Hi, I'm Rachel.

A few years ago I could barely boil water.

True story.

Determined to be a kick ass wife, I developed a love for football and learned to cook in my tiny Jersey City kitchen. I spend my days working in Manhattan, my nights and weekends chasing after a rambunctious toddler, and the hours in between cooking with my husband and feeding my TV habit...oh, and I blog about it all! 

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« Tales from the Tailgate | Main | Taste of Fall: Ginger Snap Crusted Pumpkin Pie »
Wednesday
Nov112009

Turkey Day Tug...in Many Directions


The time of year is approaching. The leaves are falling, the wind is a'changing, pumpkin pie is around us, and calls from family about Thanksgiving plans are starting. The holiday season has officially begun.

Shaun and I are so lucky in that we have two wonderful families to celebrate with. Never wanting to miss out on my mother-in-law's sweet potatoes, my aunt's stuffing, or my mom's apple pie (with homemade crust, thank you very much), Thanksgiving generally ends up as a mad dash around New Jersey trying to make it to one family for dinner and one for dessert. With family on opposite ends of the state and wanting to ensure that we spend equal time with each family (not to mention Jersey holiday traffic), it has potential for stress levels to rise.

Whereas with Christmas, you've got two days to play with, Turkey Day is just one tiny little day with seemingly not so many hours in it. Tack on cooking up a storm and tables full of delicious foods only seen once a year, and the stress levels just kicked up a notch. Though this will be our 10th (!) Thanksgiving together and you'd think we'd have this down to a science, it never gets easier for Shaun and I to plan the holidays, due to said fabulous families and food. The strategizing has begun! And no matter what we end up doing, I just love seeing family and getting to eat delicious food...who's with me?

So how do you guys all handle the holidays, specifically Thanksgiving? Do you trade off year by year? Split your time? Ditch the day altogether by sitting home watching the parade and football whilst chowing down on Chinese food? Leave your strategies in the comments!

Reader Comments (6)

We end up trading off year by year... it's just the easiest for us, since our families are split between NJ and VA. Thanksgiving is the best holiday everrrrrrrrrrr!!! Love it!

November 11, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterSpads424

Im really used to spending Christmas with My parents,just Me and them. But iv had to make a sacrifice (my boyfriend lol) and spend time with his family aswell. Its soo difficult as our parents live over 150 miles apart! This year I was kinda mean and told My boyfriend id be staying at My mums this year untill after xmas (my baby sister was born in september so its her first xmas)

We dont have thanksgiving over in the UK so we dont have all the rushing around Youd have =) <3

November 11, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterx_kcm-87_x

Later in life you will look back and say how lucky you were to have two great families to share the holidays with. And though stressful, it is a great time with each.

November 11, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterSandy

We used to trade off for Thanksgiving (one year with his family, next year with mine), but then my mom came up with a wonderful solution: she moved Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is my sister's favorite holiday, but, since she started a new job a few years ago, she's had to work on the big day. In order to allow my sister to attend my family's celebration, my mom just moved the festivities to either Friday or Saturday of the same week. This enables us to attend Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday with my husband's family and then have ANOTHER Thanksgiving dinner with my family the next day or the day after. Truly, this is the best of all possible worlds, since who doesn't want double helpings of turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes? If you have a family member who is willing to move time, space and a national holiday for you, I highly recommend it!

November 13, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKristin

I wish I could spend Thanksgiving with you and our matching recipes!!!!!

November 13, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterCatherine

Wow, you guys have great ideas for Thanksgiving! Hope you all have a FANTASTIC one!

November 17, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterRachel Cannon Humiston

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