Practice Thanksgiving 2011
Hi folks –
We’re doing Practice Thanksgiving again this year, after a year off last year for the baby-having. You’re invited!
The Practice Thanksgiving concept is pretty simple: Thanksgiving is awesome. Double Thanksgiving is twice as awesome. It’s math. So, per the secret rules of a tradition which has been simmering along in the hardcore Thanksgiving sub-culture for a decade now, we do a Practice Thanksgiving with our friends. That’s you.
We’ll do a fresh local bird, lovingly brined and stuffed full of sage and parsley and goodness. You lot will pitch in with the full flower of your creativity on the sides, drinks and desserts. Portion to share with friends; experimentation is encouraged and failure is lovingly heckled. (For the record, you can put bacon in pie, but in hindsight, it should probably be cooked beforehand).
Your friends and kids are welcome to join us.
Schedule: Next Sunday, 11/13/11! Gather at 4pm or later to cook and hang with kids. Dinner served at 6pm.
RSVP: leave a comment on this post. Please note any food restrictions, or send an email if you prefer.
With thanks for many good things,
Jonathan, Kate, Vivian
HEADCOUNT: ~ 17 talls, 3 toddlers.
The menu:
Bringing food is optional but encouraged. Volunteer to bring something specific by leaving a comment below this post, and I’ll update the list — we do it this way so you can see what’s claimed and we don’t get 12 yam recipes. Some recommendations are in italics, but feel free to improvize. If you can make something vegetarian, please do so.
Main course!
Sage-brined turkey with garlic and parsley, with gravy. By Jonathan E-W.
A vegetarian main
Sides!
Mashed Potatoes, by Kyle
Sweet potato casserole, by Esta
Bread, by Ariel.
A bread or bread-like product.
Green beans with friend onions, by Kelty & Duane
Napa Cabbage salad by Heidi
A meaty stuffing.
A vegetarian stuffing, by Heidi
Cranberries.
Deserts!
Apple pie, by Kate E-W.
Pumpkin Bacon Pie, by Ariel.
Moar pie! more! more!
Possible berry cobbler, by Esta
Drinks!
Seasonal beverages of an alcoholic nature.
Spiced cider by Kunal.
Wine.
Fancy ginger ale, by Jonathan E-W
Pabst Blue Ribbon, by Jonathan E-W
I’m in! I can bring anything – I make a really good sweet potato casserole, as well as some berry cobbler
For the record, the bacon WAS cooked beforehand, it just could have used some more, uh, R&D. So I will bring a pumpkin bacon pie, this time it will be PERFECT. I will also bring some bread. Xox
I’m in! How cool! I may have friends and/or 1 son join me. I will keep you posted. I can bring either a napa cabbage salad or a carrot mold (like cake, but for dinner, not dessert.) Both are truly amazing. Let me know what you prefer…or both if need be.
On dish selection, please take a look at the list and pick something that fits — don’t look for confirmation from me, or I’ll just tell you to make a pie, and all we’ll have is pie. This has actually happened.
Hi Everyone
Sorry I did not make it to the tournament this weekend. I came down with some sort of nasty cold/sinus infection? I wanted to let you know I will be out of town this weekend and wont be able to make it to your Thanksgiving. Thank you for the invite!
-Diane
OK, I’m new to this practice Thanksgiving thing…I catch on kinda slow. And would all pies really be a bad thing???
Hello!
We are excited about this – we could bring fresh green beans with fried onions for a vegetable main dish (we will make enough for 15 or 20)
- Kelty
Love this idea! I will be there and I can bring mashed potatoes.
Kunal, Shanti and Kiren will attend. We will bring hot apple cider (farmer’s market). I put it in a large coffee urn with cinnamon, cloves and orange in the filter section.
Your idea is so great that my 21 year old son Jeremy and my friend Karleton want to come as well. Hope that friends and family is still ok.
I will skip the carrot mold since you have lots of other regular starches. But I will bring the napa cabbage salad. And I will bring a veg stuffing and fresh cranberries that are truly yummy! Not that canned garbage but the freshly made type. I’m vegetarian mostly…but make exceptions a few times a year. Like Thanksgiving if the turkey smells really good. And if it doesn’t, there are enough sides to make it work.
Yay, bring family!
Noted: Michelle is coming.
I’m so sad I won’t be able to make it; I’m heading to wonderful Lincoln, Nebraska for work Sunday night. It was great playing with you guys this fall!
cobbler looks great, I think I over-salted the sweetpotatos but hopefully its edible! See you all Soon!
Thank you for hosting such a nice gathering!
It was a wonderful evening!