The Family That Eats Together...

...cooks together.

To some Thanksgiving is eating dinner and moving on to shopping. For us it is a week long celebration that begins with preparations well in advance and doesn't end until Allen returns to work the following Monday.

As is the case with all holiday meals, the whole endeavor falls just shy of a major military maneuver. Three weeks ago the girls and I made a menu.

Appetizers

Stuffed Mushrooms

Olives with fennel seeds and orange peel

Relish Tray

Celery stuffed with cream cheese and green olives

Main Course

Smoked Turkey

Mushroom Gravy

New England Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Dressing

Cranberry Relish

Holiday Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Sweet Potato and Sausage Gratin with fresh thyme

Pumpkin bread with cream cheese

Rolls with butter

Beverages

Sparkling Cider, Lemonade, Ice Tea

Dessert

Apple Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Fruit Salad

Coffee, Mulled Cider

I wrote out the shopping list. Allen, Brianna and Emma were in charge of grocery shopping. Monday morning we made the hour drive to fetch two smoked turkeys.

This morning the real fun began. Everyone got a recipe and we spent the morning preparing all our favorite dishes. I am in charge of directing the troops.

Sam took charge of the stuffed celery.

No, Nathaniel is not crying he is chopping green onions.

Emma called dibs on pumpkin bread.

Aedan's specialty? corn relish

Even Elisabeth helps out. At least that's the story she is sticking to in order to explain the soapy water all over the counter top.

Brianna looks forward to polishing the silver each year to set many beautiful tables for entertaining friends and family throughout the holiday season.

Since Kaitlin asked really sweetly, Brianna let her help out.

Voila!

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence. ~Erma Bombeck