What's on your Turkey-Day Menu?

[SunriseChickers]

Yesss, yum!! Awww, that's so sweet though. I'm always surprised when people tell me they made something gluten free for me at gatherings.

Me, too!! Last TG, one of the other GF ladies (there are two or three others) brought a gf biscuit mix and asked if I wanted one, I was so excited.

Don't overwork yourself though! We all like to pitch in and help Mom cook on Thanksgiving, you just need to find some kids to help you.

I'll try not to exhaust myself before Thanksgiving. I have a young friend from church whom I'm sure would help, but she lives about an hour away.

So are you Greek then? That's so cool. Whenever someone says Greek I immediately think of My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Lol, no I'm not actually Greek, lol! there are only two or three Greek families in our parish, but still a lot of people.
They do party kinda like the Greeks in the movie though.

 

[MamaPoult]

The daughter in law is also making deviled eggs. I've never been able to eat yams or sweet potatoes. There's also 2 other people 1 with kids and they are bringing some more stuff to go with the dinner. I'm really ready for Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Ahh that's what I forgot! I love deviled eggs so much! They're one of my favorite foods lol. I hear you, I dislike any type of yams except candied lol. I also was allergic for a long time. That's nice, other's are pitching in.Yesss, me too! It's the only holiday we actually do

 

[MamaPoult]

Me, too!! Last TG, one of the other GF ladies (there are two or three others) brought a gf biscuit mix and asked if I wanted one, I was so excited.

Awww, that's so sweet!! I love biscuits . Most of my family is GF so my Mom is a master of finding work arounds if you ever need recipes!

I'll try not to exhaust myself before Thanksgiving. I have a young friend from church whom I'm sure would help, but she lives about an hour away.

Yes, don't do too much. What's it matter if you have all the sides if you're too tired to eat them?! I wish I lived close, I'd totally come to help you. I always have rally my siblings to help my Mom every year. It's no fun cooking until you collapse!

Lol, no I'm not actually Greek, lol! there are only two or three Greek families in our parish, but still a lot of people.
They do party kinda like the Greeks in the movie though.

Oh, I gotcha! Whatttt really?? I thought maybe the movie was just exaggerating. That's absolutely hilarious lol. I love that movie so much!

 

[SunriseChickers]

Ahh that's what I forgot! I love deviled eggs so much! They're one of my favorite foods lol.

I LOVE DEVILED EGGS. They are my FAVORITE! But for some reason out here in Wyoming, they think "deviled eggs" are just whipped yolks with mayo and sugar added and maybe a dash of paprika. It's a LIE.

Awww, that's so sweet!! I love biscuits . Most of my family is GF so my Mom is a master of finding work arounds if you ever need recipes!

Lol, I kind of just dive in with substitutions and it usually works! I will keep your mom in mind for if I find a struggle with it though.

Yes, don't do too much. What's it matter if you have all the sides if you're too tired to eat them?! I wish I lived close, I'd totally come to help you. I always have rally my siblings to help my Mom every year. It's no fun cooking until you collapse!

Awe, you're so sweet. :')

Oh, I gotcha! Whatttt really?? I thought maybe the movie was just exaggerating. That's absolutely hilarious lol. I love that movie so much!

Lol, the movie is definitely exaggerating a little bit. The vibes are the same, though! It does depend on the holiday, too.
The general vibes that are the same are "OPA!", lots of meat, insisting you eat the food, plenty of (responsible) alcohol enjoyment, welcoming in literally everyone there as "family", sometimes the dancing. Usually during Thanksgiving and Christmas a sizeable group of men will go outside and smoke very fancy special cigars and pipe tobaccos. During Easter (we call it Pascha in the Orthodox church and celebrate it very differently than the Western culture) we all get up to go to church at midnight the night before Easter proper (which is not based on the Western calendar. Last year it was the same day as Western Easter, but this year it's a month or two earlier). It's a huge symbolic service with hundreds and hundreds of candles! Everyone will have been fasting for 40 days for Lent (basically eating like vegans more or less, but we don't consume "substitutes" for any of that food), so after the service we gather together at like 1 AM and have a literal FEAST. Music, Greek dancing, more radiating joy than I've ever seen from any human ever, this year there was a shots bar (again, responsibly enjoyed)?? They usually do something like make a lamb centered meal, but a lot of people will bring a huge variety of their own food. We brought a lot of cheeses and some meats. A friend of ours has a smoker, so he spent all day smoking all sorts of meats, and baking others. I think one thing he brought was marinated steak wrapped in bacon and stuck on a stick. Like meat lollipops. Both of the priests present ended up sitting at our table, I guess we just had the best food, haha! Everyone shares if they bring something extra. Our friend was running around telling people to take and eat, and his stuff was a huge hit. Everyone goes home at like 3 or 4, then there's a service at 11am that... Ehhh, definitely not everyone makes it to.
But yeah, the Resurrection is basically celebrated as the most important thing ever and Pascha/Easter is now my favorite holiday! I think it used to be Christmas. I still LOVE Thanksgiving and Christmas though, so many good memories and so many amazing new ones to make with my church family.
Thanksgiving is in the middle of the Nativity Fast (or, Advent), so it's also a much appreciated feast, while Christmas is at the very end of that fast. It all makes these holidays so much more special for us!

 

[akroberts1085]

I LOVE DEVILED EGGS. They are my FAVORITE! But for some reason out here in Wyoming, they think "deviled eggs" are just whipped yolks with mayo and sugar added and maybe a dash of paprika. It's a LIE.

Lol, I kind of just dive in with substitutions and it usually works! I will keep your mom in mind for if I find a struggle with it though.

Awe, you're so sweet. :')

Lol, the movie is definitely exaggerating a little bit. The vibes are the same, though! It does depend on the holiday, too.
The general vibes that are the same are "OPA!", lots of meat, insisting you eat the food, plenty of (responsible) alcohol enjoyment, welcoming in literally everyone there as "family", sometimes the dancing. Usually during Thanksgiving and Christmas a sizeable group of men will go outside and smoke very fancy special cigars and pipe tobaccos. During Easter (we call it Pascha in the Orthodox church and celebrate it very differently than the Western culture) we all get up to go to church at midnight the night before Easter proper (which is not based on the Western calendar. Last year it was the same day as Western Easter, but this year it's a month or two earlier). It's a huge symbolic service with hundreds and hundreds of candles! Everyone will have been fasting for 40 days for Lent (basically eating like vegans more or less, but we don't consume "substitutes" for any of that food), so after the service we gather together at like 1 AM and have a literal FEAST. Music, Greek dancing, more radiating joy than I've ever seen from any human ever, this year there was a shots bar (again, responsibly enjoyed)?? They usually do something like make a lamb centered meal, but a lot of people will bring a huge variety of their own food. We brought a lot of cheeses and some meats. A friend of ours has a smoker, so he spent all day smoking all sorts of meats, and baking others. I think one thing he brought was marinated steak wrapped in bacon and stuck on a stick. Like meat lollipops. Both of the priests present ended up sitting at our table, I guess we just had the best food, haha! Everyone shares if they bring something extra. Our friend was running around telling people to take and eat, and his stuff was a huge hit. Everyone goes home at like 3 or 4, then there's a service at 11am that... Ehhh, definitely not everyone makes it to.
But yeah, the Resurrection is basically celebrated as the most important thing ever and Pascha/Easter is now my favorite holiday! I think it used to be Christmas. I still LOVE Thanksgiving and Christmas though, so many good memories and so many amazing new ones to make with my church family.
Thanksgiving is in the middle of the Nativity Fast (or, Advent), so it's also a much appreciated feast, while Christmas is at the very end of that fast. It all makes these holidays so much more special for us!

When I make deviled eggs I use Lawry's season all salt pepper mustard best foods Mayo dill pickle relish and paprika. Loads of flavor.

 

[SunriseChickers]

When I make deviled eggs I use Lawry's season all salt pepper mustard best foods Mayo dill pickle relish and paprika. Loads of flavor.

That's about how I make it, and it tastes fantastic!

 

[NotabitaiI]

Being the only gluten free person at a potluck sure is fun

 

[SunriseChickers]

Being the only gluten free person at a potluck sure is funView attachment 4255900

Aww, you know I feel you, I'm sorry.

 

[Sally PB]

Being the only gluten free person at a potluck sure is fun

Yeah, it kind of stinks, doesn't it?

 

[MROO]

What are you guys having this Thanksgiving? Anything unusual? How is your turkey cooked? What're ya looking forward to the most?

We all gather at my sister's farm. The cows still have to be milked and fed, so that's the only way her crew can join the festivities. Stepping into her beautiful, 150 year old farmhouse on Thanksgiving is like stepping back in time. She roasts a farm-raised turkey while one of her boys deep fries another. We all bring sides and desserts. I swear the table groans before we eat as badly as the bellies groan afterwards - and for the same reason: too much food!

My designated dish is fried cauliflower. Apparently I'm not allowed to come without it. It's an old tradition started nearly a hundred years ago when my grandfather's huge Italian family all gathered for the big Holiday meal. All these years, the story was that food was scarce, especially through the Depression, and cauliflower was cheap and easy to grow, so it was simply available. After all these years, though, I've finally figured out the real reason.

The "cheap and available" part is true, but not the main reason behind it. With dozens of children underfoot, all clamoring for dinner, a cheap filler comes in handy. No kid wants plain cauliflower, but when its' fried, magic happens! That bowl of fried cauliflower is the only thing they're allowed to raid without pestering an adult. By the time the meal is organized and everyone is ready to eat, the littles have taken the edge off their hunger and the adults can eat in peace. Now THAT's a tradition I can live with!