Thanksgiving

[Jubei Yagyou]

The holiday season is drawing closer, and with the media hyping christmas clearance sales and whatnot we tend to forget one of the better holidays: Thanksgiving. Yes, it may not be as exciting as its winter cousin(s), but its still a good day to celebrate and enjoy good food and the company of family. I think Thanksgiving is great, and it is a great precursor to my favorite holiday Christmas, but I really try to stray away from being ungrateful about it. Mainly because my family has always been good at planning great get-togethers and meals, so maybe thats why I tend to enjoy Thanksgiving as much as I do.

So what about you? What's your favorite food for Thanksgiving? How do you go about enjoying Turkey Day?

[visualkei]

To me Thanksgiving is another BREAK FROM SCHOOL where me and my cousins can hang out for a day. It's used to be we'd stay with our families during the day and hang out somewhere with each other around nighttime or so. Ever since we graduated high school, we've basically planned to get togethers at one another's house at around 7 pm. We eat turkey, and all the American stuff.

One of my cousins is planning to get a giant moonwalk this year so we (ages 18-23) can all go crazy outside. Being with them is like being in high school again. Kinda.

=D

[Andy]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]Hmmm.....I personally love Thanksgiving, it's probably only second to Christmas in my book. Mainly because I love eating my favorite food(well maybe not my favorite) sweet potatoe pie. Man I love that stuff, it is absolutely delicious. And of course I love all the other foods that I get to eat on Thanksgiving as well. Thank you Pilgrims and Indians, for if not for you we may have never had a Thanksgiving.*Everyone glares at him with wonder and suspicion*[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Albert Flasher]

[COLOR=Sienna]Pfft... In Canada we celebrated Thankgiving like 2 months ago, that's old news now. I've never liked it anyways, at our house all that ever happens is that the relatives I [i]don't[/i] like come over, don't bring me presants, eat our food and drink our drink, and then go home... It's not a big deal over here.

Most people I know don't even realize it's Thanksgiving until they see a few extra turkies popping up in the grocery store... Why is it even celebrated anyway?[/COLOR]

[Death God]

this thanksgiving my mom wants my family to go over to her friends house. but i don't know those people! i hate spending holidays with complete strangers!

that and my mom's friends are a buch of idiots.

i'll just stay home and eat hot pockets.

[John]

[quote name='HedonismBot][color=Sienna'] Most people I know don't even realize it's Thanksgiving until they see a few extra turkies popping up in the grocery store... Why is it even celebrated anyway?[/color][/quote] A question I'm not surprised to hear coming from you.

[DeathKnight]

[quote name='HedonismBot][COLOR=Sienna']Why is it even celebrated anyway?[/COLOR][/quote]

[color=crimson]We're a very silly and whimsical folk.[/color]

[Demoness Satoe]

[COLOR=SandyBrown][SIZE=1][B]I mainly veiw this holiday as a day off from school, and a day to get together with the half of my family I hardly ever see. They usually come down here, but this year I'm going there, all the way to Washington D.C. I have to wake up at 6:30 in the morning, but It'll be worth it.[/B][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=#9933ff][font=lucida calligraphy]Ahh Thanksgiving. The holiday proceeding Christmas in the United States where my mom's side of the family gathers the night before at the hostess' (My mom is the middle child in a family of three girls who all are the main bread winner in their marriages except for my aunt Marty who- like me- is divorced, but still has her own house) house to prepare the beginning of dinner and talk a lot. Then they go home for a while only to come back early the next day while the guys (and myself) watch football. A lot of eating and laughing goes on as well.

Usually after dinner and pie we play board games, talk a lot and then divide up the left overs and leave. Last year my ex was still stateside so he came to pick up our daughter after dinner and my mom's older sister retreated upstairs so she didn't 'forget she was a Christian'. This year I work Thanksgiving because the airport is open twenty-four seven three hundred sixty-five. So after everything is done I have to go to work. But they should have food there as well. Plus it should hopefully be a slow night and I'll be out by midnight. Then I can do some Thanksgiving sale shopping before my Friday shift

So, what is everyone thankful for?[/color][/font]

[neomonkey]

[quote name='Jubei Yagyou'] How do you go about enjoying Turkey Day?[/quote] Well, you know., the usual. A family get together, hunting of the fowl (not really:laugh: ), a greatly attended feast which is soon followed by unforgiving moaning and drunk relatives. :drunk: :laugh:

[Japan]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Most Thanksgiving holidays are boring and uneventful. Usually because my family is away from most relatives so it is usually just immediate family. But this year will be different. Since my friend, Ian is going to come over for the [URL=http://www.achaea.com]Achaean[/URL] meet that will be happening day after, he's going to stay at my place and enjoy the holidays with my family, then we'll go to the meet and hang out with people who also play achaea.[/COLOR]

[Panda]

Poor Thanksgiving, the holiday overshadowed by the commercialism of Christmas. :animesigh

Thanksgiving has been one of my favorite holidays. In my neck of the woods fall is a very nice time of year. The trees have beautiful leaves, the days are sunny but cool. Which, compaired to the summer is a wonderful change from the 108-112 degree weather that had been cooking us all summer! Since this holiday is always on a Thursday that means for most students and career-types you get an early day off on Wednesday all the way until Monday off from school and work. It's a nice little break from the grind.

I also love spending time with my family. This holiday for me has always been about getting together with family to eat lots of great food, watching football, playing games and just enjoying our time together. My inlaws and my husband's family have become a part of our annual gathering since we all get along really well.

I actually planned my wedding around Thanksgiving since I love fall. In 2005, November 25th was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and that is when I got married. We had a huge extended family gathering on Thanksgiving followed by all the normal wedding festivities after that. I was great since so many of my friends from high school and college could make it to the wedding since it was on a long weekend. :D

Needless to say I love this time of year and the holiday is one of my favorites.

[Horendithas]

[COLOR=DarkRed][quote name='Panda']This holiday for me has always been about getting together with family to eat lots of great food, watching football, playing games and just enjoying our time together.[/quote]The same goes for me. It?s the only thing I don?t care for when it comes to living out west instead of back east with my parents. I miss spending Thanksgiving with my family. Every other year I fly out, but this year I won?t be flying out to be with them.

Fortunately I have good friends here and one of them knew my parents while they were living here in Utah so they have invited me to spend thanksgiving with them and since I am a good friend with their son I suspect we will have a great time.

The only difference for me is that I will be putting in some time at the woman?s crisis center where I volunteer on Thanksgiving Day, as unfortunately, domestic violence does not respect holidays and even on Thanksgiving there is work to be done. Last year was fairly quiet at work so hopefully this year will be the same.
[/COLOR]

[SunfallE]

[COLOR=RoyalBlue]I always enjoy Thanksgiving just for the food aspect. I love turkey, stuffing and having lots of different pies for desert. And it?s one of the few times a year my family gets together and actually has a meal at the table at the same time. Usually our schedules are so off that we rarely have time to get together for anything, let alone sharing a meal.

And like Panda mentioned it?s nice because you get the weekend off. At least I do now that I?m no longer driving. For a truck driver, the only day you get off is Christmas. Which kind of sucked as I really missed getting to do things with my family and friends for the various holidays throughout the year.

The only drawback is this year we may not have an oven for cooking a turkey. Last week, when I was making some pizza the bottom element in the oven literally exploded during the cooking process! Fortunately it didn?t start a fire since I was in the room and quickly turned it off and my brother immediately switched the circuit breaker to completely deny the unit any power.

The end result, the flying metal shards pretty much destroyed the inside of the oven, and now we are getting a new one. It?s supposed to be installed this Friday, but if it?s not, I guess we will be using our slow cookers and the stovetop to try and make the food. And I guess the whole baked turkey deal will not happen. Which kind of sucks since I really like turkey. ^_^

I guess the only good thing is the door was shut so the metal shards hurt no one and that it happened now instead of during the middle of the night while the turkey was cooking. Since it didn?t trip the circuit breaker, if no one was around to respond immediately, well it could have started a fire during the middle of the night while we were all sleeping. o_O

The other thing I really like about the Thanksgiving holiday, is the two mad days of shopping right after. I always make a point of not needing to really shop on that day so I end up going with friends and we just browse and have a good time checking things out. And we take along some money so if we really see something we want we can pick it up. It?s a fun way to just chat, and have a good time among the hustle of people. We?ve done it enough that it?s almost become a tradition that we get together and have fun on those days. [/COLOR]

[Riku]

[COLOR=RoyalBlue][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma]I think I can sum up Thanksgiving up in one word: FOOD. XD

Anyways, I love Thanksgiving because it means that Christmas is coming closer and spending time with family and friends. Thanksgiving isn't all about the food (okay, I digress), but about remembering what to be thankful for.

Every year, we always invite some friends over and watch the Macy's Parade while we talk. After a bit of that, my dad starts to fry the turkey (which is awesome, btw) and we all start making the food. I always make the cornbread to my fullest potential... I mean, I try. Come on, people... I TRY!! XDD

After all the food is ready, we set up our fine china and pray for another fantastic year, then dig in. It's all in fun, really... seeing who'll gain the most pounds on that day.[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Sangome]

[size=1]I agree with Keyblade Wielder in the FOOD aspect. Yum.

...Okay, actually, while many people gorge themselves to death on Thanksgiving, I don't eat any more than I would for a regular dinner. I'll eat some turkey, cranberry sauce, and deviled eggs, but that's about it.

...Oh, and the pumpkin pie. God bless the pumpkin pie.

But anyway, Thanksgiving to me is all about getting together with family, and all that fancy jazz, but the problem is is that the only people that come over are the members on my father's side of the family. Now, not that I don't love them, I do, but they're all really...loud. I mean, REALLY loud. It's impossible to get some quiet around here when they're all over, or I'm at one of their houses, and if they're at my house, then my terror of a little cousin will come in my room and try to destroy and/or take anything he sees. I know that's little children for ya, but oi vhey.

I also have a tradition of renting a video game every Thanksgiving. Don't ask me why...it's been that way since I was, like, five, hah. This year will probably Final Fantasy XII, [i]if[/i] I manage to get ahold of a copy at the video store.

Oh, and of course, there's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. All the other parades suck -- Macy's is where it's at, kids![/size]

[Whiteblaze]

[QUOTE=SunfallE][COLOR=RoyalBlue]
The only drawback is this year we may not have an oven for cooking a turkey. Last week, when I was making some pizza the bottom element in the oven literally exploded during the cooking process! Fortunately it didn?t start a fire since I was in the room and quickly turned it off and my brother immediately switched the circuit breaker to completely deny the unit any power.

The end result, the flying metal shards pretty much destroyed the inside of the oven, and now we are getting a new one. It?s supposed to be installed this Friday, but if it?s not, I guess we will be using our slow cookers and the stovetop to try and make the food. And I guess the whole baked turkey deal will not happen. Which kind of sucks since I really like turkey. ^_^ [/COLOR][/QUOTE]

You could get a [B]fried[/B] turkey! They are pretty good. Maybe not as good for you as an oven baked turkey, but they are definitely good.

I've always liked Thanksgiving. Ever since I was a kid it's been Christmas's twin to me. In recent years I've been able to visit my mom's side of the family which I used to visit every summer when I was little.

I feel you on that Japan86. It's such a huge difference from Thanksgiving with my immediate family. So many cousins, so many aunts and uncle's. All of us in one house is really a lot of fun for me since you are never bored and hardly sitting still. There are hugs to be given, catching up to do, stories to listen to, stories to tell, and LOTS of laughter. But really when I spend thanksgiving with my big family the food is a plus.

I must say though I've never really done any Day-After-Thanksgiving shopping before. Not officially anyway. I've gone and maybe looked at the most, maybe stepped inside a store or two. Perhaps I'll go out just for the sake of being in the midst of every thing.

I haven't been to a parade in a while, but I do enjoy watching all the movies that are on TV during this time. Sure they're old, but they have the good ones on.

My mom used to take my brother's and I to the Thanksgiving Day parade about every year and we'd always get some Vanilla Cream cake to snack on.

As far as the food is concerned...I do like all the lovely foods, but they don't effortlessly (on my part) appear on the table anymore like they used to so many years ago. Not that I don't like cooking, but gee cooking such a big meal is a job. ^^

[Aaryanna]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid]Like others have mentioned, Thanksgiving is all about the food. ^_^ I just love turkey and pie and stuffing and deviled eggs. I also love spending time with my older siblings as some of them it?s the only time I see them. (Which is why I tend to think of myself as an only child since most of the year I am) Another part I love is SunfallE, Mariskah and I often get together afterwards and watch anime, movies or play video games together. After the food that?s my other favorite part of the holiday. [quote name='SunfallE][COLOR=RoyalBlue']The other thing I really like about the Thanksgiving holiday, is the two mad days of shopping right after. I always make a point of not needing to really shop on that day so I end up going with friends and we just browse and have a good time checking things out. And we take along some money so if we really see something we want we can pick it up. It?s a fun way to just chat, and have a good time among the hustle of people. We?ve done it enough that it?s almost become a tradition that we get together and have fun on those days. [/COLOR][/quote]I know I?m looking forward to it. I just love going with you guys to the mall and checking out the stuff. And then going home for seconds on all the Thanksgiving goodies and after a bit, going out shopping again. It certainly helps to walk off some of that fattening food! ^_~ It?s rather entertaining to watch all the people hustling everywhere, except for the fights over things on sale, those can get ugly sometimes. And yet there?s still a certain amusement in watching people get so worked up over material things.

Still even if you miss the early bird sales, it?s still great fun to go window-shopping, as it?s probably the best time to take advantage of so many sales. ^_^ Especially when you?ve already done your Christmas shopping and you?re just looking for fun stuff.

Over all the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend is one of my favorites in the entire year. ^_^[/COLOR]

[SaiyanPrincessX]

[SIZE=1]I can't believe Thanksgiving is only a week away. It was never a favorite holiday as a kid. I always considered it that annoying holiday in between Halloween and Christmas, lol. I could never remember the word "Thanksgiving" either, so I would say "Turkey Day".

Anyway, I've grown out of that. I enjoy Thanksgiving now because I like spending time with family. I love food and hate food, so I'm looking forward to it yet dreading it.

My Thanksgiving has been pretty much the same for the last few years. Its my dad, and I, and we invite my dad's sister, who we only see on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, for the most part. He may try to invite a few people from church, but I'm sure they have their family gatherings to attend.

Although this year will be slightly diffrent. My mom moved an hour away, so the day after Thanksgiving "black friday", I'll be driving to my mom's for some home made tostadas. Lol! We love Mexican food, and since we're having turkey and all the traditional Thanksgiving dishes at my dad's, we'll be having that over there, along with a few diffrent pies.

I'm thankful for God, my family, and friends, and all the wonderful times I've been blessed with.[/SIZE]

[mangamaniack21]

Thanksgiving is usually all about the turkey and seeing exactly how long my relatives can yak for. Even i get tired of talking after about a hour of conversation about nothing in particular.

Anyways, my grandma's cooking is not so good when it comes to the turkey it's always dry and can easily be shredded. There's always the dessert luckily ^_^.

[SunfallE]

[COLOR=RoyalBlue][quote name='WhiteBlaze]You could get a [B]fried[/B'] turkey! They are pretty good. Maybe not as good for you as an oven baked turkey, but they are definitely good.[/quote]Well fortunately the new oven was installed yesterday and wonder of wonders?It works! ^_^ So today I went with my family to the store and we got all the stuff for making a yummy Thanksgiving dinner next week. Including the turkey. So I?m looking forward to it as I just love making the food and finally sitting down with everyone to enjoy it.

As much as I enjoy turkey I should make it for other occasions besides Thanksgiving. It's just yummy, yummy stuff! :catgirl: [/COLOR]

[Jubei Yagyou]

[QUOTE=Convoy Butterfly][size=1]I agree with Keyblade Wielder in the FOOD aspect. Yum.

...Okay, actually, while many people gorge themselves to death on Thanksgiving, I don't eat any more than I would for a regular dinner. I'll eat some turkey, cranberry sauce, and deviled eggs, but that's about it.

...Oh, and the pumpkin pie. God bless the pumpkin pie.
[/size][/QUOTE]

I see alot of people saying deviled eggs as one of their favorites, but I have yet to see any at any of my Thanksgivings! My family must be weird or something...

My ideal Thanksgiving meal would consist of smoked turkey, semi-clumpy mashed potatoes, stuffing, bread/butter combo and pumpkin pie, and lots of it.

[Aaryanna]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid]Time for a Happy Thanksgiving wish for everyone! ^_^ The turkey is in the oven and boy does it smell wonderful! I can?t wait until it?s ready! I hope everyone gets to do something fun with either friends or family today. ^_^

Oh and just for fun. I found this comic the other day so I?ll share it because I just died laughing when I read it. :catgirl:

[CENTER][IMG]http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/9403/pvp20021128zw0.gif[/IMG] [/CENTER][/COLOR]

[Allamorph]

[FONT=Arial]Well, seeing as it is now the [I]day after[/I] Thanksgiving, I suppose I will actually post here. Shout out to Procrastination! :animesigh

Usually our family journeys back to my father's grand ancestral locale of South Carolina, where we attend a grand feast with those of our blood. In reality, that means a gigantic family potluck. With real sweet tea. And really good vegetables. And I'm a meat lover, so that's saying something. (Oh!, the Carolina green beans!)

In recent years, due to random irritating expenses and rising gas prices, we have stayed at home, but we've managed without the massive supply of Southern food. My dad can still cook, and he's teaching me, so we get along okay.

I hate turkey. Sue me, but I hate the stuff. It's always terribly dry and lacking in the 'Succulent Falvor' department, which is one of the big reasons we eat in the South. I always have chicken, 'cause I know how to make some tasty stuff there.[/FONT]

[QUOTE=HedonismBot][COLOR=Sienna]Pfft... In Canada we celebrated Thankgiving like 2 months ago, that's old news now. I've never liked it anyways, at our house all that ever happens is that the relatives I [i]don't[/i] like come over, don't bring me presants, eat our food and drink our drink, and then go home... It's not a big deal over here.

Most people I know don't even realize it's Thanksgiving until they see a few extra turkies popping up in the grocery store... Why is it even celebrated anyway?[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
[FONT=Arial]Wow. You guys celebrate Thanksgiving up there in Canada? In that case, I would [I]also[/I] like to know why. I always thought Thanksgiving was a U.S.-specific holiday. Oh, wait?

[RIGHT]?yeah, Wikipedia just told me.[/RIGHT]

Anyway, down here we celebrate it sommat like we do Labor Day, or Memorial Day. Originally, the colonists held a thanksgiving to praise God for their successful harvests in the New World. Logically, thanksgivings were sporadic, and only occured if there [I]was[/I] a successful harvest. Even after it became an annual celebration, there was no set date, so thanksgivings tended to happen at different times for different settlements. President A. Lincoln is to be credited with deeming it a national holiday, decreeing it to be held on the last Thursday of November.

Right, then. History class dismissed; remember to read pages 58-65 in the textbook for next time.[/FONT]

[Aaryanna_Mom]

[quote name='Allamorph][FONT=Arial']I hate turkey. Sue me, but I hate the stuff. It's always terribly dry and lacking in the 'Succulent Falvor' department, which is one of the big reasons we eat in the South. I always have chicken, 'cause I know how to make some tasty stuff there.[/FONT][/quote]I would hardly sue you, but I would ask just how you cook your turkey and offer some advise. ;) Turkey has always been a pain to properly prepare so that it?s loaded with lots of flavor and nice and juicy. There are some easy tricks that if you haven?t tried them yet, I would highly recommend.

First of all you really want to use one of those oven bags you can buy that you put the turkey in. They are easy to use and the bag does two nifty things for you. First it locks in the moisture, thus reducing the dried out factor. And then the bag causes the turkey to cook quickly. So a twenty-pound turkey is done in about three hours.

Also, most people put the turkey in with the breast facing up. Even though they have one of those little red things that pop out. You really want to cook it with the breast facing down. The white meat is usually what dries out the easiest and by cooking it like that; all the juices soak the white meat while it is cooking. It?s a totally different experience when you do it that way. ;)

As for flavor, that?s harder to give advice on since people vary on what they enjoy. Personally I like using a combination of mandarin oranges, apricots and different peppers, onion powder and a touch of garlic powder. You grind up the fruit and layer it on top and then just sprinkle the other spices on top. You can even add in a little brown sugar if you wish. It?s good either way though; even without any spices it?s fairly tasty.

Anyway, I didn?t mean to go on for so long. I?ve just had quite a bit of practice when it comes to making turkey. ;) And I hate to see someone give up on a wonderful dish when a different cooking method can make a huge difference.

At least I assume it does as the turkey I make usually gets eaten pretty quickly. And yesterday was no exception.