Meme Monday – Thanksgiving Edition

I’m taking a break from my alphabet related posts today, to share a couple of Thanksgiving themed memes. I’ll figure something out for the letter V tomorrow.

We’re about ready for Thanksgiving. We’re going to Ted’s parents house this year, which is our standard. Last year, of course, was the outlier, and we had a very small Thanksgiving at our house. This year is closer to normal, there will be 10 of us. We divide and conquer when it comes to the cooking, and our menu is pretty standard. I will be making:

Shrimp Cocktail (appetizer) – Ina Garten recipe, from Food Network

My Grandma’s Fruit Salad – Originally posted in 2007

Sweet Potato Pudding – Originally posted in 2006

Cranberry Sauce – Originally posted in 2015

Oh, and I bought some fancy olive oil, and I’ll bring that for dipping as an appetizer, just for fun. I hadn’t heard of it before, but it is Olio Nuovo, which is super fresh and best enjoyed within a few months of harvest. Not really for cooking.

Hopefully, work will not be insane, and I can do most of my cooking on Wednesday afternoon/evening. The only thing that can’t be made ahead of time is the fruit salad.

I really do like this shrimp cocktail recipe. You roast the shrimp in the oven, rather than boiling or whatever. And her cocktail sauce recipe is really good, too. I buy the good horseradish for it, in the refrigerated section of the store, near what I consider to be the good pickles and the good sauerkraut (except I don’t like sauerkraut). Give it a try next time you make shrimp cocktail.

What’s on your menu this year? Old favorites, or anything new? Some of each?

2 Comments

  • nance

    Ina’s trick for roasting shrimp in the oven was a game-changer for me. That is the only way I make shrimp now, unless Rick makes it on the grill, on skewers. It comes out perfect every single time.

    I’ll be making the full dinner here at the Dept. My turkey has been thawing gently in the fridge since late last week. Nothing fancy will be attempted or served; the boys like things to be traditional and the same as always.

    Love the idea of really good fresh olive oil and excellent bread for an appetizer. Sounds wonderful.

    • J

      Nance, our family is pretty conservative when it comes to Thanksgiving, too. Once in awhile we can change things up a bit, like make sweet potato pudding instead of candied yams, but that’s as far as it goes. The only room for variation is appetizers. Christmas for some reason is not so rigid. Anything goes for Christmas dinner.

      I agree about roasting the shrimp. So much better than any other way. I think prior I would have just bought pre-cooked shrimp, which is nowhere near as good.