This will be the third year in a row that I will not be in the US for Thanksgiving; my favorite holiday of the year. I’m not complaining much because I’ll be in Thailand this year but I will say I am sad to miss the best cooking day of the year.
Each year I have organize or host a Thanksgiving with my sister, brother-in-law, and friends, but this year was a little too busy to really get something together. I was away for work or my sister was gone or my sister and brother-in-law were packing because they are moving; the list goes on and on. I had accepted the loss, kind of, and then decided I couldn’t not do a Thanksgiving themed dinner so I would just do a small one.
It is not in my nature to not go over the top with cooking but I could make the exception for this. I knew it would be an easier sell if I made it seem like it would just be a normal dinner. I put together a little menu of four dishes; turkey breast, green beans, potatoes, and stuffing and pitched the idea to Kara. She was nervous and said she just didn’t want to commit to a big meal because they are packing and she was leaving again on another work trip. I agreed and told her I promised I wouldn’t go overboard and she said ok as long as she approved the menu; one down! Then I got my brother-in-law on board; he is easy to convince with cooking. I was so pumped the dinner was on!
While I was at the grocery store I saw the turkeys and made the call to Kara that the cost was actually less for a turkey than turkey breast and there was a small 8 pounder. She caved and that is how master manipulation Thanksgiving happened. I sipped on my canned champagne and ate my delicious smoked turkey thinking to myself I will always make Thanksgiving happen no matter. I added canned cranberries and pumpkin whoopie pies to the menu!
Tagle plus Kelsey Early Thanksgiving Day is what I decided to name the day for early Thanksgiving—the tradition will never die.
Menu
I was not in charge of the smoked turkey…
Stuffing (I halved the recipe)
Pumpkin Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes
