Reflections on thanksgiving past: we closed on our house in November of 2006. The air was crisp and cool. Autumn had arrived. The house is at the top of a hill on a narrow and somewhat hidden street. This cozy little log cabin, with a fenced in yard was all ours.
At that moment, I said, “I can’t wait to host Thanksgiving in this house.”
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. It’s all about eating, which is one of my favorite things. A feature of said eating is mashed potatoes which I could eat all day, every day. No presents to buy. No stupid decorations. Just a time to slow down and enjoy.
In more recent years, I’ve become more in tune with the ugly history of Thanksgiving. Because the history we learn in school unfairly glorifies America’s dark past, we don’t always understand the impact that our traditions have on the native population. That said, I believe it is possible to enjoy and celebrate the holiday while also acknowledging the native land on which we reside. We can make it a point to learn more about Native American culture and traditions. In recent years, I’ve learned that my home resides on the land of the Nipmucs. I’ve been following them to learn more about how I can support them.
It would be a few years until I realized my hosting dream. I was only 29 when we moved into the house and I’m not sure I would have known how to do it right away. But after a 7 hour drive from Massachusetts to Connecticut and the hecticness of trying to see both of our families, we decided it was time.
The first year was a small gathering but over the years, it grew. At its peak, we hosted 14 people. It was a lot of work, a lot of planning, and a lot of cooking. But I loved it. It warmed my heart to have both of our families present, complete with dogs and my niece who was just a toddler at the time. When it was all over, I felt accomplished.
Over the years, the numbers fluctuated until 2020 and the great dumpster fire that was COVID. That year, we decided to have a small Thanksgiving meal and invite our neighbor over to grab a plate, knowing that he’d be alone. We’d keep it safe by allowing him to go in and grab his food while we waited outside. Luckily for us, it was a relatively warm day. So we set up a table outside on our front porch and the three of us enjoyed our meal together. It was beautiful and a needed reminder of the ‘before’ times.
In 2021, we returned to having a small gathering and started a new tradition of sitting outside by the fire pit with hot apple cider. We did this to minimize indoor time and COVID risk but it ended up being one of my favorite traditions.
This year, I prepared myself that we could have a big crowd again. Perhaps not 14, but I expected around 10. It ended up that it was only 4 – us and my parents. There were a multitude of reasons for this. When I told my mom that it would just be the 4 of us, she said “Are you disappointed?”
My immediate answer was no because I am a firm believer that invitations are not obligations. I never want anyone in my circle to feel as though they have to make up an excuse to not come to a holiday, a party, or whatever. A simple NO is all I need. It doesn’t matter to me if you have another obligation or if you just would rather not come.
That said, there were moments when I felt nostalgic for the bigger gatherings which did nothing more than bring back happy memories. This year, our small gathering was relaxed and laid back. We kept our tradition of the outdoor fire pit and it was nice to have to make less food, though there was no shortage of variety. Everything was pretty much ready by the time my parents arrived, meaning that I could settle in and enjoy the day. For anyone curious, our menu is listed below. I don’t really use recipes, but I have made some notes on the significant things.
Appetizer:
Cheese, Grapes, and Nuts
I LOVE getting cheese from this local shop. The triple cream brie is to die for. This year they had it paired with maple pumpkin butter and cranberry nut crackers. Sold!
Meal:
Turkey
We get it from the local turkey farm, fresh of course. And then we use the injector to get it loaded with broth, hard cider, and butter.
Cranberry Sauce – I buy it at the farm.
Stuffing – my method is pretty simple. This year, I used gluten free bread from Against the Grain. It’s delicious and I digest it so much easier.
Mashed Potatoes – my mashed potatoes are bomb. Cooking red, unpeeled potatoes in the Instant Pot saves a ton of time and they are out of this world good.
Butternut Squash Risotto – earlier this fall, I bought butternut squash at the farmers market. I roasted it in the oven with some salt, pepper, olive oil, and maple syrup. I then made some risotto and combined the two. A big advantage of a small group for Thanksgiving was that I could recreate this amazing dish. It’s not difficult, but risotto does require patience.
Gravy – I buy it at the farm. They make it way better than me.
Green Beans – sauteed with garlic and pine nuts – yum.
Cornbread with Herbal Butter – I used gluten free measure for measure flour this year and it was one of the best corn breads I ever made. Then I took Kerrygold butter and blended it with rosemary from my herb garden and maple syrup and OH MY GOD!
Fall Salad – this recipe came from the cooking class that I referenced in my last post. Make the dressing and use whatever other ingredients you want.
Dessert:
Pumpkin Pie – my mom makes my grandma’s recipe. I hate baking. It’s too precise for me.
Blueberry Pie – I buy it at the farm and it’s amazing.
Apple Crisp – I had a lot of apples so I whipped up a gluten free apple crisp. I like this because it is easy and I know it intuitively and it does not require a lot of measuring. Top it with this non-dairy ice cream which I am kind of obsessed with.
What are your Thanksgiving traditions? And what is one thing you’ve learned about the land on which you live?
Watch this short video to dive deeper into my reflections on thanksgiving.
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