Jaunty: It’s time to get the scoop on what all of our lovely Jaunties are doing for Turkey Day.
Margo: I’m doing the major cooking – as usual – this year. We’ll have about 25 for dinner, but everyone brings a dish, so it’s not too crazy! I do the turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy. The guests bring the rest!
Kristan: Going to the Garden State to see my husband’s family. I’m bringing pies.
Kathy: I’m hosting my parents for the holiday. I am cooking for six, but my mom and sweetie will be helping me so it’ll be a lot of fun!
Emily: We always host Thanksgiving. It’s only 10 – 12 people, but when it comes to cooking I’m a total control freak. So I’m letting my mom do the sweet potatoes and my sister the vegetable, but The Geek and I do everything else, from the brined, deboned turkey, to the homemade cranberry sauce to the pumpkin chocolate cheesecake. This year I’m branching out and am going to try a cranberry creme brulee. I love Thanksgiving!
Jaunty: Ooh, Emily, can I come, too?
Nancy: Emily, I’m coming to your house. So please set an extra place. Just kidding, but your menu does sound wonderful! I’m thinking we need to do a recipe exchange! Actually, we usually have a small Thanksgiving, my in-laws and us. My husband and I do most of the cooking since the folks have to travel about 70 miles to get here. We always do a traditional meal — Turkey, stuffing, sweet and mashed potatoes, veggies, fresh cranberries (I have a recipe that calls for Grand Marnier… so yummy!), and if course, traditional pies. The house always smells so good, and it’s wonderful to have the family gathered close.
Jaunty: I am drooling and it is not a pretty sight!
Shana: My mother-in-law is hosting this year–yay! I hosted last year, and oh, my! So much work! I’m responsible for the pumpkin pie and USF is doing a fruit salad.
Anne: Yes, set a place for me too, Emily! Like Nancy, we are doing a small Thanksgiving this year. I LOVE big Thanksgiving with everyone, but small Thanksgiving can be really special too.
Robyn: We’re not going to either of our families this year (instead we’ll be doing a cross-country Christmas) so we’re going to some friend’s here and hosting a few stray students that aren’t making it home for turkey day. I’m responsible for my world-famous sweet potato casserole, cornbread dressing and two pies. Man, it’s gonna smell sooooo good!
Jaunty: Sweet potatoes [sigh]. With marshmallows, I bet. I am a sucker for marshmallows. And pine bark, of course!
Cindy: My daughter is making dinner for the family, then we’re all going to see the movie, Twilight. Crazy, huh?
Delilah: This will be my first year making a Thanksgiving meal as a chef with a culinary degree (yay me!) so needless to say, the pressure is going to be on to make a *fabulous* meal. I usually start preperations about three days before and finish cooking everything on Thanksgiving day. I make everything from scratch, including the bread, gravy, desserts, whip cream, and butter. It’s my favorite holiday (and not just because I was born on Thanksgiving, although…). And this year, we will be hosting a total of 8 (4 being myself, my husband and two children). My daughter is only a year away from getting her black belt and seeing her instructors don’t have family around, we invited all four of them over for Thanksgiving. It’ll kick butt (pun intended, LOL).
Jaunty: Now I’m positively palpitating!
Shirley: My mom and her husband are coming over for an early dinner. She brings the candied yams and Jello salad, favorite treats since childhood. My job is to keep the baby occupied while my hubby preps the meal. I’m so thankful to have married a man who can cook!
Anne: Um, I think we need to take a Jaunty visit to Delilah’s too!!!
Jaunty: Can I ride with you, Anne? Ow! No need to elbow me. You can make a little room for me!
From all of the Jaunty Quills: We hope you all have a positively wonderful Thanksgiving!