When I was growing up, an “annual” was a comic-strip-based holiday gift that kept you chuckling for about a day and a half before being stuffed into a cupboard and forgotten about. I like to think our annual Thanksgiving roundup follows that tradition.
This accurately describes our run-up to Thanksgiving this year:
September: – *glances at calendar* – “OK, plenty of time to plan our T-day, we’ll take it nice and slow this year, no need to stress” – * yawns, takes sip of tea, looks back down at calendar* – “HOLY CRAP IT’S NOVEMBER 14th AND WE’VE DONE NOTHING WE’RE SCREWED, BURN IT DOWN, BURN IT ALL DOWN”
Seriously. Our work schedules (our real work, you know, not this culinary frippery) became uncommonly strange and busy, and what with one thing and another and yet a third thing, and then the first two things again because they didn’t get done properly the first time, we didn’t stick with our disciplined scheme from previous years where we make stock exactly two weeks in advance and proceed from there armed with post-its and string and pins for the crazy wall and it all somehow comes together on the day. This year our minds were elsewhere and now November 23rd is coming up and we have to scramble.
Wait just a minute. November 23rd. November 23rd! NOVEMBER 23rd!!!?!?!?!
In the four years we’ve been writing this blog, I have restrained myself from waffling on about Doctor Who because I have been known to occasionally go on a bit about it and frankly, nobody wants that. But now is my chance! On November 23rd, 1963, the first episode was broadcast, and British TV viewers saw visual howlaround effects fade into the story of a teenage girl who knows too much, her curious schoolteachers and her grandfather who appears to live in a police box in a junkyard. So not only will Thanksgiving be the 54th anniversary of “An Unearthly Child”, but the Christmas episode will feature the 12th Doctor (Peter Capaldi) teaming up with the 1st Doctor (David Bradley channeling William Hartnell) before a groundbreaking transition to the 13th and first female Doctor (Jodie Whittaker). So that’s all jolly exciting.
Splendid chap … all of them.
Until then we have a few weeks of waiting, so why not pass the time by doing something family-related on Thursday, perhaps invite a few friends round, cook a turkey or something, have some wine, bit of pudding, can’t go wrong with that. Here are our suggestions for this year’s feast. Let us know how the recipes worked for you, and send us your pictures! You can always tag us on Instagram (@nerdswithknives) or just comment under a recipe post. We always appreciate it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
(GF) – Gluten Free / (V) – Vegetarian / (Vegan) – Animal Product Free.
Thanksgiving Appetizers
Baked Brie (V)
Spiced Pickled Grapes (GF, Vegan)
Sweet and Spicy Candied Peanuts (GF)
Soups
Stock, Gravy and Sauces
Thanksgiving Sides
Thanksgiving Salads
Thanksgiving Desserts
Thanksgiving Drinks
Next-Day Breakfast!
Thanksgiving Leftovers!
Awesome
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