GoTravel, tell your husband to get a Brinkman electric smoker. They're the best, and you don't have to keep feeding it charcoal.

I'm also smoking a turkey this year. It's the best, and it'll be my backup in case the one in the brown paper bag with popcorn stuffing doesn't come out. ((a)) ((b))

Scarlett - we certainly will wave toward Jacksonville as we exit the airport on our way to Amelia, or on the way back to the airport at (gulp!) 5am on Sunday. We sometimes go into Jacksonville for movies or shopping while there, but there is too much to do in too little time on this trip (Bob the Nav said something about reserving horses to ride on the beach, which should be fun).

Budman,

An electric smoker? On a camping trip? Are they putting outlets in the trees now? :D :D :D

Slight change in plans due to several quick phone calls from the second youngest generation. They want a second turkey breast to do a hot crispy skin contest with. We need another oven but youngest son will put it in his oven and then bring it when he comes. Turkey is EASY. Rinse out, stuff if you want to. Put it in a huge covered metal black pan (roasters-best investment you will ever make in cookware) and let it alone. 325 degrees and it will be done in about 2/3rds of the time that the books instruct. It will be crisp on the outside and literally falling apart (wings/legs might drop off). I do 22 to 24lbs size and largest black metal covered roaster just fits over a 24 lbs. bird. No need to baste, bag, butter or anything else. I don't even get up early to put it in at some ungodly hour. You will be amazed if you leave it alone and don't mess with it. LEAVE IT COVERED. People come from other countries to get my turkey, and I'm not kidding. Whole thing with fixins takes about 4 hours tops. Just don't open the oven door. I use my second oven or convection one to cook the rest of the feast. Many bring things with them also. One sister-in-law makes a dynamite layered eggplant and zucchini dish.

We are mostly immigrants (those over 35) and from more than one country and in the younger generations also diverse in religion/race. There are 45 of us on a good day and we sincerely do enjoy this day. No fights that I can remember. Those that have married in tell me that it is something that they really look forward to. For awhile it became the college generation's mardi gras, I think, as people brought people here from everywhere. We only have 1 left in college now, so it's tamed down quite a bit. Bears game is at 3pm this time, so we will also probably have a sports bar going in the projection tv room too. We don't have picky eaters and if they are, they will bring something with them. One daughter-in-law is a vegan and she will eat my stuffed artichokes and tons of other stuff. Dish washers are marvels. I have both the electric and the biologic kind.

BuffaloGirl: There is a special place in heaven for the one person who will do the dishes. And do remember that there will be good mememories for some, if you do them with cheerful grace and generousity.

Every year there are some we love deeply and miss. Either because they are now gone, or can not come because of other obligations. We always have an extra toast for them and the youngest talking grandchild gets to say the prayer. This year we are really going to miss my brother.

Talk about lucky! I actually have another person coming into the family through an in-law soon who also makes their own wine. What more abundance could you ask for!

My heartfelt sympathy to anyone who has suffered a loss. My dear friend lost her mother just 2 days ago.

bakerstreet, as much as I love Paris, home is where the heart is, and we will be spending Thanksgiving in our home with our children.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, both here and abroad.

"in case the one in the brown paper bag with popcorn stuffing doesn't come out."

Uhhhhm, Budman I thought the problem with the last turkey was that it DID come out! :-D

I was going to smoke a turkey, but I can never figure out which end to light... (Insert groan here) :D

Our Thanksgiving plans have been altered only a tad.
DH and I were going to the beach shack (just the 2 of us) and having Thanksgiving at the lovely Carriage House that GT recommended to me last year. But........now it seems all of the kids are coming also. I keep hearing "It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving if Daddy didn't make dressing". Just glad they still want to be with us, even if it is only for the grub!
Jersey, I too am sorry about your Mother. I think it's great that you all have made cruise plans this year.
GT, I do hope you are already writing your Thanksgiving trip report. You know from your last weekend's camping trip that every fodorite here is waiting to hear about the next adventure!!
Budman, you crack me up. Popcorn stuffing..boiled eggs..wine..limoncello, bushmills.
Happy Turkey Day One and All.

Flyboy, that was fowl! ;)

For the 36th year, I get to do it at my house again! We will be 12 this year. Our table changes every year depending on the lives of the grown kids. As exhausted as I get these days, it's still wonderful to have the family together. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

We'll be staying home this year, as a bad knee has me on crutches. MRI on Sunday will tell me how bad. But at our age, it's time to just relax with a good dinner and a bottle of wine from the North Mountain Vineyards here in the Valley.
Our memories of Thanksgiving years past when we were foxhunting are great though. The riders and horses looking their best, the men in their "pinks" and the traditional blessing of the hounds. The hounds then providing a great chase...And then home, some years for the traditional turkey, other years Cornish game hens.

Buffalo Girl, thanks for the Thanksgiving laugh..been there, did that :)

ms go..yes! ride on the beach, lovely!
It will be our first Thanksgiving here, A Florida Thanksgiving, not at all what I am used to.
It will be interesting, that is for sure..

Happy Day to you all ((F))

BGirl, that really made me homesick. I've really missed all the miserableness of Thanksgiving for so long. We are spread out from CA to FL with many in between and it's just too hard for us all to get together. My mom broke her hip a year ago and she's doing really well but she's on a walker now so she isn't flying yet. I hope to see her Christmas. Boy, I miss all the get-togethers we used to have, even if I had to do the dishes. You really pegged it though, to a tee!

Scarlett, enjoy your Florida Thanksgiving, isn't it just fabulous right now? My dog must have read your post about the stars because he did the same thing to me last night at 3:30. The stars were beautiful but they weren't falling, not even slipping a little.

I wish everybody hadn't posted all those turkey recipes. I can't wait until Thanksgiving!

<i>what wine to serve with a spiral-sliced ham glazed with that sweet-spicy stuff?</i>

My best guess would be either an Alsatian Grewurtzraminer or an Alasation Pinot Gris.

Am I the only one who has cooked Thanksgiving turkey in a microwave?

Should you trust wine advice from someone who has cooked Thanksgiving turkey in a microwave?

We are having a very minimal Thanksgiving...only my dearest son can come. We are moving to FLL the Monday after T-day. Our house is all packed up except for 1 guestroom and the kitchen. Sorry Jersey for your loss. Scarlett. Fl T-day is just not the same as up north, not bad just differant IMO.

MikeBuckley, my SIL used to make her turkey every Thanksgiving in her microwave! She also used canned yams, so I think I have blocked those Thanksgiving meals out of my mind :)

Yes, Florida Thanksgiving is very different but so far I am loving this weather! We will eat the same foods, just be able to take a good walk afterwards without freezing :D

TG, I am happy to be here for the winter, it is really nice here. ((F)) Especially since I can still be gardening in Novemer~

Novemer? Must be the whiskey sauce on tonights chocolate bread pudding :D

Good luck with your move Judyrem. That's exciting!

Judy--Best wishes on the move. Our next door neighbor is moving the day before Thanksgiving. The buyers insisted on closing on that date, and the neighbors (sellers) have 3 small children and so will be driving from OR to TX that day. Definitely makes me thankful for my easy day by comparison!

Thanks mclaurie and mms for the good wishes :-), We did most of the packing ourselves, the movers will do the kitchen breakables. Our house has a major echo problem! I will be glad when this is over..it is kind of nerve wracking IMO. :-(