WIN Your Thanksgiving Turkey & Tips for More Meaningful Holiday Photos!
Turkey Winners! Congratulations to: Tracey Bentley, Tiffany Schmidt, and Sally Rector Patterson!
Only thing I hate about giveaways is that everyone can’t win! I really need to be Oprah one day…
Please email me your mailing address at ichristy@ymail.com and I’ll send them out tomorrow!
When it comes to Thanksgiving and turkey, one name instantly comes to mind: Butterball! Not only are they known for their ever-juicy birds, but also for their famed Butterball Hotline that allows consumers to call in with all of their turkey questions and have them answered by seasoned professionals. The butterball hotline began 29 years ago and received over 11,000 calls in it’s first year. Today, Butterball employs more than fifty college degreed home economists who answer over 100,000 questions each year in November and December.
Got questions? They’re here to answer them! Whether it be how to impress your in laws or how to feed a large gathering, Butterball experts are ready to help. Just call 1-800-Butterball (1-800-288-8372) and get ready for a less-stress holiday!
Now on to how to enter to win a Butterball Turkey Certificate AND how to better preserve your family history this holiday season. I’m sure the two are related somehow.
As I sat down to type up this post, I had just finished going through a box of old photographs from my childhood. It’s amazing how many of my special memories are caught on film. But one photo in particular stood out to me. It was one of my Grandaddy pushing us around in the wheel barrow on Thanksgiving. We always arrived at my Grandmama’s house early so that Mama could help cook the meal. The house heated up awfully quick and all of the kids usually spent most of the time before the meal playing outside. Grandaddy, who dearly loved kids, joined us whenever he could and never turned down our requests for rides in his wheel barrow around the yard.
Grandaddy, Me, my sister Patti, brother Bill
Finding this picture meant the world to me, not that I didn’t have the image etched firmly in my mind, but now I can see it tangibly and share it with my children as well so they can “remember” along with me. I was fortunate to find that one but I also learned some things while going through the photos, aside from the fact that I come from a long line of very bad photographers! I thought I’d share a few tips with you to help improve the value of your holiday photographs.
Tips for Remembering the Holidays Through Photos
- Remember what really matters. Food is important, so is atmosphere, but ten years from now are you really going to care that you have a photo of Aunt Sue’s casserole, or a photo of Aunt Sue? Whenever possible, put people in your photos. You’ll be glad you did.
- Take a “hungry” camera. I know this sounds morbid but we don’t know how long our loved ones will be with us. An opportunity where we are all gathered together is a precious one, take photos of everyone present both casually and smiling directly at the camera. Make your camera “hungry” for everyone. Be sure to hand it off to get a few photos of yourself as well.
- Be Considerate of your subjects for better photos. I think everyone in my family has had at least a few photos taken right as we put a bite of food in our mouth. Not very flattering, believe me. Warn your subjects ahead of time so that they can look their best and you can get a photo everyone will be proud of. “Okay, everyone look up!” will suffice, provided you wait a second until they look up and see the camera.
- Take a few posed group shots with assorted groupings. One of the photos I came across was my dad’s grandparents, Mama Pearl and Papa Cleve. There was a photo of my dad, his mom, Mama Pearl and Papa Cleve, myself and my siblings. It was a very nice photo. However, whoever took the photos (most likely my Mama) also placed each of us individually with Mama Pearl and Papa Cleave, which makes for an even more intimate photo as a remembrance of our relationship. I’m glad we have it both ways.
- Have prints made. I am the world’s worse at this since digital cameras have taken over. Looking through all of these family photographs though, I’m going to make it a point to change that and have photos printed at least monthly. While I don’t have time to properly scrapbook them like I used to, I can at least place them in an acid free album using a safe adhesive. I want my kids to be able to thumb through their memories one day, too.
I’d love to hear your hints and tips for preserving the memories of the holidays. I’d also love to hear about your favorite Thanksgiving memory. Did your Grandaddy to ride you around in a wheel barrow like mine did? Did your granny make a special dish just because you liked it? What memory do you try to recreate for your children and grandchildren today?
Share a little with me in the comments below and be entered to win one of THREE Butterball Turkey Certificates, just in time for Thanksgiving!
I’ll draw winners at random next Monday and notify the winners on this post and on the Southern Plate Family Page on Facebook.
Good Luck!
For additional entries, do one of the following:
On Twitter: Tweet “Win a Butterball Turkey from @butterball and @southernplate! http://snipurl.com/t5snz “
Facebook: Post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page and let me know you did on the Southern Plate Family Page!
Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns;
I am thankful that thorns have roses.
~Alphonse Karr. Submit your quote here.
My good friend (and flea market buddy!), Lara alerted me to some great deals on Turkey at Wal Mart. She has a great deal finder blog if y’all are interested. She’s a great friend, too!
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My favorite tradition / memory of Thanksgiving is that each year my family goes around the table before saying grace and says one thing we are each thankful for. It is a great way to share gratitude.
Thanks for the chance to win a turkey!
Thanks for the chance to win a turkey! What’s Thanksgiving w/out the star?So many reasons to be thankful,I wish we could skip Halloween and concentrate on Thanksgiving, and spending time w/family and those dear too us.Hope you all have a blessed one!
Thanksgiving hasn’t really been our “big” family holiday(we are all about New Year’s Eve) but once I married into my husband’s family, I found out what sitting around the table, being thankful, and eating while giggling with family is all about. With my family, you grabbed your plate, filled it up in the kitchen and found a place to sit and eat. With Hubby’s family, we sit around a big table, everything is laid out and we sit and eat all together. We talk about our year, our day, and even bring up funny aspects from the past year’s Thanksgiving. I look forward to it every year and think about it for the 11 months up until the next one.
Just tweeted about this giveaway too!
Even though my Grandmother was the best cook I ever met, she could not cook a turkey to save her life– it was always dry, with no taste what so ever! I think that is now why I look forward more to the leftovers (make a turkey sandwich with bread, mayo, turkey, salt and pepper) more than Thanksgiving Day itself!!
I love Thanksgiving, especially being a mom. Sharing the parades with my sons, making favorite dishes, spending time together. It is all awesome!
With a husband who works in retail, we haven’t been able to be with family for Thanksgiving in many, many years. This year is the exception…going home for Thanksgiving with all of my siblings in attendance! I’d love to be able to bring the turkey! I’m so looking forward to this year as opposed to years past when we enjoyed buffets at restaurants with strangers who couldn’t get home either. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
My best memories of Thanksgiving were when I was a kid and we went to grandmothers where I had 27 first cousins to play with. There would be tables of food then football games in the cow pasture!!!
Our son will be making it home for Thanksgiving this year so it will be special since we get to celebrate both his birthday and Thanksgiving. He was born on Thanksgiving so I sometimes call him our turkey–all in love, of course.
Just a SPECIAL time of the year!!! Each year evolves with different plans…can remember years ago, all the family was gone, so my husband and I went to a movie, then planned on eating out…only to find NO PLACE!!!!..so, we had POPCORN (at the movies) for Thanksgiving…quite a memory ( a laughable one).
My mom always made our birthday cakes into a fun shape of something we were into that year. When I was 13 I was finally allowed to get my ears pierced. My cake that year was a big ear with an earring in it. When I was 16 and got my drivers license, my cake was an exact replica of my license. I am doing the same for my kids and they love it as much as I do.
Butterball beats them all, send me a turkey! We have so many people gathered at the inlaws house for Thanksgiving people are everywhere with plates and conversation. We all bring a dish to go with the turkey and the ladies help clean up after dinner. We all gather squeezed into one room so the kids can say prayer before eating, its always a beautiful holiday.
I am in a position that I have to create my own traditions. Mom was not a cook and the extended family was not a Norman Rockwell painting. I have been experimenting and love to fix a good meal for my family.
We always had a big Thanksgiving dinner. I remember most the stress it placed on my mother. Usually the turkey would be overdone, or the biscuits burned (burned, canned biscuits were a family tradition), or the stuffing not perfect.
But you know what? The food didn’t HAVE to be perfect. My mother was cooking for us, and that made the day perfect! That she spent all day in the kitchen proved that she loved her family.
Also, thank you so much for the photo tips! I hate that most of the pictures I’m in have me looking like a fish because I’m in the middle of chewing! I love candid pictures… but please, make sure they’re not unflattering!
I remember when we were kids every holiday we went to my Maw-Maw’s on my Mom’s side to have lunch and my Dad’s side for supper. Those were such great memories. Everyone brought a dish or two and we had so much food. My dad would be the last one to get there cause he was huntin of course how he loved to hunt. He has been gone for 14 years now he died just before Christmas. I can remember so many good times that we had. Now all are gone to be with Jesus now but I still have those fond memories to share with my kids. Holidays are for sharing good food and good conservation and a lot of tall tales. Enjoy everyone. Enjoy today and treat everyone like there is no tomorrow after all we are not promised tomorrow.
Thanks Christy for your site.
My super favorite is Butterball Turkey. It’s always perfect – delicious & loved by the entire family.
It Just would not be Thanksgiving without the ’star’ on the table.
Jade
We go to my uncle’s house on Thanksgiving. Always. It is so nice to now take my kids there, watching them play and do the things we always did as kids. The menu is the same too- I love how when you walk into the house I smell the same smells I have been smelling for 40+ years. I now know what the grownups meant when they said that time flies.
I too have become more mindful of the fact that some of our dear relatives may not have many family holidays left and have begun taking more pictures of them, with my children especially, so they can remember them to their children. For Christmas this year I created a photo book with the Kodak Gallery’s $15 gift for one of them – my husband’s uncle. It has pictures of him with my husband as a small child and a picture I made this past summer of them, as well as pictures of him with our children and other family members. It turned out beautiful and I can’t wait to see the look on his face as he opens it and sees the memories preserved like that.
Thank you for the opportunity to win a turkey as well as all the wonderful recipes and reminiscenses you bring each day. I hope you have a wonderful holiday
Just being with my Granny was the most special memory of thanksgiving. I love pumpkin pie memories and cranberry sauce. I think one of the best tips for photos that my sister-in-law does, is just observational shots. Almost nothing is posed. She is always the photographer, and she does such a good job. This works great for our family, she’s the designated photographer, and shoots lots and lots of pictures, a few are posed but most aren’t, she just catches intimate moments between family members.
Thank you, Christie, for all the wonderful opportunities you offer!
Girl, you know my favorite memory was around food. It was a tradition that everybody expected and teased me about. I would fill up at supper, which was always at noon, then doze off on the couch to the drone of football on the tv, wake up a few hours later and immediately go for another plate of food!! Mama got the biggest kick out of it and it was my annual ritual. I sure miss her. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.
My favorite memory of Thanksgiving still happens today. My grandma used to live about 2 hours away from me and my momma. Every year, we’d go up to her house early in the day. We’d spend all day with my grandma, her long-time boyfriend, and my family which is myself, my momma, my stepdad, my sister, and my brother. After we were all stuffed full from turkey, ham, stuffing, and far too many goodies we’d do our Christmas exchange. It’s two of the best holidays rolled into one day. My grandma lives much closer to my family now, but we still keep this tradition going. I actually look forward to it every year. It’s a nice way to get my Christmas spirit up and running for the year. Not to mention the fact that I love my grandma’s cooking!
Always went to grandmother’s house. I loved the get togethers and food.
My memorable Thanksgivings were the ones when I was young, and we went to my nanny and paw paw’s house for the day. To this day, I can’t duplicate my grandmother’s mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, the holiday is a little sad, now, since my grandfather passed 2 days before Thanksgiving 15 years ago.
My tip is share a hot plate of food with a soldier on base if near an installation, but if not prepare a plate or two for someone in the area that may need a hot meal. Deliver it and share a few minutes with them. It is always a blessing to have an unexpected guest at the table…
My favorite memories are the traditions my Mom and Nana had. We had large family gatherings, everyone and their families came home on the holiday to Nana’s house. Kids were allowed to eat anything they wanted on the holiday, even if it was just jell-o and pie. Both are Mom and Nana gone now, so I remind the kids each year with stories of them and have my children help make the special family recipes. I look forward to big family meals again, hopefully when my kids grow up and bring their own families back home.
Thank you for the great photo tips. I’ll be sure to use them this Thanksgiving.
It’s not Thanksgiving without a Butterball!
At least, that’s our tradition. My parents, not so much. Mom hates turkey.
We usually had chicken.
My favorite funny memory was the year I tried to do things up fancy when I brought a friend home from college. Mom doesn’t eat turkey, so I opted for ham. Only after we got to the table did he turn to me with a sad face, and tell me he was Jewish!
After my husband & I married all of my family joined his family for Thanksgiving and all of his family joined my family for Christmas. It was a perfect solution for all sharing in the grandchildren’s holidays and enjoying one another. We had good times in Vicksburg, MS at the home where my mother-in-law was raised and where she raised her family. The two families would gather around her huge dinning room table and we would stuff ourselves on good food and shared many good times together. My children grew to love that home which is now a thing of the past but is itched in our memories forever.
There have been so many Thanksgivings in my life that it is difficult to remember which one has the best memories. It has always been about being with family and more food than you can even imagine, especially my mom’s turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes, and desserts including her caramel pies. No one could ever quite duplicate her dressing or caramel pies.
Mom always had us write down what we were most grateful for on a drawing of a vegtable/fruit that would then be taped to a drawing of a big cornicopia..both a decoration and reminder of what we were grateful. Remember to date it so that you can look back over the years and see what meant so much to you at various stages of life.
Happy T-day!
What a wonderful idea! Even the youngest in the family could join in (with a little help from the older children in writing it down).
You always make us think of our past which is so neat seems there is never time to sit and reflect on it as much as we would like too anymore.My favorite Thanksgiving was all of the ones my family could sit down to and spend the whole day together and talk about the things we are really grateful for in life.Leftovers were cool to but thats another story for another time.Thanks Christy for helping us remember times and places almost forgotten it seems with this hectic life we all seem to be caught up in…..:)
Whenever I think of Thanksgiving, I think butterball. You just gotta have a butterball turkey or it’s not Thanksgiving. Looking forward to a great holiday and then the shopping on Friday.
I love old family photos. They’re the best. They make you realize how blessed you are and that being thankful is the reason for Thanksgiving. All who read my comment….have a blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Cathy Vins
Thanksgiving for our family always means turkey, along with homemade dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy – and we must have corn souffle or I’m in trouble!! AND ice cream jello for every holiday!! My grandkids all love dill pickles and olives, homemade rolls and lefse (my oldest grandson called it “ufda bread” when he was little!!) Can you tell we are Scandinavians?? Pumpkin pie rounds everything out, and my daughter in law makes a super Mystery pecan pie! I always have enough leftovers for supper and maybe some for everyone to take home!! And we share what we are most thankful for!
Being a member of a large family, holidays are always wild and crazy for us. But the memories of all of us spending time together are priceless. Like many other families we have the special dishes that it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without like Mama’s dressing, her sweet potatoes, our cranberry congeled salad, the “beach cake” (that’s a whole story in itself) and Ann’s lemon pound cake. One of our family members has even put together a family cookbook that includes all of our favorite recipies and has given each of us a copy.
My favorite thanksgiving memories were when my great-mother was alive, she always stressed the importance of our family staying close. She was a very good southern cooks who could cook just about anything. Family is what our memories should be made of.
I don’t have any real memories from my childhood Thanksgivings, so what I’m doing is trying to make great memories for my children. I make sure each one has one special dish they alone help me prepare.
Hope ya’ll have a wonderful holiday!
I have loved cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Loved everything about it…the traditional favorites…..Turkey & dressing, green bean casserole. cranberry salad, pumpkin pie. The family being together and being thankful.
Thanksgiving to me means a big table of food and a large gathering of family. Since we have some older children in our family now, we’ve started what we call “The Turkey Bowl” which is a killer game of kickball after the Thanksgiving meal. Not right after of course
Great fun!
Also…here’s one that may throw this southern crowd…We have to have cornbread dressing(Duh!)AND mashed potatoes!!!! Why? Because we have a mixed marriage…Dad’s from the south, mom is a yankee. It’s always worked
my memory is always watching the macy’s parade with my grandmother. After she passed I kept up the tradition and look forward to it
Ever since I was a little girl, my grandfather has made giblet gravy at Thanksgiving. My mother and I always look forward to eating the gravy all by itself straight out of a coffee cup. It’s the best gravy ever, and no one can make it quite like Papaw.
Butterball turkey and watching the macy parade as it cooked. Going to my grandmother’s and playing with my cousins.
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays… we always get together with a big group of friends. And last year we found a really fun resource for dishing up an amazing meal and making it all come out right and at the same time, Rouxbe.com … and the best part is, they are all in video format so you can just watch and learn… check it out: http://rouxbe.com/thanksgiving-dinner
and thanks for the chance to win a turkey!
This probably doesn’t sound that special – but, I was always in charge of the cheeseball. When the women were planning the Thanksgiving meal and everyone was getting assigned their dishes, I was given cheeseball duty. Because it’s the easiest dish to make. And back in the day I was not the world’s greatest cook. Far from it! So, every Thanksgiving during my late teens and early 20’s I whipped up our family cheeseball.
My Nanny (grandmother) always highly praised my oh-so-delicious cheeseball. Bless her!
Now that I’ve FINALLY progressed beyond the cheeseball stage, I was very proud last year to bestow the honor upon my youngest daughter, Vivian. At age eight she was already at the cheeseball stage, far advanced over her mother. My oldest daughter was already moved to meringue duty.
Seeing the cheeseball every Thanksgiving reminds me of times spent sitting at the kitchen table, mixing the soft cheeses and watching the pros take care of the rest. And now, when I am working as the pro, I smile when I see my youngest daughter working the cheeseball duty.
This is a very sweet and special story – thanks for sharing!
My grandpa is always the key to most of my favorite holiday memories. He is the ultimate in “grumpy old fart”. He and I have always had a close bond.
That and homemade pie. Cherry, preferably. With real whipped cream.
Hey Christie,
Look at those long ponytails that you and Patti had…how cute!
No my Grandpa didn’t ride us around in the wheel barrow, but he did have this big ol blue tractor and when he would hook up the mower attachment (this big square thing, I’m sure someone knows what I’m talking about) me and my cousins would all sit on it while it goes up and down cutting the grass.
I know it sounds dangerous and I would probably freak out if I saw my girls on it, but we would have so much fun. And after we were done we would pick and eat grapes to our hearts content!
I wish I had known my grandmothers, but they both died before I was born. My mother was “mother” to her brothers and sisters and my father’s siblings. So, we had LOTS of company on Thanksgiving every year. Children slept on the floor all over the house and we ate in shifts — menfolk first, of course, kids came next and the women ate last. How I loved those times when we were ALL together! Does anyone besides me remember their mother cooking the turkey in a brown paper bag?
Aunt Charley
Memories of mother? For goodness sake — I remember doing it myself. LOL.
Just when I think Southern Plate can’t get any better, it does. You simply are a true southern gal and it is the women of the south like you that have fed and kept the men an families going for years… Words are to little to express my thanks for what you share and how simple you keep great tasting recipes. Paula Deen needs to move over, another gal is on the block… and this is a better way to win a turkey than when in high school I dressed up as a big turkey in Parkway City Mall and even went into the fitness center there with all these ladies in there trying to loose weight and me giving away a turkey… have a great holiday to everyone.
We spent everything Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s when I was growing up. We had more food than we could ever possibly eat – had to be 23 sides to go with the turkey – and ham. My favorites were my grandmother’s dressing and mom’s sweet potato casserole.
God bless you for the turkey giveaway. What a wonderful thing with some of us continuing to experience unemployment. I agree with a prior comment stating they wished Halloween could be pushed aside & Thanksgiving be given a higher priority. It has become nothing more than a grocery store holiday for so many. They concentrate on the eating rather than family & giving thanks to God for all he has blessed us with.
I remember going to my aunt’s house and having a huge potluck. There were all my favorite foods. We have a smaller family now, but we go over to my mom’s for Thanksgiving. We have turkey, steak, Chinese noodles, rice, and other yummy stuff. We live in Hawaii so our Thanksgiving menu is not your traditional stuff. I’m still trying to figure out what kinds of traditions I want to create with my daughters.
The family would always go to Moms for Thanksgiving until Mom moved back down South where she is from, due to health issues.
I wanted to have the family together so I decided to make dinner for everyone the year after Mom moved away. My sister came early to help me cook. Neither of us had ever made dressing before and we followed Moms recipe. My sister kept saying we didn’t have enough bread and kept adding more. I put it in the largest dish I had and popped it in the oven. Since she had kept adding extra bread to the recipe, the dressing swelled and over flowed in the oven. The oven began to smoke and soon the whole apartment was filled with thick white smoke and the smoke detectors were blasting. I had to open the doors and windows and put on the fans to clear out the smoke. It seemed like a disaster at the time, but now I can look back and laugh about it!
Thanksgiving Day will be a big one and completely different for us this year – youngest’s 15th birthday, and spending the day on campus at Texas A&M where my older two are in school, with the big football game that night. Our Thanksgiving dinner will be outdoors, shared with the kids’ college friends. I hope my cornbread dressing will be half as good as my Mama’s! This will be my first time to make it without her supervision (which means she made it and gave me the credit!) And lots of pies … It’s going to be so much fun!
Lisa, I always worried whether I would get the spices and seasons right like my mothers. I use a package of stove top stuffing mix with my cornbread, biscuits, etc. Then I use just a little poultry season. We use chicken and chicken broth in our dressing. Give it a try and everyone will be glad you tried. Write down what you did and adjust next year. It took me several years and I think I’m very close to Mothers dressing.
Growing up in Alabama we always went to Indiana for the holidays. I can close my eyes and see all the family that gathered in my Mamaw’s not so big house…believe me, it was full!! And the familar smells filled the house all day, making you so hungry you thought you would starve to death waiting till it was put on the table. Then and now we always set a place for those that had passed the year before, if any. I do that now for my son and oldest stepdaughter we lost 2 years ago.
The noise of the laughter, talking and kids playing is still vivid in my mind. The sight of my beloved Mamaw in her full apron filled me with joy..I loved her so much. She always saved the cooked turkey neck and gizzard just for me out of all the grandkids there. When we built our log home…from scratch mind you…not a kit, I designed the large main room big enough for my black walnut farm table my husband built me to seat 10, plus 2 sets of dining room table and chairs to seat 12 more. Our family is much smaller now but I still fix nearly the same things we enjoyed when I was growing up. And like you, I cherish the pictures taken back then and my sister’s and I always take tons of pictures at every gathering we have. My Mamaw was from Kentucky and she always fixed old southern recipes and I carry on that tradition.
Every Thanksgiving morning, we eat breakfast and watch the Macy’s parade. Then before lunch, we always name the thing that we are most thankful for. During the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving Day, we donate food and volunteer at various agencies that assist people less fortunate than us. It helps the needy and really makes you feel good deep down inside. I hope that my kids continue our tradition.
My family is not from the United States so Thanksgiving was a new holiday for us. It is probably the one of the only holidays where “American” food was the star. Of course we had our traditional foods but we always had a turkey front and center.
We always gathered at my Nanny’s for a HUGE Thanksgiving dinner that she cooked most of herself with most of it coming from the gigantic garden they had every year. A lot of hard work and love went into those meals and I sincerely miss having that time. Now our families have gone their separate ways after my Nanny passed away and we no longer have a large gathering. I have started a new tradition and my MIL and her honey travel to spend a few weeks with us. I cook enough food to feed an army instead of just four and we have a great time. I love every second of preparing all the food myself and think of my Nanny often during all of it. I sure do miss her.
When I was a young child, I looked forward to Thanksgiving because that was the first meal of the season where my mother really showed her considerable cooking and baking skills. Now, I look back and wish I had a chance for one more Thanksgiving with all the family.
I appreciate good holiday cooking, but I have learned to love people more.
There is nothing like a Butterball turkey. Thank you for the opportunity to win one.
Another thanks for sharing photo tips. There is nothing more special than to remember good times and loved ones than through special pictures. How I miss all those good times. Thank you for sharing yours.
I think it’s wonderful that you uncovered this photo. It’s always great to reminisce and go through old photos remembering those special moments.
And those photo tips will surely help make Thanksgiving more memorable for those years to come.
One of my all time favorite Thanksgiving memories was several years back. My sister came to visit us and wanted to cook a pecan pie for Thanksgiving dinner while I was at work. I used to buy salt by the bag and had it in a Tupperware container. She mistook it for sugar. The look on her face as she took the first piece and took her first bite was priceless. She just couldn’t understand why anyone would buy that much salt put it in a container to look just like sugar.
I also cooked my dishrag with my turkey one year. I looked all over for that dishrag and finally got a clean one out. I guess the look on my face was probably priceless when I lifted the turkey out of the pan and there was my dishrag.
Our tradition is the youngest gets to pray. It’s always special and precious.
Thanks so much for another great contest. That turkey would go
great with the “green stuff”/lime congealed salad and cherry cream
pie that my family must have for every holiday meal.
One of my favorite memories is of the day after lunch at My Aunt’s house. Every year she had a ladies luncheon for just family.We loved it and loved her. She was my favorite relative.I still miss going there. When my Son was very young we went to my Mom’s for turkey dinner on the day. All the way to her house he would sing,”Over the river and thru the woods to Grandmother’s house we go”. He was so serious and cute.
My thanksgiving memories are of going to my grandmothers house, spending the day playing with my cousins, with a houseful of wonderful food. i try to have the same foods now that my children and grandchildren come home for the holidays. thanks for the camera tips/reminders.
I love Thanksgiving and have some fond memoried. I have spent a few years lately getting some first hand lessons so I can make my Momma’s dressing and special cranberry salad. Her’s is still better but I do a pretty good job. Karen
I remember that Grandma used to make everyone write something we were thankful for down and put it in a box. After dinner we took turns reading them at random and guessing who wrote it.
I also remember daddy and Poppy jumping over the recliner when the game went particularly right.
Butterball was my first turkey on my own, and it will probably by my last. Tender, juicy, and melt-in-your-mouth good. Along with it we have sides that represent every member of the family because we welcome new members by adding their favorite dish (if we don’t already include it). So we have cornbread dressing and oyster dressing, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes, fresh cranberry sauce and canned, pumpkin pie and buttermilk pie — you get the idea. Everyone feels special and part of the family.
Hey, Christy! That is a precious photograph~I am so glad for you that you found it, and thanks for sharing it with us! Thanksgiving for us was always leaf raking day. It was a treat just to have Daddy home from work in the middle of the week and we always enjoyed being outside with him. Of course, we would also have to do a little leaf pile jumping every now and then, too. Mostly, though, it was just great to be together! Have a blessed day!
We always lived far away from Grandma and Grandpa. But we always made the drive for the holidays. That time was always precious to me as I loved being around my grandparents and cousins. And I was always amazed at how big the turkey was!
I tweeted too!
I can remember my Grandmother putting the turkey in the oven the oven the night before. Oh the smell when we got up Thanksgiving day. I don’t remember anybody getting sick from the low temp. she cooked it on. I believe it was 250°
Our family Thanksgivings have always been huge!!! We have cousins and relatives coming out of the woodwork! I guess the smell of home cooking makes everyone come running. My mom taught me at a very early age how to cook. So my fondest memory of Thanksgiving has always been getting together with my most amazing mother and helping her make Thanksgiving. Still today I help her. As a mother of four I am now teaching my children how to cook and help in the kitchen! Thank Thanksgiving everyone
Thank you Christy, it feels like a wonderful holiday season is among us!!!!
Heather
My kids love Thanksgiving, one of them likes it even better than Christmas. Last year we went out to eat and that didn’t go over very well. I had to promise that this year it would be a real Thanksgiving, they are really looking forward to it.
Oh, my great-granddaddy used to ride us around in the wheelbarrow, too. What great memories. How I miss them so much, especially at the holidays.
Now, my stepdad rides my children around in the wheelbarrow, and they have the time of their lives. I’ll have to make sure I get a picture this year.
My favorite Thanksgiving photo is one where we all posed for the camera-but before we all calmed down enough for the ‘real’ shot, the photographer snapped the pic, and now we have a picture of everyone making faces, giving ‘bunny ears’, laughing and pointing, and just having a great time! It’s a much better picture than the one we all calmed down and smiled for a few seconds later!
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Getting together with family and friends and lots of great food. This year we’re also preparing an extra meal for a needy family with special needs children. I love it that my children will experience that.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are my two favorite holidays. Lots of friends and wonderful food. Have a GREAT holiday season with your family Christy.
I suppose the most memorable thing about Thanksgiving for me is that for many years we have celebrated the holiday with my parents and my only sister and her family. We have a few others that come off and on, also, but it was a given that we would all be together. My dad has been severely handicapped since he was 31 and my mom along with my sister and I (who were only 8 and 9 years old when it happened)have always taken care of my dear Daddy. I really don’t remember much about how he used to be. He is like a child in many ways. We began noticing changes in my Mom and on January 31st of 2008, my precious mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Since that time, Mommy is present in body, but she is no longer with us. We now have to care for the both of them. I will hold dear to my heart the memories of spending Thanksgiving with them in the past and try to make the best of this year because I don’t know if this will be our last.
I love Thanksgiving. I’ve been cooking the turkey for the last several years. I invite my parents, and my daughter’s family over every year. Although, I”m not as good a cook as my mom (my mashed potatoes are always cold by the time we sit down to eat, LOL) my turkey is always moist and tender, because I always buy a BUTTERBALL!! Thanks for bringing back memories for me.
P.S. My favorite picture of Thanksgiving is one of those surprise shots. We went to my mammaw’s and papaw’s in Kentucky for Thanksgiving when I was 13 or 14. My mammaw had her hair in rollers and a cigarette hanging from her mouth, while she was at the kitchen sink doing dishes~of all things. I yelled for her, she turned around and I snapped her picture. That picture was a hoot!! She always hated it, but I’ll always cherish it. Miss you mammaw and papaw!!
It is fun to find old pics of yourself as a child and remember a little of a simpler time.
Thanks for the chance to win a turkey! Thanksgiving always brings to mind my late mother-in-law…..she was so sweet to cook her meal on Friday, therefore we didn’t have to eat two big meals in one day since we go to my mom’s for Thursday lunch.
My favorite part of Thanksgiving (and Christmas a few weeks later) was just having time with my mother. She worked full time and like most southern women, also worked a full shift when she got home from her day job! Summers were particularly busy–I’d head on to bed and she’d still be in there bent over the sink or stove, “puttin’ up tomatoes”, or corn or snap beans. She cooked a big meal every night and a proper breakfast every morning, made sure were had clean clothes, shoes that fit, trimmed bangs that were hanging in our eyes, and a thousand other things that kept our household afloat.
All that, though, didn’t leave her much down time. Her employer shut down entirely for the week of Thanksgising and with the summer harvest far behind us, it was just the most wonderful thing to have mama there all the time for that week. She had time to read with us, or play Go Fish and we always got to help out on the pecan and pumpkin pies. There was a lot of talking time where she caught up with everything that was happening with school and our friends and what we were reading and dreaming of for the future.
Thanksgiving week was always a time to connect with mama, who was (still is) the hardest working woman I’ve ever known.
Thanks for letting me tell that story!
I had pony tails just like yours when I was a kid! And the bangs too!
I love Thanksgiving. It’s all about food and family and sitting around the dinner table remembering what we’re thankful for and reminiscing about the “good old days” and building new memories for our kids to reminisce. There’s none of the hurry hurry rush and competing you find with so many other holidays.
Since we have a large family with many different sets of in-laws, everybody is always strung out and being pulled in different directions on Thanksgiving Day. Because of this, we end up eating way to much at lunch and then, can’t do the supper meal justice over at the other place we need to go for Thanksgiving. In the last few years, my family – my parents, brothers and sisters and their spouses and children – have started getting together on the Saturday evening AFTER Thanksgiving Day at my house and we have a big pot of catfish stew and a big pot of brunswick stew along with crackers and cornbread. It is a nice change from all of the rich food and not as much work. We can relax and eat without having to jump up and run to the next place. This year we are keeping the same Saturday tradition but going to my sister’s house where we will be treated to seafood – crab legs, oysters, fish and a low country shrimp boil.
What a great give-away, thank you Christy for all the work you do, free, for all us “chickens” ;}
Thanksgivings of the past w/ memories of a dinner table full of family, my mama and grandparents, now long gone are treasured memories. Today’s Turkey Days are usually at honey-pie hubby’s parents, at the lake in Ga. Thirty people gather in one house, one full of laughter, hugs and blessings to be loved by so many at one sitting. To see my 2 children be surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins is priceless. When it is time to eat, the Butterball turkey has been smoked or deep-fried, a winner either way! M.I.L. always makes Chocolate Pecan pie and a bunch of other pies to sample. I am so blessed! Hope your Thanksgiving is the best EVER!
My Dad’s birthday was on Nov 24th….and on the years his b’day hit on Thanksgiving he would always say…”look what all was cooked just for my birthday”. He loved it when his b’day fell on Thanksgiving. I think of that every Thanksgiving.
I love turkey and Thanksgiving!
What a precious time of the year…a time set aside to just be thankful. The only present required…a full heart, full to overflowing for the blessings our Heavenly Father, our Savior has bestowed on us. I love the day because our family works together to produce the meal all will savor.
I always have fond memories of Thanksgivings past, and not just because my birthday is on November 23rd. Before my mom’s parents passed away, my Grandma would throw a huge dinner with all the fixins. When I think about it, I can still see my mom and her three sisters with my Grandma in the steamy kitchen – peeling potatos, making green bean casserole… and when my Grandpa fired up the turkey carving knife – look out! That glorious turkey always ended up looking like a hacksaw was taken to it, but it still tasted great! And fighting with my cousins over who got to pull the wishbone… thanks for this giveaway. It brought back some wonderful memories.
LOL!
Thanksgiving is my favorite! Not only is it a time for family but it is normally the week of my Birthday, so needless to say I have had several Birthday Turkey’s! I love sitting around and chatting with family, catching up with family I have not seen in a while or just sitting quietly and watching the children play together. Family that have passed away are always remembered but holidays are a great time for their stories to be told and passed on to younger generations.
I’ll never forget the first time I cooked a turkey— left the giblet bag in the turkey. Ooopsie! Thank goodness I’ve become a better cook since then!
I love Thanksgiving. I remember family getting together and my sister-in-law (who is sixteen year older than me) having our family over to her and my brothers house. We would make butter by putting the ingredients into a Mason jar and shaking, shaking, shaking. As a child I thought that this was the best thing. Also my sister and I would spend the night. We would get up the next morning and have dessert for breakfast because we were to full the day before.
We always have cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then the parade on the TV. We always try to remember how thankful we are for all our blessings. This year we will be blessed with another grandson right around Thanksgiving.
The November that we bought our first house was one to remember. My husband was crazy busy at work and was sent on several last minute trips. The day before Thanksgiving he headed out to Alaska! My parents and I sat Thanksgiving afternoon in a crowded, noisy Denny’s waiting for our “Traditional Feast”. Yuck, yuck, yuck was all that I could think about. Then my Mom started talking to some of the folks around us and we learned some pretty funny stories about these pitiful folks also ended up at Denny’s: turkey still frozen, turkey burned beyond recognition, missed airline flights, family feuds, etc. At we suffered through the pumpkin pie (how can you screw that up?????) –we realized how thankful we were to have each other and the fact that my husband had a job–never mind that it had taken him away from us for the holiday!
I love everything about Thanksgiving! Being together with family, eating all the traditional family dishes–it just doesn’t get any better. It’s not Thanksgiving without my mom’s cranberry salad. I remember when I was a kid (in the days before food processors), she’d stay up until really late grinding up the cranberries, nuts, celery, etc. with one of those food grinders that clamped onto the table. She still can’t believe that I make it now from start to finish in about 20 minutes.
Amen on taking pictures! In the last three years my children have lost a grandparent each year. They went from 5 (one great-grandmother) to just 2. And that doesn’t even include all the other family members we lost. After each loss I immediately went to my camera to see if I had gotten any good shots of them the last time we were together and was always thankful that I had. I don’t really need the turkey but just wanted to encourage your readers about taking pictures.
Thanksgiving has not been quite the same since the passing of my parents, and my only sister’s battle with cancer (my only sibling). We try to get together over the Thanksgiving weekend with my sister’s children and families, and my children and families, but that is always subject to what the daughter-in-laws’ families are planning. However, I am so thankful for every time we are with my grandchildren and their parents. Life is so short – we must get the most out of every moment. I will fix a turkey sometime over the weekend, and we will enjoy whomever can be present…and Yes, I will take more memories with the camera.
I love Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite holiday. This year, my son will be coming home from college and he will be bringing his girlfriend for the first time! Talk about nerves–I have to make sure every thing turns out right! When I was little, we used to go to my grandparents’ house–we used to run outside with our cousins while the grown ups finished up the meal. I remember my grandma would make her turkey in a roaster. It was always so moist and juicy. I also remember her stuffing had ground beef and raisins in it, and I think some sort of nut. So many memories….
Butterball is the only turkey my mother will buy. I can’t really think of a favorite Thanksgiving memory, but as a child of divorced parents I adored having multiple dinners! The food has always been my favorite part =]
I love the picture above. Riding in the wheelbarrow… fun times! I love Thanksgiving. I now have to alternate years. One year with my family and the next with my husband’s family and it is so neat to experience the different traditions. Hope your Thanksgiving is very special.
I love Thanksgiving! This year it is going to be spent with my husband’s family who get together every year. It’s a huge family and we usually serve a big lunch Thanksgiving day than usually it lasts the whole weekend. I have very fond memories of Thanksgiving with my family growing up. Mom made a big turkey with all the fixins, cranberry salad and a bunch of other yummy stuff. I always look forward to Thanksgiving because it starts off the Holidays coming up!
Thanksgiving!!! what wonderful memories. Growing up my mom would start backing the night before and would get up early on Thanksgiving morning to finish. We would then pack up our car and head to my grandmothers house in St. Stephens, AL and we would join her and all my aunts, uncles and cousins for the best Thanksgiving meal imaginable. The kids would gather pine cones and feathers to make centerpieces for the longest table I have ever seen. We would also decorate the two outside tables on her wrap around porch. The kids would run and play while my mom and grandmother put the finishing touches on that wonderful meal. My grandmother has since passed away, but I help my momma and my mother-in-law each year trying to create those same wonderful memories for my boys. We lost my daddy last year so Thanksgiving has a differnt meaning to us these days. To be thankful for your blessings each and every day and to savor those memories. We have some of the most wonderful photographs of my daddy and my oldest son on the day he graduated from high school. My daddy was proud of him. What we didn’t know at the time of those wonderful pictures was he would be gone from our sight far too quickly … in less than four months we would lose my daddy. But he is still with us in all the love that he taught me and those wonderful pictures. Make each day a blessing and be thankful for all you have. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your wonderful family!!!
Love and Blessings!
Tammy
Now I’m a mom, Thanksgiving is different. I want to preserve traditons for my kids, who makes what or where we eat it isn’t that important.
Butterball is by far the best turkey you can buy for the Holidays or anytime. It makes the best leftovers as well since it is such a juicy turkey. It would be wonderful to win one to place on our Thanksgiving table this year!!
Cooking the turkey is the big tradition in our home. When I was growing up I was so excited when Mama said “Girls it’s time to stuff the bird.” I knew I was going to get to help. In those little girl years I got to help by holding the legs apart while Mama stuffed the inside. As I got older I took on new responsibilities until I suddenly found myself stuffing the bird while Mama was holding the legs. When my girls were old enough to ‘help’ in the kitchen I started encouraging them to help stuff the bird for Thanksgiving. They never seemed to really enjoy the fun in stuffing a turkey so it wasn’t something that they truly looked forward to. They were more interested in watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Then Lil Man came along. Even though he was a few weeks shy of his second birthday last year when Thanksgiving rolled around he loved, loved, loved climbing up in a chair beside the kitchen counter and (in his words) “hep nanny tuss da bwud” (help nanny stuff the bird). We had so much fun and for me it was the restart of a tradition my Mama started.
Tweeted – http://twitter.com/NCBelle36/status/5589468077
Butterball has a wonderful turkey. One of the things we enjoy about Thanksgiving is the leftovers. Nothing better than a turkey sandwich with homemade cranberry sauce.
Besides my FAMILY, I would have to say that my mama’s chicken and dressing is my favorite thing. It is the BOMB. ….and to think, when I was growing up–I hated dressing. Now I love it!!!!!!!!!!I am a big girl now! I also love the sweet potato casserole. I started eating it in my 20s, when my mother-in-law made it. Now I love it, too! Either way-with the marshmallows on top – or with the nuts in it. Now if only I could start eating green things, like salads or beans. Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!Please count me in!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kim
When I was little, my job was to tear the bread into pieces to make the stuffing for the turkey. I’m 60 years old & still tearing the bread! It’s great to get our whole family together for a wonderful family day of good food & fun!
Butterball is the best! I love Thanksgiving, family gathering together and eating! My favorite Thanksgiving memory is all of us sitting around the table and my uncle throwing rolls! We had a lot of fun! My mama Cora was a very special cook and my mom is still a good cook today! I hope someone one of these days will make that comment about me! I hope everyone has a Blessed Thanksgiving! God Bless, Linda Green
You gave some great tips! I especially loved the tip about taking one on one photos. My Mother passed away last year and my sister was looking though her pictures to send me, all she could find was the pictures that had me and Mom, also had at least one or both of my siblings in it. I don’t want to do the same with my 4 kid’s so I’m starting to take individual pics with them!
I LOVE Thanksgiving! We’re a football family, so we always watch the game along with a fabulous feast…including the sauerkraut during the meal and my pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. As we live on the Outer Banks, we usually start the day with Bloody Marys and an oyster roast…it’s tradition!
For our little family, Thanksgiving has been a time to gather all near and far. It is always filled with fun and tons of good food. The best part is that it is a group venture, everyone brings a dish, so we end up with a lot of cherished recipes and tried and true dishes on our table.
Once the meal is done we gather around the table still and play games, visit and catch up on everyone’s happenings. Life is always fast-paced, but this day is set aside, for us at least, to catch our breath and just “be.”
Thank you for the moment to reflect on all of the things I am thankful this year. A home, family and friends that I love, and the opportunity to let my voice be heard.
Thanksgiving is the one holiday my husband and daughter do not travel and instead spend at our house. It is so nice sometimes not having to go here and there and just be together. They watch the parade and I am cooking and it has become our own little family tradition. We usually have an early Thanksgiving with other family the weekend before.
The one thing I remember about Thanksgivings from when I was younger was my Memaw always made me chicken casserole. The kind with the Ritz crackers crushed on top-YUM. This was always a treat and the only time of the year that I got this dish. She passed away four years ago and everytime I make this casserole I think of her.
Butterball, there is no substitute. Have many fond memories of thanksgivings past and now making our own new traditions with my four year old granddaughter.
I’m already cravin’ a ButterBall. Wish I had one on the table right now with thick tangy white sauce, dressing and sweet potato casserole!
Thanksgiving has changed alot in our family,like most families,but my sweetest memory of thanksgiving was 1 year I had just got out of the hospital(had pneumonia,I was probably 6 or 7 Im well my age is not important to this story,but it was a long time ago),but I got a seat at the grown-up table for dessert,I also got a little bit of coffee with my dessert,I was the stuff I thought.I never sat at the big table again,but what a memory.
Wow! This posting is huge, isn’t it? LOL I remember when I was a child…8 of us with our parents…that, for the most part, meat was not usually the center of attention at about 80% of our meals…we were too poor (though I didn’t know it at the time). But, come Thanksgiving and Christmas, man, did we get meat! That big old turkey would look like it was gonna stay and visit for weeks….but, alas, come 2 days later and we had the last of him in our breakfast hash…what wonderful memories!!!
I love baking all kinds of cookies with my kids, this year I am going to continue that tradition with my 5 year old Granddaughter. She loves to spend time with her Grandma and can’t wait to come spend the night. This weekend we are going to make oatmeal raisin cookies. Yum! And at Thanksgiving I am going to let her help me with the salads and potatoes.
The smells of the turkey, dressing, pies and the exciting buzz of conversation of family members…that’s my memory. BUT, most of all it was the LAUGHTER…when my family got together it was a three ring circus..two brothers were like comedians and were more like Laurel and Hardy…they bounced off each other with true stories, jokes or just poking fun at some family member. I would laugh till my sides hurt!!
All of that has changed now as most have passed on…but if I ever want a happy thought, I just remember the family gatherings. Everyone make beautiful memories RIGHT NOW…later you will appreciate them more and more. They will bring you comfort and a guaranteed SMILE.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!!
I’m so lucky to have most of my extended family all in the same state! We all get together and do a pot luck style. Pretty much everyone brings the same thing as they did the year before. My job is mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. I love thanksgiving!!!
The photo tips will come in handy. I also need to start printing more pictures to have for the grandchildren.
I always loved Thanksgiving when all 7 of us “kids” would gather at our parents to give thanks.Also with our grandparents at the table. Then later the family expanded to include our children, now our grandchildren. Now it includes my mother’s great-great-grandchildren!
We all have so much to be thankful for to live in a free nation and remember to be thankful for the men and women in service to keep us free.
Have a great day.
Pam
My memories of Thanksgiving when I was a child include sitting at the “little table” with my brother and cousins and after dinner all the men sleeping in the living room while watching football. Now we have the meal at our house with our daughters and their families – always with a Butterball turkey – it is the best!
As the youngest of three and the only one still living in the hometown, I usually orchestrate Thanksgiving. With mother in assisted living, this year it will be at my house. We just love to get together, eat too much and share memories of past Thanksgivings. We always do the “remember when” or “this is just like Aunt Red made it!” It brings us closer together and my three children and three grandchildren learn more about my family and our traditions.
My grandma always made Velveeta Shells and Cheese to go along with all of the other wonderful homemade dishes we would have every year. For some reason that has always stuck out in my mind, I guess because that was something special she had made just for us kids. That is why I will carry that tradition on for my kids, and as a way of remembering my wonderful grandma.
Seeing the picture of the kids in the wheelbarrow brought back sweet memories of my own Grandpa. There is absolutely nothing like a wheelbarrow ride!
I’m making the best Thanksgiving memories now with my husband and three sons. With our middle son, we already have opened our hearts and home to his girlfriend and look forward to our family growing in the years to come. Our best times are when we’re all together gathered around the table enjoying good food and each other.
The best thing about Thanksgiving growning up was that my entire family was together. All the Aunts, Uncles, and cousins celebrated the day at my Grandparents house. Things have changed over the years, we have grown up and the family has expanded, but I still long for those days when we were all together.
And, Christy, I totally understand about not getting prints made now that everything is digital! I am guilty of that, since getting a digital camera I get less prints made, too.
I Love Thanksgiving!!! The food, the family, the fun, the anticipation of the holidays to come, also the start of birthday season in my house. Hubby and 2 daughters, mother and mother-in-law all have birthdays in December.
Thank you, Christy! Great article! One way I enjoyed preserving our holidays memories was by taking a Christmas photo of my son and daughter each year for a holiday greeting card–as they got older, they grumbled about it somewhat, but now that they are in their twenties, they enjoy looking back at each photograph! Happy holidays to you and your family!
OUR WHOLE FAMILY SQUEEZING INTO A TINY DINING ROOM AT HOME,BUT THERE ALWAYS SEEMED TO ROOM FOR ONE MORE! THANKFUL FOR FAITH- FAMILY AND FRIENDS- IN THAT ORDER!
We used to all sit around the table hold hands while we said grace, but now as teh family has grown we have spread out through out the house but when we have dessert we move around; that way we get to spend soem time eating with everyone
May all of you have a Thanksgiving filled with love,laughter & memories.
My favorite Thanksgiving food memory is my maw-maw making me my favorite rolls! We called them Angel rolls, they are little white yeast rolls and they are heavenly!! She asked me every year what I wanted to have this year and my answer was always “your angel rolls maw-maw!” I miss her very much. This year my mom and I are going to try and make some from memory. Maw-maw wasnt a recipe type person, when she told you how to make something, it was always about a handful of this and little bit of that, just until it looks right! So wish us luck Christy, and if you have any yeast roll recipes, I’d love to give them a try.
I would love the butterball turkey as that is my second favorite Thanksgiving dinner item, aside from the angel rolls of course. The leftover turkey the next day is great!
I also tweeted about it too!
Thanks, Christy. for taking your time to share your family with all of us!!
My family leads a very busy life. Sometimes it’s hard to sit down with my sister, nieces, nephews, mom, dad, etc. to enjoy a good meal. Thanksgiving is that time for us. I started hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my house for my family about 5 years ago. The fact that they allow me to cook for them all on this day means a lot to me. It’s an honor to be able to take over this tradition in our family, and to be able to instill these traditions in my own kids. Butterball turkey has been on our table at Thanksgiving for many years!
My mom and I use to make pinwheel cookies every Thanksgiving because they were my grandpa’s favorite. This year, I finally figured out how to make them gluten free so I can make them with my girls and help them to know their great grandpa a little better.
Christy, you always make us feel at home like we should pull our shows off and curl our feet up on the love seat. Thanks once again for memory lane and good thoughts! I remember lots of years at my “old maid” great-aunt and “bachelor” great-uncles’ house with the big long wrap around porch. My mother’s daddy’s sister and his two brothers would put on a spread for us all. There were many aunts, uncles, lots of cousins, and of course, as we married our spouses and our children. As these three got older and then passed on we would have the meal and day at our house or my grandmother’s. My great-aunt could make the best dressing in four counties. I can still smell and taste it. A lot of love was always put into the meal and we all brought several and there was sooooo much food!! So many yummy dishes and pretty bowls and casserole dishes. All helped pitch in to help.
NOW, for years, the tradition has been to have the huge meal and day at my only sister’s home. She and her wonderful husband of over 40 years(that I graduated with!)prepare the main meal and we all bring sides and goodies. Their son always fries the turkeys(having taken over this chore from his dad)and everything is so yummy. We all have our favorites and it is a super family day to remember each year and yes, we always get lots and lots of video and pictures. We are all picture takers from way back!! My husband and I and our kids and their kids all look forward to seeing everyone and feasting!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Let us remember the reason for the season–to gives thanks to the Lord of our lives for all the good and perfect things in Him! Let us give thanks!
Well, how rude!! Silly me. I could have just hooked on to here and not below–that is shoes not shows. You know what I mean. You are just so hospitable, Christy. Thanks!
I love Thanksgiving… I remember it was a time when our whole family got together and it was so nice to see everybody. The men and boys would play football outside while the women and girls talked and finished cooking. Then we’d eat and the men would all fall asleep on couches and LazyBoy chairs. Great memories!
Thank you so much for your reminder to look at the positive and to take every chance to celebrate. At the time, taking photos can seem useless or too much trouble, but I always look back at them and appreciate they were taken, especially when they’re pleasant shots!
Of course that is pull our shoes off–not shows! Tee hee hee! Have fun Y’all–faith, family, food, fun!!
We rarely had turkey; it was always a big fat hen that my dad killed and mom dressed. Mom’s homemade, rolled-out dumplings were to die for. Dressing, giblet gravy, vegetables from the freezer, Mom’s caramel cake and pecan pies completed a wonderful dinner. We lived on a farm and were truly blessed.
My grandmother always made the biggest meal at Thanksgiving. She had a house full of family and friends – always 25 or more! She passed away this past January, but her recipes live on. There will be a empty spot at the table this year, but her memory will live on in all the wonderful dishes she left for us…
Oh, I forgot the homemade yeast rolls. I can smell them still. Mom was a fantastic cook. I miss her singing as she cooked.
Every Thanksgiving we wake up and watch the Macy’s Parade and start preparing by injecting it with out own blend of our special seasonings then the turkey goes into the hot grease to be fried up. Yum! We do a mirlton dressing with crabmeat and shrimp and cornbread stuffing. I’m getting hungry as I write about it.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving
I’ve Tweeted and I follow your tweets!
@brownatural
http://twitter.com/brownatural/status/5592139157
I’ve have posted a link to this giveaway on my facebook page (Angela Akinniyi) and I’m a fan of yours on Facebook.
I love the holidays. Great food, wonderful memories, and the people we love. A time for our old favorites and a few of the new recipes that tempt us from Southern Plate. Thanks Christy and keep up the wonderful work.
Just having all the family around what a great time to be thankful I love the smells and the smiles Debbie
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! I will never forget eating a huge meal and then everyone piling up on the couch to watch The Dallas Cowboys play their Thanksgiving game(I’m from Texas). That was our tradition but the most memorable Thanksgiving was when my Grandpa nearly burnt down the garage trying to fry a turkey inside the garage. LOL!!! Since then we haven’t fried anymore turkeys! LOL!!! Geesh! Ahh the difference between an enclosed area and an open space. LOL!!!
We always take family photos on my Mom’s back steps, we have grown quite a bit but still manage to all crowd in for 1 big group photo. I love to take candid shots of everyone playing football, watching football on tv and/or napping.
In the 60’s, Thanksgiving afternoon meant going to BigK with my mom.
I just love your website! You always strike a chord with me and my memories of growing up a “southern girl.” My grandpa would always say a humble, sincere prayer of thanks, then hurry to eat the Thanksgiving meal so he could go deer hunting!
We always lived far away from our extended family. So it was usually Mom, Dad, my brother and me. But often we’d have someone else at the table. Maybe a co-worker who had no family in town, or someone we’d recently met who needed a friend. I love the fact that my family always opened their home and hearts to those who needed a place to feel a sense of belonging.
I love turkey. My baby loves turkey.
We have tried many different traditions, thanksgiving usually is a traveling holiday. We always go to someones house. I love being with all of my family and making fun of everyone. We are so loving, yet mean LOL
This year we are spending Thanksgiving with my Grandma & family on my mom’s side. I can’t wait. Its been a while since all of us were together for a holiday, and this year with the passing of my Grandpa its a good time to get together.
Thanksgiving is wonderful! The one thing i like about thanksgiving is being around family and the food. one time my husband was trying
to help me with the deviled eggs. so he was boiling them before
everyone got out of bed. and he fell asleep on the couch and the eggs blew up everywhere it was a mess. and it really stunk. lol
keep up the good recipes. they our wonderful
I remember we’d get together at my Grannies house and she would make stuffing and her AMAZING rolls! YUUUM…My Dad would smoke a turkey and my Mom and the rest of us 6 kids would help in the kitchen either chopping or just helping out in any way we could, without getting in the way…lol…Then we would sit down to eat and visit to our hearts content! <3…aaaahhhh….I love Thanksgiving! My favorite Holiday!
Thank you Christy for letting me share my memory!
Oh gosh, Christy loved reading about your Grandaddy! My Grandpa was special, he treated each of his grandchildren the same,and loved unconditionally all the time. My favorite as I look back is when I was fortunate to spend it with my oldest Son and he made his famous (to me) pumpkin pie, still can’t figure out how he made it; and wish I had got it before he passed away. It certainly makes those times with him not only at Thanksgiving but at every meal I shared with him; because he always made me His pumpkin pie. I have had many pumpkin pies and none have ever tasted like his. Miss You Son.
Thanksgiving is so precious-a time to gather with family and just spend wonderful time together. We are very much into tradition at my home. My husband and I moved far away from my family at a very young age, and I had to cook my first turkey dinner all alone at the tender age of 23. I was terrified my turkey wouldn’t turn out right! Every year I do the whole meal by myself with the exception of my daughter who now brings a green bean casserole. Now I have a grandson and we are making new memories.
Oh the memories of Thanksgiving!!! I have so many. Ever since I can remember we have gotten together at my Aunts house (use to be my grandparents house until they passed away, now she carries on the tradition)for Thanksgiving. We have a pretty large family. Like you mentioned the moms usually get there early to help cook and the kids end up playing out side. My children being the ones that are doing the playing now while I am helping cook. I do hope this tradition continues until my grandchildren can be the ones helping cook while their children are the ones playing outside. It is such a wonderful time we all have together.
Thank you for sharing your Thanksgiving memories with us and helping us to remember our special times.
Before eating, we also go around the table and each person shares one or two things they are particularly thankful for. There is never a dry eye left when we’re done. It’s been a very special time for us every year!
I love, love, love Thanksgiving and Christmas. My favorite time of the year. For the best, I mean VERY BEST turkey, you can’t beat fried. In less than an hour you have your main course prepared and it is the juciest, tenderest, most delectable meat you can ever believe. It melts in your mouth. (Oh my, my mouth is watering just thinking about it) And as a bonus, it was a Cajun from Louisiana that came up with the idea. You can’t get any further south than that. Christy, maybe you should give fried turkey a try, if you haven’t already, and then write about it. I’ll bet your readers would find it most enjoyable. Something to think about.
I remember the first thanksgiving meal my son-in-law became part of the family. He was quite impressed that everything was made from scratch. Then he continued to compliment me throughout the whole meal. I’d know ahead of time that custard pie was his favorite, so I made sure I made one especially for him. After he ate his first piece of pie I kind of wondered a little that he didn’t comment it the way he did the rest of the meal, but no big deal. Then when I asked him if he wanted to take the rest of the pie home, he kind of reluctantly took it. There was a small piece left after they went home, so I tasted it. To my horror, I’d used salt instead of sugar. He was just either too polite or timid to say anything. Now, 20 years later he asks every Thanksgiving whether I used salt or sugar when I serve the custard pie.
Christy, I love your website. I live in Florence, Alabama and heard about your website via my friend in Arkansas!! Sign me up for a turkey girl. Thanks, Susan
My childhood memories of Thanksgiving are of food and family all together. I remember rising early to watch the Macy’s parade on TV. Now as a sister in a convent, I love Thanksgiving because it is an opportunity for all the sisters to gather and simply enjoy cooking together, spending time with one another, relaxing and maybe watching a little football.
Subscribed to your posts a couple of weeks ago and love it. I’ve already purchased a “bone-in” turkey breast for your crock pot recipe. Gonna give it a trial run before Thanksgiving. Won’t my family be impressed when I volunteer to cook “the turkey”? Love Thanksgiving because that day we do reflect more on what’s important and how richly blessed we are.
Thank you for all of your great recipes! I will be using a few of them for our Thanksgiving meal. I hope you and all of your readers have a most wonderful Holiday!
Mary
There was a pink congealed salad that my Granny always made for me. I wish I had the exact recipe, but I remember that it had some kind of pink jello, cottage cheese, and chopped pecans. It also had some kind of fruit– I don’t know if it was fruit cocktail or maybe crushed pineapple. But, that was on the table EVERY Thanksgiving when she was living. I miss it and of course miss her even more.
Hi – My nicest memory of Thanksgiving would be having “the” big turkey dinner at my Grandma & Grandpa’s house in the country. My extended family wasn’t very large but everyone would be there. Grandma did the main cooking but we all pitched in. I like remembering those times.
The best thing about Thanksgiving to me…..
Its the only time the whole family (currently over 150) gets together. Especially since i now lives about 4 hours from my family I love Thanksgiving. Everyone piles into my grandparents house. I always go a day or two early so i can help prepare the huge meal before turkey day!
Opps apparently i cant spell! That is supposed to be live 4 hours away
Traditions are very important to a happy family. Without them, Children grow up with no base, no sense of who they are and where they came from.
This is my first year cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my extended family. I am awfully excited!! Wish me luck and I’m crossing my fingers for that turkey…
We almost always had Thanksgiving dinner at our house when I was growing up. And we always invited people other than family, friends who didn’t have any place to go for the holiday, etc. I love that tradition. It’s been tough convincing my in-laws to continue this, they like it to be intimate and cozy, just family. So we compromise, some years I invite friends, some years I don’t. Makes me a little sad that I can’t share God’s blessings with friends, but it’s all part of the compromise of bringing two families together.
Thanksgiving–my favorite holiday! Nothing required but good food
and family to have a good time.
Thanksgiving means to me missing my grandparents but catching up with aunts, uncles and seeing all the cousins. Always eating way to much and asking for the new recipes
, kids playing in the yard and men yelling at the television football games 
Love the chance to win a butterball for my butterballs!
I have always considered my Mom the best cook I know. So Thanksgiving with anyone but her just isn’t the same. I hope that one day I can live up to her cooking
I am now the official Turkey cooker in the family. I learned a wonderful trick of lining the roasting pan with carrots sliced in half lengthwise to use as a rack for the turkey. Not only does the turkey taste great, but so do the carrots!
I agree that Thanksgiving is the holiday that is celebrated in the best way. Just food and family is all it takes to make it a success. Lets try to bring a little more of the Thanksgiving “spirit” into all of our holidays.
My MawMaw always made lots of butter beans for me on holidays. I’ve never had any like hers anywhere else – sure wish I knew how she did it! P.S. Your Brady looks a lot like your brother in the wheelbarrow pic.
My husband was deployed to Iraq for our first 2 Thanksgivings together and our first Christmas together. He came home on Christmas Eve last year after 15 months. We started our holiday tradition last year when he came home. For Christmas, we invite soldiers without family near to share our Christmas. This year we are doing the same for Thanksgiving and we are planning to make this a holiday tradition (as long as we are at home for the holiday). We are expecting about 15-20 (possibly more) soldiers and family members. We live in government quarters so our space is kinda limited but all that really matters is helping others have a wonderful holiday when it otherwise would be spent in their barracks room or a hotel room. I do all of the cooking (which is about to start in the next couple of days).
I have five siblings and two cousins! Every Thanksgiving my Grandparents,Aunt and Uncle, My Parents,My cousins, all of my siblings and I spend three days in one house. My Grandma bakes and cooks for weeks beforehand. We spend the whole time eating and watching old movies. It is really a great family tradition!
Back in the “old days” when we had been married 9 months and had moved to North Carolina from the West Coast we had our first Thanksgiving alone and pretty poor, too (that was 49 years ago). We found a small Butterball turkey on sale and had our little celebration all alone but that turkey has always been a well remembered feast. Would love to win one this year out here in the Northwest.
Thank you for the opportunity.
We have a graditute jouranl that gets passed to each person, to list what they have been thankful for during the year, it’s become a tradition and a keepsake. THanks for the giveaway, will post it on FB too.
Great information on photos! Butterball is the only turkey we have ever purchased for holidays in my family.
It takes noticing those that are missing at the table to appreciate those who are at the table. Happy Thanksgiving.
Tammy Leigh
One of the most memorable Thanksgiving was in early 1970’s when my grandmother still had the holiday dinners at her & granpa’s house. We’d all get there early and my sister and I would nibble on stuff from the relish tray & ask every few minutes if it (that wonderful smelling turkey) was finally ready. About the time it was finally ready, my grandma was pulling the bird out of the oven and gasped “Oh my goodness!” We all ran to the kitchen and she explained that the mercury thermometer embedded in the turkey breast had broken. At first we thought about just eating the legs & thigh but grandma was too scared of poisoning us all. So she dipped up the potatoes, browned the buscuits & served up the green bean casserole and we had Thanksgiving sans the turkey. And you know what, it was the best Thanksgiving ever because we didn’t need that ole bird to realize we were all together healthy, happy & home where we needed to be!!
I hope I win one of these turkeys!!
We are spending this Thanksgiving with my mother in law who hasn’t been in my husbands life for many years but they have now patched things up! I can’t wait to eat my favorite super moist dressing topped with gravy and the leftover turkey to make turkey sandwiches on soft white bread with miracle whip! I can make a killer turkey salad too! Yummy! Butterball turkey is the best!
making favorite dishes, spending time together. So sad that both of my Parents passed away within the last 2 years.
tweeted
http://twitter.com/cdmtx65/status/5598142205
I’m thankful that I was with my Mom for 60 Thanksgivings. Every one holds a special memory! She was a terrific cook and taught me everything I know and do well in the kitchen. She also taught me to treasure family and friends…every day can be Thanksgiving.
Family. It is the best part of Thanksgiving. We get together and remember the ones who are nolonger with us and laugh about all the good times and even the bad.
I love all the smells of Thanksgiving dinner. It takes so long to prepare, and is eaten so quickly!
Remembering past Thanksgivings with loved one
My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is Family. I love family gatherings. Its a time in which we come together and catch up and fellowship. <3
I love Thansgiving. I love cooking for my family and spending time reminiscing about our childhood.
Remembering Thanksgiving with my family before I got married… everyone would gather at my moms house all the adults would be at one table, and all the little ones at another. We would see how much we could crame into our tummys. Then all the men would pile into the living room to watch the football game and miss most of it due to dozing off to sleep from all that Turkey. While the women would get stuck doing those dishes.
My favorite memory of Thanksgiving, is just being with my entire family. Everyone would come to my grandma’s and grandpa’s it was such a wonderful time.
I remember when I was in high school in the early 60’s, & we had no food for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I’m the oldest of 8 & was very excited when a mysterious box appeared on our front porch. There inside of that cardbox box was a big turkey, potatoes, cranberries, pumpkin, & lots of other ingredients like flour, sugar, butter, etc. I was humbled at such an early age to know that this world is full of kind & loving people. In my adult life I try to pay-it-forward. Thank you “Thanksgiving Angels”…wherever you are!
As a kid it was just me and my parents. As an adult it is my husband, me and our kids, his parents and brother. In all it is a small family of 8 total. Usually we try to have the kids bring something they made to grandmas. We are not suppose to bring something but we do anyways so the kids can be involved and it is all about being thankful and sharing your bounty – right? So, last year my oldest got sick and I had to bring him to the doctors at night. The younget and dad tried to make a pumpkin pie. Big flop but it was made with love and no clue what they were doing but both of them were pround! I love the pictures my husband took to share with me and I spent my birthday at the urgent care with my son! Great memories are sometimes the ones you do not think will be a great memory but it is the time together.
I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s. Thanksgiving was always at my dear precious Granny’s. She had 7 children and all their children there. I don’t know how we all fit into her house, but it was the best memories of my life. The men and children always ate first. The men all around the dining table and the children would grab a plate and usually eat on the front porch or living room. The women waited on the men, then they would all sit around and talk and eat. The meal was unbelievable. So many have passed away. How I would love to have them all together again. Thank God for precious memories.
I love Thanksgiving. It has always been one of my favorites. I have only recently been a dressing eater though. But I have to have green bean casserole. It just isn’t Thanksgiving without that. My husband’s family has never had it and when I mentioned it to him, he had no clue what I was talking about. I then explained to him how deprived he had been his whole life.
Every year we go to my Meme’s house for Thanksgiving. While the adults did all the cooking my cousins and I would play all sorts of games and get in trouble together. My Grandfather and our fathers would rake leaves into a big pit until it was filled to the top. We would take turns running and jumping into it and our grandfather would hold onto a rope so we could climb back up. It was so much fun and one of my fondest memories. But perhaps it wasnt the safest thing I don’t think I would be able to watch my kids do that. That probally explains why our mothers were never in sight. lol
Thanksgiving was ALWAYS a big deal at our house. Although we, in no form or fashion, could have ever been in a Norman Rockwell painting, our house was THE place to be on Thanksgiving. I was one of 8 kids, so there was a lot to prepare for the big meal. Mom was the best cook in the entire family(She was one of 12!).The week of Thanksgiving, she would go on the hunt for the biggest Butterball that could be squeezed into an oven. Even though our family life was sometimes chaotic, a magic spell was cast upon us all on that day-the magic was the smell of that big bird and all the fixin’s. It always seemed to draw extended family and other straglers in for the warmth of a real family feeling. It was a day that we really felt like we we family with the whole world.
My grandparents lived on a farm. After dinner, we all went outside to play a game of softball and then a game of who was brave enough to ride the donkey to burn off all those calories.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. Family, food fun. I like your idea of having pictures printed from your digital camera at least monthly. I too take pictures then don’t get them printed. Thank you also for the turkey giveaway. Butterball never fails at having the best.
Thanksgivimg is a wonderful time of year. It seems to get overlooked between Halloween and Christmas these days, For me ,having my family together is very special.I enjoy making memories with my girls each and every year. Thanks for all the great recipes and tips.They can use them and make their own memories with their children in the future.
Thanksgiving is one time all my 3 sons with their wives and childred get together. We eat, laugh and have a good time. We also watch a movie of the boys when they were young decorating the Christmas tree and the cat climbed up it and made it fall. My grandchildren see what their dads were like at there age. Itl nice to look back once in while.
I’m having Thanksgiving this year for the first time with more than just the family that lives here!!! My parents and my husbands parents are coming to eat some turkey and ham!!! It would be a wonderful surprise for me to have a butterball from you on the table!!! I already have the menu planned and we will be decorating for Christmas next weekend so it will be all pretty for all to see!!!
[...] forget to enter to win your Thanksgiving Turkey from Butterball by clicking here. Winner announced November [...]
thank you for the chance at winning a turkey. I love turkey.
Thanks for the contest. Love all the tips on cooking turkey.
I can hardly wait to begin cooking for Thanksgiving.
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/5603455257
Thanksgiving was a special occasion at my home as far as setting the table with the special(company) dishes and silverware. There was the traditional turkey(a nice big fat one) with all the side dishes to go along with it. A shrimp cocktail was the starter. Now you have to understand that up North shrimp was a luxury and therefore only as a treat. As far as the meal, giblet gravy was what I always remembered as the last item to pass around to go over the mashed potatoes, turkey and dressing. Also, no one started eating until every dish had made the rounds. Then there was silence as everyone stuffed themselves. When all was said and done, the table was cleaned off and we patiently waited for the call for dessert. I will say my Mom and grandmother were excellent cooks.
Looking forward to Thanksgiving even though my Dad is no longer with us. He would want us to be happy.
Tweeted at
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Thanksgiving is a memory of us using the formal dining room for our meal instead of the kitchen. The table was always full of food and all the leaves were in the table so all of us could fit around it.
MY WHOLE FAMILY LOVES TO COME TO MY HOUSE FOR MY BUTTERBALL DINNER. WE HAVE 36 IN OUR FAMILY AND LOTS OF FRIENNDS ALSO. YUMMY TO MY TUMMY
I love turkey! Thanksgiving is my favorite. We roast two 20-25 lb turkeys to fee our crew. Can’t wait to try your method this year.
I’ve made the best holiday memories the past 2 years. Tried for almost a decade to have a baby & little Tony has been making holidays better than anything I can remember! This year, he’ll try deep fried turkey for the first time!
My favorite Thanksgiving was the year my son was in the army stationed in Germany and flew home for Thanksgiving. We picked him up in Nashville. They had an ice storm a few days earlier but the interstate was clear. The trees were still covered in ice and it was like driving through a wonderland. It was so beautiful. I had baked an extra pecan pie (his favorite) and he and his brother sat up half the night talking and eating pecan pie. The simple things in life truly make the best memories and I cherish this one.
My fav memory of Thanksgiving is of my grandmother in the kitchen cooking away for the whole family…..she prepared the whole meal and we all arrived around noon and stayed all afternoon – grazing and grazing on all Grandma’s goodies. She made the best cornbread dressing and giblet gravy in the world. I sure do miss her but I’m thankful for all the love she bestowed on her family.
Thanksgiving 2007 because it was the last Thanksgiving that I will ever spend with my sister. We always all come to my home for Thanksgiving and then all go to my brother’s home for Christmas.My sister suddenly passed away October 2008. I am so glad to have the memories from the year before.Take time to spend time with the ones you love.
This Thanksgiving we will be celebrating not one, but two special birthdays. Our granddaughter Lilly will turn 4. Lilly was born the day before Thanksgiving weighing only 1 lb. 13 ozs. She is a healthy, lively little girl now. Her little sister Lucy will celebrate her 1st birthday this year. She was born the day before last Thanksgiving, weighing 5 lbs, huge compared to her sister. We are so blessed!
I love Thanksgiving, but my husband is a manager for a retail store…which means he works late the day before and has to be there before dawn the day after. That wouldn’t be a big deal except that we live 5 hours from my family and 8 from his! Thankfully my parents are coming up to our place this year! Our daughter was too little to eat the meal last year, so I’m really excited to be able to feed her turkey!!
I have always loved fall and Thanksgiving, right down to the little acorns falling from the oak trees. Everything about it reminds me of my beloved grandmother, Nanny. She always cooked our Thanksgiving meal, and yes, she served the canned, jellied cranberry sauce in a beautiful little crystal bowl with a curved handle. She called me her “little butter ball”, so of course butterball turkeys remind me of her too. I miss her every single day! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Well since I am 65 years old I have many memories from past Thanksgiving’s and it is hard to pick out just one. I can remember a very bad one which out of all of them just having one bad one is a lot to be thankful for. All of them invovled having family together and no matter if there is no money or a lot of money-family is the most important !!!!!
My Thanksgiving memories all center around a sumptious table of Southern foods prepared by my mother. She prepared meals fit for a king and there was enough food to feed any extra people who might show up, plus she would also wrap up plates of food to send to elderly neighbors, absent family members or people she knew would be alone. Everyone made a “to go” plate (or two or five…LOL!) because her food was legendary and was as good, if not better, as leftovers that night or the next day…they rarely lasted longer than that! There was always laughter, jokes and music and our family would sit around after eating recalling memories, playing games, singing songs (with piano and guitar to accompany us), watching football or just “being.” I learned to cook from my mother and I consider her recipes rare treasures that have been handed down for so many generations, we can’t count back that far! I can’t possibly list all the wonderful foods she cooked…the bounty seemed endless. But, a few of the ones we had were: turkey and ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with pineapple, cornbread sage dressing, giblet gravy, green beans, “fried” corn, deviled eggs, Parker House rolls, cranberry sauce, a relish tray, purple hull peas, fried okra, coleslaw, pumpkin pie, chocolate pie (this recipe I won 1st place in a pie baking contest), pecan pie and banana pudding (yes, all at the same meal and I’ve left out some of them!) She was always afraid every year she wouldn’t have made enough and I asked her if she was trying to feed the entire town! My mother canned and froze most of her vegetables, so every meal was a treat…but Thanksgiving was always special since all the family was gathered around and it was truly an event. I wrote a poem honoring my mother and father (and mentioning my mother’s cooking feeding not only our stomachs, but our souls) for their 50th Wedding Anniversary…and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including mine. This year, my husband and I will be moving from one state to another during Thanksgiving. My parents are still living (my father is 81 and my mother is 76 and still cooking) and I’m trying not to think about it, but I will miss the Thanksgiving I’m so used to having every year to the point it will break my heart. But, most of all, I will miss being with my family and reliving and making more wonderful memories.
I have a funny Thanksgiving memory. My grandmother always makes the Thanksgiving Feast, and she was sick one year, so my aunt made the turkey. First, she called my mom to ask her how to clean the turkey, and if she could use Dawn dish liquid to do it! After my mom told her to do a rinse with water only, she confirmed the baking time and temperature.
We arrive to Thanksgiving dinner,and my mother asked “Where is the stuffing?” to which my aunt replied “It came with the bird.”
My mom’s face turned white, and they looked inside the bird. My aunt had cooked the innards in the plastic bag inside the turkey!
It was a good thing we had a Honeybaked Ham that year.
She will never be allowed to cook the turkey again!
I have a sweet memory from last Thanksgiving. I had all my family plus in-laws at my house last year. I had a pen and paper for everyone to write down what they were thankful for and told the story of Maya Angelou and how she was challenged to use a yellow writing tablet to write down her blessings as a reminder that once you count your blessings things don’t seem so bad after all. Well, my sweet Mother wrote ” No matter how dark things may seem there is always light” We understood that to mean the Hope she had in Jesus because she had just learned of a recurrence of brain cancer the week before. That was one of the last things she wrote before she died in the Spring. She always, always used a Butterball turkey to cook for Thanksgiving, nothing else would do. She always cooked it in brown paper bag that she buttered inside and out. It was delicious. So this year I know I’ll write that I am blessed to have a mother who taught me many things, thankful for the past 9 years that we had her since her first diagnosis, and the blessed hope that it was not a good bye but a see you in the morning!
Eternally grateful,
Becky
What a wonderful giveaway. Southern Plate Rocks….thanks Christy for all your hard work. I wouldn’t know what to do if I couldn’t visit Southern Plate daily. Posting on my FB page now!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing your Thanksgiving memories.
Sharing the day with loved ones is the best part!! Growing up we would go to my Aunt & Uncle’s house. Aunt Merrille would have Thanksgiving and my Mom would have Christmas dinner. It seemed like it would always snow on Thanksgiving and my Dad would be called in to work. We lived in MN and he worked for the county and he would have to go plow, salt and sand the roads. So a Thanksgiving with it not snowing was a cause of “thanksgiving” for us to be all together.
Thanksgiving reminds me of all the blessings God has given me and I am very thankful.
I made my adult son a photo album for Christmas a couple of years ago, and I was surprised how many of the photos were of family meals, picnics,reunions, etc. His grandparents & great-grandparents are all deceased now, so it was a good way to help him remember them. We lived on the west coast & our family lived in the mid-weat, so it was especially good to be able to be together for the holidays.
I have so many wonderful thanksgiving memories,but the best one I can think of is last year when my grandson Tristan was born.
I tweeted for you!
I recently visited my aunt and we went thru Grandma’s recipes – which included photos from a thanksgiving turkey being carved by my Grandfather. The days of spending the holidays with my grandparents are the best memories I have.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, it always has been. It was a time when my mom went all out with not only the meal, but putting out the good china (you know the kind that all has to be handwashed) and although we had 8 people in our family and not a lot of money, my parents always invited one or two of the neighbor families to share dinner with us.
Now, as an adult, I can see how special it is to have other people into our home on Thanksgiving, people who don’t have relatives in the area, people that are alone, etc…it’s about being thankful and knowing where our blessings come from.
Southern cooking is the Best! I’m almost 60 – honor those in heaven who taught me to cook by cooking Grandma’s Heavenly Hash and Mama’s Dressing for the holidays.
Awesome site and awesome recipes. Keep up the great work. We truly appreciate you.
I am looking forward to Thanksgiving because I will have my family (immediate and extended)around me. I like to have a big sit-down dinner and use my nice dishes and the good silverware! I think my husband and grown sons also appreciate the fancy table setting too, they just won’t admit it! I like to stay home for Thanksgiving, like my mother always did.
Thank you, Christy, for a chance to win a turkey. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love turkey, sweet potato casserole and fresh pumpkin cake. I still miss going to my grandparents house, even after 18 years. I hope my kids will have wonderful holiday memories of their grandparents.
I have special memories of making cornbread dressing with my Mom. She didn’t use a recipe so I had to “eyeball” all the ingredients and take notes along the way for future reference…so glad I did. The recipe continues to be a favorite family tradition.
Thank you Christy for all you do…you have been a blessing to many!!Special Thanksgiving wishes to you and yours!
Bountiful Blessings !:)
(Thank you for another great giveaway!)
We always have Butterball turkeys. Turkey is something we had twice a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas so we must have the best! Although the turkey is always the good, the “star of the show” was the dressing that my mother used to make…no one can make it like her. The recipe was in her head and as much as I’ve tried, I can’t seem to make it like Mamma did. I sure miss that turkey and dressing and Mamma.
As you grow up, memories area formed. Holidays have certain traditions connected with them. I wish things could always remain the same, but time changes things. You have to evolve and create new traditions. I wish I could somehow visit the past and go to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving and enjoy that wonderful Butterball turkey she always cooked with love!
I love Thanksgiving! I can’t wait to try the cranberry relish. The first year of marriage I made a turkey and my husband was going to throw away all the dark meat because his family likes white meat. I happen to like the dark meat.
I love your website–have baked two of your cakes and received rave reviews!
I have been cooking the family Thanksgiving feast for several years once my mother was unable to continue–but she still enjoys eating all of the goodies. She always brings the homemade pies and enjoys visiting with the family.
Thanks for your wonderful, family oriented website. Have a blessed holiday.
Thanks for the chance to win a turkey!! Your giveaways are super thoughtful~! Lacy in Cullman, Al
my fondest memories of Thanksgiving were when my moms extended family all got together and had our holiday feast. It was always in between Thanksgiving and Christmas and was always at one of my aunts and uncles homes. I loved this as a kid and I wish we could all still do this and hope to get us all together this year if possible. Its much harder now as my uncles have now all passed away. They were such treasured memories.
My favorite memories are of Thanksgiving with my whole family at Thanksgiving. We went to my aunt’s house, and had a huge feast. (The family came to our house on Christmas Day, and my cousin’s on New Year’s Day). We all ate too much, and had a great time.
I already tweeted about the giveaway before even reading the post!
I have been thinking the same thing about photos lately, I want to have them printed so my children can go through them like I did, too. There is just something special about feeling the different papers and you can see the history of printing and photography through them, as well.
The picture of you and your granddaddy with your memories really hit home.
As always, a great post! Thanks!
Now, I’m off to Facebook to put the giveaway up.
As always, your stories and tips are of infinite value. Thank you for sharing with us all. I’m looking forward to trying my turkey this way this year too. Note to self (lol): get baking bag! {giggles}
Would love to win a turkey for my mom and family…. We have a lot to serve this time of year
My favorite memory is after the clean up of Thanksgiving dinner the girls of my family all gather on the couch and the floor and reminisce. It doesn’t happen any longer as our matriarch is no longer with us, but they are memories that will last a lifetime!
I tweeted! @tifscatku
I remember there were 9 of us children plus 2 parents and grandpa and grandma…the passing around of food before we could start eating took at least 5 or more minutes. It was grand to have all of us together! The food and conversations were always great!
Oh Thanksgiving, my memories are still so etched in my mind too.I cccan remember like it was yesterday,while I just can’t say how long ago it was, I’d have to kill you all…………OK, well, we too would get up early & watch all the parades.I have done this with my sons & now their children too. Then we’d go to my Grandparents where I got to help with making the fruit salad,still my favorite dish on Thanksgiving. My Grand daughter’s too! Thanks for the memory this morning!
Memories of Thanksgiving when I was little was always going to my grandmothers. So much good food. But now that I am older – times have changed so much. Our families do not get together anymore because some are going here and some there, or others can’t get along. It just breaks my heart. I would love to win this great turkey. It would be the only way that I would have one to cook for my family this year. I would love to prepare a big Thanksgiving dinner with all of the fixins to go with it. But this year – I will make do with what I have on hand. I am sure it will not be a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. But we will be thankful for what we have because I know that God will answer my prayers and bless us with a bountiful feast. Thanks so much for all of your postings. You always bring a smile to my face.
I remember Thanksgivings w/ the whole family at our house. Moms dinner was always perfect. I live 800 miles away now& mom and dad are no longer with us,so I carry on with ALL of my family at my home for dinner. Traditions just getting passed down to the next generation.
Here’s hoping that all have a Wonderful Day!!!
Thanks so much for reminding us to stop and pay attention to what is important this Holiday season. I think we all need reminding each time this crazy time of year rolls around! I have fond memories of holiday times as well and I am going to break out my camera and keep it by my side this year. I refer to your recipes often and always get rave reviews from my family! Thanks Christy!
Our Thanksgiving is smaller than it used to be since my parents and
in-laws have all gone on. Now we try to make happy Thanksgiving memories for our children and grandchildren.
I love everything about Thanksgiving: family gathered together, turkey sandwiches, sweet potatoes, and anything pumpkin. So far I’ve had pumpkin latte, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bagels,…what’s next?!
My favorite memory is of swinging on the tire swing hanging from the pecan trees at my grandparents’ house. My cousins and I would all take turns, and whoever wasn’t swinging would be picking up pecans to use for the pralines and pies and other desserts for the holidays. The ones who were picking up pecans would either bend over to avoid the swinger, or give a push if he/she was starting to slow down (or get knocked down if they weren’t paying attention). Older cousins and uncles would bring back a turkey (or two) from the turkey shoot, and the aunts and my grandmother would all be cooking, some in the kitchen, and some overflowed into the dining room to work on the table in there. When the meal was finally ready – oh my goodness! Wonderful, wonderful times!
My best Thanksgiving memory is waking up to smell momma’s cornbread baking in the oven and the celery & onions frying up in the iron skillet (for the stuffing). YUM! Momma’s at Thanksgiving. The best smell in the world!
My favorite thanksgiving memory is eating “raw dressing” while watching the Macy’s parade with my sister and mom. Actually, I’m sure mom was just stepping out of the kitchen for a quick break, now that I realize just how much work she was putting into that enormous meal! The “raw dressing” is just the cornbread, breadcrumbs, celery, onions, seasoning, and chicken broth – no eggs- before you stick it in the oven to bake- and, I know it sounds crazy, but it is the best part of the whole day of eating for us!
We will have 3 generations for Thanksgiving this year! Both sets of grandparents, great grandfather (94 years old!), and parents to the only grandchild! Yes, we will be making wonderful memories and enjoying our many, many blessings!
Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!!
I grew up in a hispanic family so we never had Thanksgiving when we were little because my parents really didn’t celebrate. But because of that, every year they would take us to a special dinner at a famous cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles. It was like heaven since all the food was cafeteria style and we were allowed to eat whatever we wanted. It wasn’t until we got older that I decided that we should celebrate Thanksgiving and I began cooking the meal.
http://twitter.com/carogonza/status/5671074863 – tweeeted
One thing that I particularly enjoy about having Thanksgiving and/or Christmas with my grandparents was the way they always spoiled us! (I don’t remember wheelbarrow rides, but I do remember helping my grandpa in their nearly acre-sized garden!)
thanks for hosting this giveaway!!!
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I tweeted about this…
http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/5671258334
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I have always asked my 3 daughters to tell us what they are most Thankful for each Thanksgiving before we start to eat our dinner. My girls also always help me make the desserts as well as the appetizers. It is important to make Thanksgiving a family time.
While most pick Christmas, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s the coming together of family and friends, not for celebrating Christ’s birth, to exchange presents, or any other reason than coming together to be together, and enjoy the traditional meal.
As a child, being an only child, I so looked forward to Thanksgiving because all my Aunts and Uncles, along with their children came together, spent the day in such a wonderful way. At Christmas, most did their own thing, but Thanksgiving was always reserved for the entire extended family to come together as one.
From the deviled eggs to the stuffing to the pumpkin pie it was all just heavenly. Not only the meal, but the women hanging out in the kitchen, gossiping away as if there were no tomorrow. The men would all be kicked back in the living room watching football, and us kids would be where ever the weather would allow; outside playing games, or huddled inside in a bedroom enjoying one another if outside conditions were inclement.
I can recall how I would dread when it got dark. I knew that it wouldn’t be long until all the visitors would be putting on their coats and this year’s Thanksgiving would just be another memory.
Ahh, Thanksgiving, you warm my heart with memories of the past and hope of the future.
Oh yeah, and by the way, I would really like that turkey.
Thanks for a good site. Thanksgiving is about family and friends…whether you spend time with them, talk to them on the phone, or just think about them. Just be thankful you have them.
Thanksgiving has always been a big holiday for my family. I have so many wonderful memories. When I became an adult I worked in retail management for years and missed many Thanksgivings with my family due to work demands and travel time. I no longer have that job, but I am now married too. So it is no longer a question if I will miss Thanksgiving with my family or not, but which family to spend the day with.
All and all to me Thanksgiving is about sharing a wonderful meal of foods we love with the people we love.
I have a recipe that a lot of your readers will not be familiar with. It is a dish similar to perogies but made with a rising dough, baked and a sauce is made of lotsa butter, lotsa onions, lotsa black pepper and a pint of whipping cream. When combined, it is a fantastic side dish. Should we omit this on any occasion, our grown up kids won’t let us hear the end of it. I will post it real soon. We have it for every holiday occasion as an accompaniment for Turkey, Ham, you name it, it works.
As a Canadian, I have already had my Thanksgiving turkey feast and should I be fortunate enough to win one in your draw, I would ask that you donate it to an armed forces family in your area or wherever you think appropriate. (I might make a ham for your Thanksgiving anyways along with some scalloped potatoes).
Jim
Hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful. May God continue to bless you and your family…and the Southern Plate family!
I love Thanksgiving….the family, the food……all the memories that are made by being together.
I remember baking pumpkin pies with my mother. They turned out… well let’s just say not very good. We laughed about it for days. After we threw the aweful mess away we went back and baked our regular “Sweet Tater” pies that we always made. My mom doesn’t remember some of our good times right now, so I have to remember enough for both of us.
I am so looking forward to Thanksgiving this year as I moved back to my hometown in April and so for the first time in ten years I am going to be with my family for the holiday. I am hostessing our dinner and I am going to bring back all the traditional foods that meant Thanksgiving when I was a child. my grandchildren need to know a “real” family Thanksgiving and hopefully from now on they will associate with their Nana which would be ME!
I so enjoy the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, hubby and I were married on this holiday.
I also remember my first Thanksgiving when I made the whole meal and my mom telling me to buy a Butterball. My folks are now gone, but I still make Thanksgiving.
Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!
I also tweeted about the Butterball giveaway and Southern Plate.
sure hope to win the turkey!
I love spending time with my family on Thanksgiving.
I was in the military and dating my future husband to be on my first Thanksgiving away from home. A newly wed couple had invited a group of us to their home to share their first Thanksgiving as a married couple. She took the turkey out of the freezer the night before… needless to say – no turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, but we still had a great time!
The next Thanksgiving as a newly wed myself and now stationed overseas, I invited a group to my home and was very sure to take the turkey out of the freezer three days before. But, cooked it with the giblet bag inside (we still ate it!). Now I cook a pretty good turkey but it is fun to think back on the beginning “bloopers” and the many friends I was blessed to share Thanksgiving with during that time of my life.
We not only celebrate Tnanksgiving Day with the traditional meal for those who can come home, but also on Friday we have a fish fry or make chile and everyone who had to be at another Thanksgiving meal can all get together. With 6 kids and some spouses, we have a difficult time all getting together on holidays. Love the site and all the recipes. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
I don’t know if it’s my favorite memory, but certainly the most memorable memory for me is the first year I went to live with my aunt and uncle. They had my grandmother and great-grandmother that year, I was trying to settle into a new household and had a complete breakdown at the table when my aunt put sweet potato casserole on my plate and it touched some of my other food. I left the table crying and ran to my room. Two grandmothers and a half hour or so later I made it back to the table. My table manners are greatly improved, but I still don’t eat sweet potato casserole!