My favorite holiday.
I am grateful for a lot of things, but I will be honest, I love the good food and the fact that I can eat as much as I want and no one thinks anything about it!
Just me and the wife this year. Normally we have about 20 people over, but this year it is just us. We will be heading up to a friends cabin in Wisconsin though. They are not there, as they are out of country. Beautiful log cabin up in the woods with a nice fire place.
We will be smoking a turkey this. I am doing a practice run today, smoking one to make sure it comes out all right. I brined it all last night in a salt and spice solution. For thanksgiving we have ordered a fresh free range roaming Turkey.
My menu is shaping out to be:
Deviled Eggs
Shrimp Cocktail
Smoked Turkey
Brown Sugar and Mustard glazed Ham
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Rolls
Mac and Cheese
Giblet Gravy
Dutch Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie
This is all for just two people. I know...
Although we may adopt a local military member to come spend thanksgiving with us so that they can have a nice family meal.
When I was in the Army, I always had as many single Soldiers over at my house for my Thanksgiving. My philosophy was that they should never spend a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas alone in the barracks. As soldiers we were an extended family, and they were welcome in my house for the holidays as family. I averaged upwards or 10 to 15 soldiers at my house for Thanksgiving.
After I got out of the Army, I continued the tradition, and would still invite the soldiers over for Thanksgiving.
Lots of cooking and hard work (we averaged two 25 to 27 pound turkeys and two 15 to 20 lb hams every year), but always worth it. I would love to do it again, and will do it someday.