h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I knew the dates were different, but had no idea why.

It has to be said, I'm more interested in the long weekend than the food.

That's understandable!

I don't have plans for the weekend beyond avoiding shopping.

A wise plan I thinl, I certainly wouldn't have any trouble sticking to it...*shrugs*but that's just me.

The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year. *shudders*

Yes so I've heard, all the more reason to just 'cocoon'/sequester oneself!

"It has to be said, I'm more interested in the long weekend than the food" [Evangeline]

And I'm more interested in the food than the long weekend.

I don't get a long weekend anyway, as I'm working on Saturday.

Those are interesting menus.

My brother and his wife always host the festivities.
My sister buys the turkey and brings it early enough so my sister-in-law can pop it in the oven.
My parents bring cider and pickles and olives.
The rest of us bring whatever we're best at, particularly desserts.
I traditionally bring cornbread stuffing.
There are always creamed leeks (which everyone likes).
There are usually sweet potato dishes.
We usually overdoes on desserts such as apple pie, pumpkin pie or cheesecake, apple crisp, and pumpkin bread. (My sister is an enthusiastic baker; when my brother got married, she made dozens of cakes for the reception...)
One thing we do *not* have is potatoes. There are already plenty of carbs in the meal without them

*adds creamed leeks to the Christmas menu*

Christmas Eve is our extended family big gumbo dinner that has a lot of food. Traditionally, I bring cookies, my cousin makes banana split pie and Mississippi mud pie, another cousin brings crawfish fettucini, a cousin's wife makes lasagna, an aunt makes two kinds of potato salad (one plain, the other with *everything*)and an uncle and another cousin get up really early to make a huge pot of seafood gumbo in one of those outdoor crawfish boiling pots.

I don't usually think of gumbo as a Thanksgiving dish, but it has intriguing possibilities neverthless.

Thanksgiving was Turkey several ways, Cornbread dressing, citrus yams (orange zest and juice, no sugar), potato salad, gravy, and Mexican cornbread. It was a twelve pound free range turkey. After it was fully thawed, I cut it and prepped it for cooking. The turkey breast was roasted. The wings, drumsticks and thighs were grilled. The rest was made into stock for the dressing and gravy.

Then, the Christmas season began... nine batches of cookies. Some were mailed, others were brought to friends and family at various gatherings and parties.

My vacation started the 24th. And, there was still a lot to do before I could actually stop and rest.

Christmas dinner was fried oysters, battered potato and yam fries, turkey and oyster stew, apple/cranberry pie, mince tarts.

Tonight, I'm working on vegetable gumbo. Tomorrow will be the traditional black eyed peas, cabbage and Mexican cornbread.

I've only just been able to relax for the rest of my vacation. I go back to work next Monday.

How are things with y'all?

Actually , not that bad. Fairly relaxed quiet Christmas(24th overnight at my parents' place). But just heading over there now hun...be back here later tho, they have a computer in the spare bedroom!

Happy New Year just in case I miss you!

Thanks. Happy New Year to you, as well.

Here at the parents' place...anything planned for tonight?

Cooking, probably television, a friend visiting later and the neighbors' fireworks. I don't bother with fireworks myself as the neighbors seem to buy enough for the whole block.

Is it a quiet evening at your parents or a big party?

Quiet evening. They have somewhat of a celebration here at the seniors complex they're in, but they're likely in bed way before ten - I'll be prowling the 'net though. Found great archived coastal fireworks from Portugal last year(they're bookmarked, but on my computer*shrugs*Google).

Fireworks earlier in Sydney: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kgBAZXpVl-E

The neighbors have already started and it's only five after seven.

It's great to hear from you, Evangeline and Jazz'd.

In some parts of the country, Burgoo is the New Year's dish of choice. In some other places, blackeye peas are customary. I like to put blackeye peas in burgoo because I don't like lima beans . Maybe I'll make burgoo this coming weekend. I have a Rock Cornish game hen in the freezer, which I would use for the meat portion of the recipe.