What dishes do you serve on Thanksgiving?

• November 11, 2016
• Nana's Life
• Sandy

I am not sure how it happened, but somehow Thanksgiving has crept up on me this year!!  I mean where in the world did 2016 go?   Anyway, it dawned on me the other day , that I had better start making my list of goodies I will be preparing this year for my family.  I am asking for some help this year from you though!!!

Most families plan Thanksgiving around what family members they have to go visit.   I moved our family from California to Tennessee 16 years ago, and when we did that, I had to develop some new Holiday Traditions.   Prior to our move, I would generally do a Thanksgiving meal with my hubby and kids, and then we would head to my mother in law’s house and do another dinner there.   We would almost always try and plan a trip to my mom’s house. (another 5 hours away)

So now that we live so far away, as my kids grew up ,I developed some new traditions.   Of course, we didn’t have much money, so our traditions were fairly simple.  My biggest tradition has been that we of course have our big family meal, but then that day or the following Friday, we would get the family outside and start putting up all our Christmas Yard decorations.   Now please keep in mind , when I tell you that, I am not just talking about stringing some lights on the house, although that is how it originally started.  Each year, I have added a little more to it , and now it takes us 2 days to get all my decorations up in the yard.  I am a little bit of a Christmas decorating nut!!   I am that house on the block that people slow down to check out all the different decorations.

For our meal, I always sit my kids down and ask them what is the one thing they want to be sure is on the table.   Each child has their own favorites, and of course I as the mom, do my best to make sure that it makes it on the menu.    Of course, when my kids were younger , ages 18 months old, 4 and 15 yrs old, all they knew was they wanted Turkey and Pie.   Now they get a little bit more specific on me.

This year, not only do I have my son , 17 still living at home, but I also have my 31 yr old daughter living here.  Her girls, 9 and 10  yrs old, have been living with me for about 1 1/2.   My other daughter lives right behind us in an apartment that we own, so I am hoping I have a lot of help this  year in prepping Thanksgiving Dinner.   Something tells me though, that the girls will have somewhere to be and my son will be watching football with his dad.   That is ok though, I promise, I will pull them in the kitchen as needed!

So now that I have given you a little background of what it is like in my household at Thanksgiving time . now what do I make for dinner?    Well, shocker of all shockers….I guess I should start with the Turkey, the star of the show.   There are certain things I always make sure are on the table.

• Mashed Potatoes
• Vegetable (usually corn)
• Green Bean Casserole
• Deviled Eggs
• Cranberry’s
• Olives
• Sweet Potatoes
• Dinner Rolls
• Stuffing
• Salad
• Pecan Pie
• Pumpkin Pie
• Chocolate Cream Pie

So here is my question to you……….I am wanting to add a couple new dishes this year.  I am looking for some suggestions though.   What does your family include in their Thanksgiving Dinner?   Please feel free to comment below and let’s see if you can help me figure out what to add to our menu this year!!    I appreciate any input you might have!!!