Reflecting after Thanksgiving

Last week was the rollercoaster of emotions that I anticipated. The build up to Thanksgiving turned out to be tougher in the grief department than the actual day. I thought about the conversations and planning with my mom in prior years that always made that period of time feel like the start of the holidays. Though having those memories is what makes it harder, having those memories in the first place is what makes me grateful.

My fear of not preserving our traditions has been building over time. A few years ago I jotted down a long list of all the foods that make it on our table each Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve/Christmas Day, cross checked it with my mom, and hold on to it as a reference as we’ve planned each holiday. This year we weighed all options to get us through – thoughtful invites from my husband’s family, friends extending seats at their tables, the temptation to screw a home cooked meal altogether and go to a restaurant, and make our traditional spread. In the end, I went to my trusted list of everything my mom insisted we make every year and we MADE IT ALL in our small apartment kitchen:  

• Butterflake Rolls from Kretchmar’s (local bakery in the town where I grew up, have never gone a Thanksgiving without them)
• Homemade applesauce (dad’s contribution every year – no other ingredients besides the apples! His secret is to mix apple varieties to get a sweeter flavor)
• Cranberry sauce (fresh cranberries; though I secretly love a can)
• Turkey – a 10 pounder (husband’s specialty as requested by my dad)
• Homemade gravy (Thanks, Tim)
• Sweet potato casserole (always with marshmallows)
• Mashed potatoes (of course)
• Green bean casserole (why veer from the Campbell’s recipe? Did you know it was born out of their test kitchen in 1955?)
• Corn casserole
• Stuffing (always a fan of Alison Roman‘s)
• Pumpkin Pie (my mom’s note for a solid crust – add vinegar!)
• Basque Cheesecake (the new addition and standout from this year)