I’ll Turn On My Oven For This

We celebrate Thanksgiving with just our nuclear family. In 2005, we were married the Saturday before Thanksgiving and I shared my birthday with Thanksgiving day. As newlyweds, we had decided we would alternate years between in-laws for Easter and Christmas, and wanted Thanksgiving to be all our own.

That first Thanksgiving, my twenty-first birthday, I had bought two turkey legs, thinking we could not afford a whole turkey. I bought a box of stuffing and made my Grammy’s recipe for mashed potatoes. Of course, my Grammy’s recipe was to feed twenty, so I cut it in half. I opened a can of corn, dumped it in a bowl and popped it in the microwave. I also bought two of those individual pies, pumpkin flavored. I think I bought a can of refrigerator rolls, too.

This year’s Thanksgiving menu looks quite different.

Turkey with gravy – The best sale we have here for turkey is for $0.40 per pound. I have bought two and already cooked one. We’ve eaten about half of it. I might buy a third. I just cook turkey according to the package directions, in the oven, but if you need help, you can call the Butterball hot line, 1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372).

Sourdough rolls – I’m using my regular bread recipe but forming the dough into rolls. I might get real spiffy and try crescents.

Sourdough stuffing - I’m making a regular loaf of sourdough bread and making it into basic bread stuffing. I’m taking out the water and poultry seasoning in this recipe and using broth, sage, thyme and parsley instead.

Crock Pot Applesauce – I’m making it from the rest of the apples from my mom’s orchard, stevia, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of cloves.

Corn – I went to Whole Foods and got some of their organic frozen corn for a special treat. This will be a GMO free Thanksgiving, except for the turkey’s feed.

Mashed Potato – They will be mashed with my cream cheese and fresh grown green onions.

Blender Egg Nog – I sometimes get eggs from my step-mom, who keeps chickens, but if you’re worried about consuming raw eggs, the cooked egg nog recipe doesn’t look too difficult.

Pumpkin Custard – This is basically pumpkin pie filling without the crust.

Do you think we’ll have enough?

Once again, we were offered a Thanksgiving basket from our church. This year, an elder graciously called with the offer, as opposed to last year when a lady we didn’t know approached us telling us she had our turkey in her car. We didn’t feel uncomfortable with the offer this year and are thankful to be loved.

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