s front porch looks like, since no one wears shoes indoors in these parts.
This year, Robin and I will return after a lapse of two years to our friend’s home down in Puna, on the Big Island, for her annual Thanksgiving potluck. There will likely be turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, lau lau (steamed pork and fish wrapped in ti leaves), macaroni salad (an island favorite which traditionally includes tunafish), perhaps some poi, as well as pumpkin, pecan, and haupia (coconut pudding) pies.
Of course when you host a party in Hawai‘i, it always becomes a potluck whether you want it to be or not, because no one ever goes to another’s home for a meal here without bringing something to share. What a lovely tradition. Hau'oli Lā Ho'omaika'i (Happy Thanksgiving) to all!
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TINA KASHIAN: This year, we will host the day before Thanksgiving for my family and then travel on Thanksgiving day to my husband's family in the Poconos. After two years of not hosting or traveling, we are looking forward to giving thanks with all of our family. My party tip is to have a table just for the kids and teens. My mother always had a table just for us and we loved it. Looking back it was out of necessity for her because we had a big family and not everyone fit around our dining room table. But it was always fun to eat with my cousins and sisters and we could chat about things that our parents would not want to hear! I follow this tradition now and set the table with fun plates for the kids and teens. I'm sharing a picture (I got these at Target). I wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!
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LUCY BURDETTE: We're still staying small and local and having a few vaccinated neighbors to our house. I'll be in charge of the turkey, gravy, cornbread stuffing, and hopefully a pumpkin cheesecake if I can find the right pan! All of your celebrations sound so wonderful! Wouldn't it be fun one year to get together for a potluck with all the bloggers of Mystery Lovers Kitchen? Imagine how amazing the food would be...I'd vote for inviting alumnae as well by the way....
Turkey and Evinrude from Lucy's A Deadly Feast |
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PEG COCHRAN/MARGARET LOUDON: We've been hosting holiday gatherings since I was in my 20s and living in a tiny New York City apartment! We'd have my in-laws and my parents, my sister-in-law and her husband, my sister and niece after they moved back from California and often my late husband's aunt as well. And we always invited any of our friends who would otherwise have been alone. Sometimes we did Thanksgiving and sometimes we did both Thanksgiving and Christmas. My mother-in-law always helped with the prep and I learned a lot from her. After I remarried, we spent one Thanksgiving at my in-laws where they managed to fit twenty-two people around the table! My mother-in-law was a master of organization and did most of the cooking herself although we'd chip in to set the table, collect the extra folding chairs she borrowed from the church and do any peeling and chopping that was needed at the last minute. And of course the clean-up!
If I had a tip for entertaining it would be to make as much of the food as possible in advance--plan your menu around things that don't require a lot of last minute prep so you can enjoy your guests. And if someone wanted to bring something I usually suggested a salad because for some reason I hate washing lettuce!
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MOLLY MACRAE: I love reading about all your Thanksgiving traditions. When I was growing up, our Thanksgiving dinners were crowded with family and delicious with all the trimmings. I loved helping with all of it. Chopping giblets with Granny - and sneaking tastes. Mixing the stuffing - and sneaking a crispy bit of it when it came out of the oven. Sneaking a crispy piece of skin. (I was one of six kids, and there were cousins and other relatives around, and it seems like an awful lot of us sneaked tastes. It's a wonder there was anything left to serve.)
For the first few years after Mike and I married, we took turns going to his family and mine. Then we moved away and started our own traditions - family and friends always being a part of them, even if only through phone calls. In fact, talking on the phone with my sister Jenny, nineteen years ago, improved one of our favorite dishes. Jenny and I talked and laughed and talked (and talked and talked) and I lost track of how long the sweet potato spears had been in the oven - so long they'd started to caramelize and the edges were quite dark, which is not what the recipe called for. But eureka! They were sensational and we've over-roasted them every year since. That's what I call better cooking through loving conversation.
roasted sweet potato spears with molasses horseradish glaze - yum! |
May your Thanksgiving be full of warm food and warmer memories.
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CLEO COYLE: For Marc and I, Thanksgiving is always a day for counting our blessings, despite challenges and setbacks. We dealt with Ida flooding this year and lots of loss, but we have each other and our motley family of New York stray rescue cats and that's what matters most. We're also thankful to be working toward a new writing deadline, so no travel or parties this Thanksgiving. Instead, we’ll be celebrating small but with a big (huge!) turkey because we love, love, love our leftovers AND serving our kitties the treat of juicy, warm turkey meat. The side dishes will include my special stuffing and cranberry sauce, Marc’s creamy mashed potatoes, and plenty of gravy!Our best tip is for those of you preparing frozen birds. Be sure to give that turkey time to thaw before cooking! There are far too many stories of turkey-day disasters with cooks who forgot (or didn't know) they needed to thaw their frozen bird. You'll need several days to thaw it in the fridge or you can speed up the process by submerging the bird in COLD water, which you'll need to change regularly and keep cold. (Never thaw a frozen bird at room temperature OR in warm water, either of which can promote the growth of dangerous bacteria.) Click here for handy tips on thawing and (if you missed it) check out our own recent recipe post where we shared OUR SECRET TO CRISPY-SKINNED TURKEY.
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WOW! As a single working mom and teacher, I love ALL BOOKS and I'd be so grateful if I was chosen your lucky giveaway winner! nicole 2 inspect at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteThere are some fun Christmas reads here!
DeleteWhat a wonderful giveaway! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteclarksrfun at gmail dot com
I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving is year.
ReplyDeleteKitten143 (at) Verizon (dot) net
Through the years, there was always a gathering at Mom and Dad's home. Mom was an exceptional cook/baker making everything from scratch. Over time, I would do more and more to help Mom out and bringing dishes for the gatherings. Until one day she said it would be easier to just gather at my home. Then Mom would come and help me giving me hints about what worked and what didn't. As time went by we modified things to make them easier. Like the Three Day Coconut Cake which was a stable at gatherings not only because it was requested, but because it could be made ahead of time. Unlike Mom who had to buy the coconut, crack and peel it before grating it, I found packages of fresh frozen grater coconut at the store. Same amazing results and less work. There were always dishes that everyone expected, but I often found room to experiment with new recipes adding to or giving us more choices to our festive meals.
ReplyDeleteNow it's just hubby and me and although we do fix the typical festive spreads from time to time, we have learned to be thankful for each day. If we get the craving for turkey or chicken and dressing, then that's when we have it. In fact we had what you would call a typical Thanksgiving meal about 2 weeks ago. It will depend on the weather and our cravings at the time what we will eat next week on Thursday. We will have a small gathering the following week when we travel up to visit with hubby's 92 year old Mom and his sister. To give my sister-in-law a break, I usually plan the meals and take with us all that's needed to carry them out. We will be very thankful for being able to spend a few days together once again.
Whatever your plans are for this year, my wish is that everyone have safe travels, a grand time with family and friends, lots of great food and most of all to remember what they have to be thankful for. As for me, one of the things I will be thankful for is all the wonderful authors and their talents in bringing fabulous reading materials to all of us to enjoy.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Thank you, Kay, for the wonderful Thanksgiving story of food and family. Happy reading and eating!
DeleteKay, you tell us the loveliest of stories1 Mr. Right agrees with you that the Thanksgiving turkey and related favorites should be made any time -- and when we used to travel to siblings' homes and end up with no leftovers, he often made a Thanksgiving meal for New Year's Day!
DeleteHappy Holidays! For a few years I hosted a holiday brunch in my home for the older "church ladies" who had been so welcoming and warm to me when I joined. It was a chance for me to try an unusual recipe for the main course with the group of wonderful cooks, and to get some lovely additions they would bring. And to go a little overboard with fancy table settings, place cards, etc. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteExcept for the deep fried turkey my husband loves and always makes now, I can't seem to (don't want to) stray from the traditional foods and arrangements from my childhood. Our big treat was to get a small saucer of the stuffing after it had been in the oven for a couple of hours. We still do that. This year we'll have a slightly larger table with more guests which will be a treat, and I love how we all just put "vaccinated" in front of the word guests. Seems to me the safer we continue to be the larger our tables can get.
Thanks for another great giveaway. sallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com
Much as we love our menfolk and other relatives, it is fun to entertain a group of women now and then, isn't it? And to "go a little overboard"!
DeleteHappy Thanksgiving! It's not really a tip, but it's helpful if the oven is working. One year the turkey was just taking forever to get done- way longer than it should have. Next day the oven would not heat at all. It was the original oven in the house so not surprising that it burned out eventually, just not a great day to do so!
ReplyDeletekozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com
Yikes! That may be the most important tip of all, Alicia!
DeleteI love hosting! Over the years I have had my family and my in laws for Thanksgiving. Now with family members passing or moving away it is just my husband, daughter and myself. Nice and cozy. Great books in this giveaway! thank you for the chance!
ReplyDeleteemail is hsdh1525@gmail.com
DeleteBig and noisy, small and cozy -- love 'em all, right?
DeleteLovely looking and sounding spreads!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and granddaughter are visiting a friend in Oregon for several days, so m husband and I are eating things she doesn't care for.
Last night was a pre-cooked goose from Schiltz (https://www.schiltzfoods.com/). It comes frozen and that's how you cook it. Moist and tasty. Net time I'll add a fruity glaze at the end.
As to leftovers, King Arthur Baking has a recipe for turkey pie that is reminiscent of the Great British Baking show. https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/turkey-dinner-pie-recipe
Regarding children's tables--It seemed like we couldn't wait to graduate to the adult table, only to find out the conversation wasn't any more interesting! Tina you were already at the more interesting table, weren't you?
libbydodd at comcast dot net
Oh, Libby -- love that you use the opportunity to eat things your young uns don't care for! And that goose sounds marvelous.
DeleteHappy Thanksgiving! I usually spend Thanksgiving in Michigan at my Sister's. We have a small family and before Covid we usually had friends over for dinner. This year it will just be our family.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Where in Michigan? I live in Grand Rapids.
DeleteAs a guest, arrive with a bag of ice and enough beverages to share. I also like to bring an after-dinner liqueur that can be drizzled over vanilla ice cream (any of Van Meer's dessert liqueurs work great.)
ReplyDeleteBattyDawna@gmail.com
Betty, you can be a guest at my house any time!
DeleteI hope all of you, readers as well as writers, have a wonderful and safe holiday. We will gather, as a family, thankful for the Lord's blessings.
ReplyDeleteWhen my husband was alive we would go to his families house and my husband always made scalloped potatoes which was everyone's favorite and we Would make his mothers homemade fudge recipe. I now go to my sons and celebrate with him and his family. Thanks for your great generosity. Maycarlson6848@gmail.com Linda Msy
ReplyDeleteWould love to read these, they all look good!
ReplyDeleteLeave your email address for the chance! (So we can contact you.)
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your Beautiful table settings, marvelous menus, Secret cooking tips-that I will be using :-) Your Kindness always glows.
DeleteWe have hosted holidays since my beloved Grandma passed. Dad's mom. Recently we lost dad's entire side of the family except 1 cousin of mine a wonderful distinguished Professor,on the other side of the country. We keep in touch & together are writing stories about our grandparents for the children.
I am keeping all of them 'at the Holiday Table' by report them with their dishes. Gran had an Apple orchard so we made alot of Apple pie & applesauce, Auntie Ruth was a life long nurse,took grans potato casserole full of butter and made it healthy. Dear cousin Dorothy left us too soon From ALS loved making a fabulous relish tray, Aunt Flo would make flaky rolls.. You get it. Each beloved has a RECIPE CARD on our holiday table. We even have grandpa's cap & boots under the coffee table where he enjoyed coffee & reading. He always read something before a family meal from his daily reading📖. The Holidays are much suited but I have a marvelous family. Dear Daughter wanted to have us at her home. We could see the 2grangirls & the furchild we gave them to help one of the girl's. Except. Dr told husband at physical on Thurs he must be in isolation until his upper surgery. He has 2 in the next month. Rt reverse shoulder replacement Dec 8, after that abdominal repair. He is 3 years out of stage 3 cancer surgeries radiation. So .. we have to figure something out, the boy & fury need some holiday food.
Wal-Mart Delivery hahaa.
We do have our Christmas lights up inside, the boy is Happy to turn the tree on.
Happy Turkey day to you all
Gkathgoldin@yahoo.com
I love hosting! This year will just be small family gathering. I usually make some food dishes the day before just to make it easier! Awesome books in a great giveaway! Thanks for the chance!!
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Since I am an introvert, I don't always have a lot of people at my house. Only my family. There are times I do want to invite others, but thanI get nervous. I am not a great conversationalist. That is why I read my books. lol �� With my family we like to do buffet style. It is more comfortable and casual.
ReplyDeletestrgth4yu(at)hotmail(dot)com
Buffets are lovely! That's how we serve our holiday brunch, and they are ideal for small spaces like ours. "Comfy and casual" -- exactly!
Deleteoh what a wonderful post today. thanks everyone for sharing. so fun. no I am not big into hosting. I tend to stress out too much. but my sister and I will do it together for the holidays. she is more of a hostess than I am. these books look like a lot of fun. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
ReplyDeleteLove that you and your sister share -- sounds like just the ticket!
DeleteFirst time my siblings and I will be together since Covid appeared. We're celebrating at my brother's home. My sister-in-law is making a turkey breast, my sister will be bringing a seafood dish and I'm preparing a beef stir fry. Assorted side dishes and desserts round out the menu. Wishing all a Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
I live in FL and it's kind of a tradition of our to go to the beach for Thanksgiving and there's a very nice restaurant that has a special menu for Thanksgiving. I'll make dessert to have at home. Thank you so much for a chance at this wonderful giveaway!! pgenest57 at aol dot com
ReplyDeleteThank you authors for sharing your stories with us!
ReplyDeleteI remember too well one Thanksgiving my first husband and I had all of his family for dinner. I fancied myself as a pretty good cook but it was my first time baking a turkey. As we were all enjoying our tasty meal my oldest and most judgmental sister-in-law went over to help herself to more turkey and burst out laughing. Everyone looked up and saw her standing there holding a small white bag. Much to my dismay I had not known the bag contained the giblets that I was supposed to remove from the Turkey's rear end before it went into the oven! My sister-in-law never let me forget it! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Thank you authors for sharing your stories with us!
ReplyDeleteI remember too well one Thanksgiving my first husband and I had all of his family for dinner. I fancied myself as a pretty good cook but it was my first time baking a turkey. As we were all enjoying our tasty meal my oldest and most judgmental sister-in-law went over to help herself to more turkey and burst out laughing. Everyone looked up and saw her standing there holding a small white bag. Much to my dismay I had not known the bag contained the giblets that I was supposed to remove from the Turkey's rear end before it went into the oven! My sister-in-law never let me forget it! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I host for my immediate family. This year it will be my hubby, my 2 teenagers, my twin sister, my mother and my brother. I keep things simple and casual. Everything is set out buffet style and then we all sit at the dining table, say grace, and eat. I will cook for days starting tomorrow but we love enjoying the leftovers the next day and beyond. Thanks for the giveaway! Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteCozies are a great way to spend time while eating alone in a restaurant. If I’m lucky, I get 3 meals from one book. Much prefer print over ebook for this
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I have had a variety of experiences on Thanksgivings through the years. Each brings it's own special moments. Egoehner(at)roadrunner(dot)com.
ReplyDeleteWe will be hosting Thanksgiving for our immediate family "bubble". We are keeping it simple this year!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Cool. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom
ReplyDeleteThis year Thanksgiving day for us here in Texas has all the makings of being special. Our granddaughter who lives in Littleton, CO is going to be here this week. We haven't seen her in over a year! We will gather at our daughter's home because she loves to "feed people." We'll have turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, my daughter's famous broccoli & cheese casserole & for dessert her even more famous pistachio dessert. lnchudej@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteShe loves to feed people -- perfect! A library book club sent me a gift card to Penzey's Spice and when my order came, it included a bumper sticker with their motto: "Love people -- cook them tasty food"!
DeleteI love to host!! I used to do the whole dinner but these days I love to meet with my friends and enjoy a meal together at our favorite restaurant. lindalou64(@)live(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThis year I will be going to my son's and his soon to be wife's in Orlando, FL. Don't know what we will be having, but know it will be good and made with love. My whole family used to get together for Thanksgiving but over the years as we all had children, we don't do that anymore. I love the holidays and look forward to them all year. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. conney.parkhurst@gmail.com.
ReplyDelete"Made with love" -- doesn't matter what it is if that ingredient's present, does it? Enjoy!
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your Thanksgiving stories. I like hosting Thanksgiving: planning the menu, balancing old favorites with something new, setting the table, gathering around the table with no expectations beyond enjoying family and food.
ReplyDelete"No expectations" -- so important! Happy Thanksgiving!
DeleteMy sister and her husband usually host Thanksgiving. They cook the turkey and stuffing and gravy. The rest of the family brings the sides, appetizers and dessert. The food is served buffet style. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
ReplyDeletewskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com
What a lovely selection of books for the holiday season! I will be celebrating my 75th birthday on Thanksgiving day with my family. It doesn't seem possible!! cbrusegar@aol.com
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Carol!
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ReplyDeletethis year I have started a new tradition. while we will all be here at my house for the big day, I have started the week off by helping out at our local food pantry handing out thanksgiving boxes to those in need. This is our first year doing it and I am having fun while helping those in need this thanksgiving. emilysmom34@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteSo kind and thoughtful, Emily. My mother participated in the holiday box prep and delivery at her church for years, and loved it.
DeleteI love Thanksgiving and having all the family together and wonderful food that everybody makes and brings! Thanks for the opportunity! tWarner419@aol.com
ReplyDeleteLeslie B.--to answer your original question, yes I've enjoyed hosting, since I was a child and helped my mother entertain on so many occasions. She loved to "feed people" as an expression of love and welcoming. After I got married it seems like our house, no matter where my husband & I lived, was always considered 'Party Central'! My tip, besides doing things ahead of time, is to use all available things from decorations down to crockpots, and the microwave, and now the IP, to keep things warm and free up the oven and stovetop! And to not hesitate to ask for help, as when some people offer to bring things; for those who don't cook they can bring rolls, wine, or store-bought goodies! It's all good, and makes it easier! lola777_22 at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas -- thanks, Lynn!
DeleteI’d prefer to be a guest. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
ReplyDeleteMeljprincess AT aol DOT com
DeleteHappy Thanksgiving authors! I prefer to be a guest at holidays!! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteYou are all my favorite authors! Reading your books has helped get me thru all the Covid lockdowns & insecurities. I love reading about your Thanksgiving traditions! This year will be another quiet Thanksgiving because my son & I will be volunteering for San Diego Comic-Con Friday-Sunday. We work in the Blood Drive booth making appointments, gathering items from the vendors on the sales floor that will be used in a drawing for blood donors, guiding donors to the Blood Drive Room. It will be interesting! Happy Holidays everyone! Chanukah starts at sundown on Sunday, November 28th! Enjoy!!!💜
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful, generous thing to do, JD! Be sure to leave your email address to be part of the drawing.
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