Read more of Ann’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
Thanksgiving has become a rather complicated affair in my family. The problem is that everyone in the family has a different food that they hold dear and that they NEED in order for the holiday to be a success. And, they hold their opinions very strongly indeed.
For example, most of my family adores my mom’s recipe for stuffing. It’s a mixture of different breadcrumbs, pecans, oranges and applesauce as well as all the usual veggies sautéed in butter. But, my son-in-law and my grandkids think it’s weird and disgusting. So, we have two dressings – one traditional and one wacky.
For the women in my family, Aunt Ruth’s sweet potato, apple jelly and marshmallow casserole is non-negotiable. However, the guys hate it and want mashed potatoes instead.
Some people in the family would cry if we didn’t have green bean casserole with the turkey. Other members of my clan think it resembles and tastes like sludge in a casserole dish.
Half of my family loves pumpkin pie and the other half would rather have pecan pie. Some people are quite happy with whipped cream in a can, while other people must have freshly whipped cream.
To make matters worse, some of my family are gluten-free and some are on special health diets.
And finally, some members of the family wait all year for a traditional Thanksgiving feast while others would much rather just have pizza instead.
All those traditions and “favorites” can make things very complicated. If I were to cater to each person’s desires, there would be thirty bowls on the table! But, I am a mom after all and I want everyone to remember the holiday fondly.
My solution has been to make a set number of dishes and let everyone know in advance what they are. Then, people can make their own favorites to add to the table. Yes, we always have way too much food but that’s part of the fun as we have leftover parties for days on end.
Some moms choose to have a set menu and they stick to it no matter what anyone says. Some moms love to try out new recipes and change things up every year. And, some moms order a grocery store feast and simply pick it up (or better yet, choose a restaurant to eat at).
What’s your solution to making Thanksgiving memorable for you and your family?
And, with all the hub-bub surrounding food, how do you remember to give thanks for all God’s blessings? We’d love to hear your ideas.
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