Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Thanksgiving Eve

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Can't you feel the holiday feeling in the air today? The kitchen is bustling, the front door swings wide with company, the house smells fantastic, the Christmas carols are floating through the air, and I get to spend the day engaged in my favorite hobby: cooking. I feel envigorated! Last night I brined the turkey, made the gravy base, cranberry sauce and four pie crusts. Today I'll finish off the pies and do all the chopping and prepping for side dishes. And tonight the party really kicks off.
Instead of making dinner in an already chaotic kitchen, a few years ago we started a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Dinner tradition. If you remember from the cartoon, pushy Peppermint Patty coerces good old Chuck into inviting all of the gang over for Thanksgiving dinner. Trouble is, poor old Charlie Brown has no idea how to pull it off. With the help of Snoopy and Woodstock, he sets up the ping pong table with a mish mash of chairs and then serves a fine feast of buttered toast, pretzels, popcorn, jelly beans and pink sherbet. And that has become our official Thanksgiving Eve dinner (with a few grilled cheese sandwiches thrown in for good measure). The cousins look forward to the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Eve party every bit as much-and maybe even more-as the real Turkey day tomorrow. It takes a little premature pressure off the cooks too! And tonight we'll break into a pie or two. I confess that they taste ever so much better the night before, when one is not button-bursting full.
Happy Thanksgiving! There is so much to be grateful for, even during these penny pinching times. I'm counting my blessings. I'm absolutely astounded by the kind comments that everyone has left regarding my absence. I count the connection with my dear readers as one of my greatest blessings this year. Thank you for coming here, trying the recipes, reading the words, and for leaving comments. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know. Have a wonderful holiday!

64 comments:

  1. So lovely!!

    Wishing you a VERY happy Thanksgiving, Prudy!!

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  2. Great to see you back...have a beautiful thanksgiving!

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  3. Watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving last night with my youngest. I want toast on our Thanksgiving table.

    http://househubbie.blogspot.com

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  4. What a great idea. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!

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  5. What fun! The kids must be thrilled. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

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  6. We watched last night as well. I'm not sure how much Gillian was paying attention, but I know Brianna enjoys watching the holiday specials. And both of my kiddos would get a kick out of popcorn for dinner! =) Happy Thanksgiving!

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  7. What a fun pre-Thanksgiving tradition! I hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful.

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  8. Happy Thanksgiving Prudence dear! See you soon!

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  9. What a fun idea! Enjoy your holidays! :)

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  10. Yes, there is much to be grateful for! Happy Thanksgiving Penny!

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  12. Happy Thanksgiving, Prudy! I should have guessed you'd have a nice, unstuffy Thanksgivingh tradition or two! (Ours is eating only Christmas cookies - with a glass of orange juice if anyone INSISTS on something nutritious - for breakfast on Christmas morning.
    See you soon.
    Audrey

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  13. What a wonderful idea! I love the simplicity and family fun of having a Charile Brown Thanksgiving Eve meal!

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  14. Welcome back and Happy Thanksgiving! Sounds like you had a wonderful trip.

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  15. Have a hearty happy thanksgiving prudy!

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  16. What a wonderful tradition! Happy Thanksgiving.

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  17. What a fun tradition! Have fun cooking and enjoy your time with your family! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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  18. I love Charlie Brown too, what a great tradition!
    Have a wonderful holiday,
    Natashya

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  19. Happy Thanksgiving to you! I love your Thanksgiving-eve dinner. When I don't feel like cooking and the husband is away, my favorite dinner is a bowl of popcorn! yum.

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  20. A fantastic idea! The holiday feeling is definitely in the air...

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  21. Happy Thanksgiving Prudy!
    Thankyou so much for starting this wonderful tradtion. We love it! And we can't wait to join you tonight for our Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. And I'm also awfully excited about tommorow's Prudence Pennywise Thanksgiving! See you soon!

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  22. What a great way to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday- less stress is definitely a plus. Sounds like a great kid-pleasing menu too. I am going to follow your lead and make my TWD pie crustless in little ramekins. I hope you have an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  23. OMG...what a great idea. The memories you will be leaving your children.
    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  24. i love the charlie brown thanksgiving dinner idea... happy thanksgiving to you and enjoy your celebration... :)

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  25. What a fun way to start the holiday!

    Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy this wonderful time with your family!

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  26. Sounds fun, just curious what time does Del Taco close? I know, I am always the party crasher.

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  27. Hopyou and yours have a wonderful day!

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  28. What a great tradition. Ours is steak sandwiches from Jersey Mike's.

    We look forward to it.

    Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

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  29. What a great idea! Maybe we will incorporate this tradition for our family. Thanks for sharing, and have a happy one!

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  30. This is a positively darling idea.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  31. This is a positively darling idea.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  32. That Thanksgiving Eve dinner is a real hoot! I'd never have thought of that! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

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  33. Happy Thanksgiving to you Prudy!

    Rosie x

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  34. Happy Thanksgiving Erin!
    Good to see you back home safely and filled with stories and joy.
    :-)

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  35. Love you Prudy! I am thankful that I found you. We are trying Ina Garten's Celery Root and Apple puree with Fennel and Yukon Gold potatoes. I'll let you know how it turns out. :)

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  36. Hi, nice blog!
    I love Thanksgiving day very much. I found a site with a lot of things about Thanksgiving. Maybe this will interest you: All about Thanskgiving Day!!! :)

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  37. Prudy I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! What a fabulous tradition! I already killed one of my pies . . . but am so excited to spend time with family and friends that I don't care!!! I am so glad that you had fun with your fam in Europe! There is indeed much to be thankful for!

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  38. That's such a cute idea. So creative! I love it.

    Don't hurt me, but I've never seen Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving show.

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  39. What a great tradition! I love the Peanuts gang and to me, the Holidays just don't start until I see a some Snoopy and Charlie Brown. I just watched the Thanksgiving DVD this afternoon with my boys! As time goes by, I might just start copying your fabulous idea.
    Sending you and your family warm wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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  40. HAPPY THANKSGIVING, PRUDY AND FAMILY!

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  41. erin this is stephanie erickson (sally's daughter) I just wanted to say thank you for yourwonderful blog I love to look at it! a happy thanksgiving to you also!

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  42. I love it! What a great tradition. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Prudence!!

    Michelle, Mocha and Quincy :)

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  43. how cool. your family knows how to enjoy the holidays!

    Happy Thanksgiving dear Prudy!

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  44. Wonderful post Erin! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. May it be the best ever! XXOO

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  45. "Happy Thanksgiving" wish to you and your family.

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  46. Our family just watched this the other night and my 3 year old is insisting on having jelly beans for Thanksgiving now. Great tradition! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Prudy!

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  47. that is so cute!! i watch the special every year, and i always think that that dinner sounds pretty good! happy thanksgiving!!

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  48. Wishing you and all the people that you love a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  49. Prudy! I'm so happy you are back, you have truly been missed! I realized my addiction to your blog b/c I was constantly checking it to see if you returned!! I was away so have some catching up to do...I can see you are back in the kitchen! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  50. I hope you had a great holiday!


    -DTW
    www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com

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  51. So glad you enjoyed our trip, but so glad to have ou back. I missed my daily jaunts to see what is cooking in your kitchen!

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  52. Happy, happy Thanksgiving!

    Are you a Black Friday shopper?

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  53. Happy Thanksgiving!
    I have missed your blog! Been working alot..
    Anyway, hope you are well!
    ~Kelly

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  54. Love the Thanksgiving Eve dinner idea...what a fun tradition! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Thanks for always sharing such amazing recipes! =)

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  55. Trying to play catch up checking post..Happy Belated Thanksgiving! Sounds like a great idea with the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving I bet the kids have a blast with it.

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  56. Welcome back and belated Happy Thanksgiving. I've missed and am glad you had a fairy tale trk through Europe.

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  57. Happy Belated Thanksgiving my dear! I love your pre-t-day tradition!

    ~Cat

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  58. This is really a great article and great read for me. It’s my first visit to your blog and i have found it so useful and informative specially this article.

    Happy Thanksgiving Wishes for Friends

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