This year we asked our team to share their favorite Thanksgiving traditions with us. We loved their stories so much that we had to share them with you. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!
For me, some of the best memories are all the multi-family Thanksgivings we had growing up. We would get together with our family and three other families. Each year we would see family changes, seeing new marriages and their kids and sadly losing some family members. Also, I loved watching my dad be the unofficial Grand Marshal of the dinner. He always had wise words for us all as he would make his speech before we devoured the turkey.
My favorite tradition for Thanksgiving is happy hour at my neighbor's house before the Thanksgiving dinner!
When we moved into our home in 2002, we already knew the family in the house next door to us. Let's call them "the Samo's". In fact, from day one, we had house keys to each other's home. We have watched the Samo's kids grow up into adults. We have enjoyed each other's company on our front lawn for impromptu gatherings. And, we have been there for each other during the highs and lows that life brings. So the Samo's are like family to us!
So every year on Thanksgiving, we attend the Samo's "Thanksgiving Happy Hour". There can be 25-50 people for happy hour including their dinner guests, former & current neighbors and our gang. And, the Samo's always ensure that any "orphans" (folks who can't make it home for Thanksgiving) are invited to their happy hour. Their hospitality is foremost.
Everyone brings an appetizer and drink to share. I love sampling each other's recipes. And one of Samo's guests always brings Apple and Butterscotch Schnapps and leads the most heartwarming Thanksgiving toasts. It's Tradition.
We always make sure Samo's Happy Hour is part of our Thanksgiving agenda regardless if we are going to dinner elsewhere or returning home for our own family dinner. Friendship, Family and Love... this is what Thanksgiving is all about!
Spending Thanksgiving on the farm and enjoying time with cousins and family rarely visited. We played hide-and-go-seek, visited farm animals and got into trouble. We had a huge feast with so many people you had to eat on the couch. After our meal, we went bird hunting and then slept on the hardwood floor too worn out to care.
Every year we have a turkey cook-off AND a pie cook-off. There are 6 contestants every year. There is a traveling trophy for the turkey. Bragging rights for the pie. Turkeys vary from Deep Fried, Roasted, Smoked, various spices and injections. There are 25-30 people a year in attendance. Every contestant is vying for your vote. No bribery is allowed, but you never know what deals are going on underneath the table. Gets pretty spirited! It's fun... it's great!
One year, I smoked AND fried a turkey for Thanksgiving. I used my basic water smoker, then my fryer. My turkey ended up being the favorite turkey at the table. It upset the host because everyone ate my turkey and barely ate her turkey. Oops, I can't help I cooked up a really good bird!
