Gobble Gobble

My family is big. We come from an Italian background and probably fit most of the stereotypes you can think of. Not only am I aware of the very hour someone in my family goes into the hospital to give birth, but it is not uncommon for me to text my second cousins. It blows my husband's mind that we have roughly 40 stockings at my grandparents' house at Christmas time and I know the addresses of all those members.

Picture "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" only Italian. 

Of course that's not the only stereotype we fit into. 

Like most Italians, we like to eat........a LOT. 

Spaghetti has accompanied many Thanksgiving meals that I can remember. But, it wasn't the main course. It was more of a side dish, if you will. Just heap it onto the plate next to the mashed potatoes and turkey. Oh! And the turkey? We normally have two. "Just in case." 

The more the merrier! It was never a problem to show up with an unplanned guest at Thanksgiving dinner. It caused a bit of a stir, but the hustle wasn't because an extra guest may cause an inconvenience, it was the fear that we would......wait for it.....run out of food! The horror! 

Needless to say, it was never actually a reality to run out of food at Thanksgiving. And, although we no longer eat at my grandmother's house, my mom has been diligent in carrying on this tradition. Every Wednesday before Thanksgiving is spent ENTIRELY in the kitchen. 8 AM- 8 PM. It's a day of cooking. We make side dish after side dish after side dish. 

Here are a few of our favorites:

Pretzel Salad

2 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pretzels

3/4 cup melted margarine

3 Tblsp sugar

8 oz pkg cream cheese

1/2 scant cup sugar

3 Cups Cool Whip

2 (3 oz pkg strawberry jello)

2 Cups boiling water

2 (10 oz) pkg frozen strawberries

Mix pretzels, margarine and sugar well and press into 9x13 pan. Bake 10 minutes @ 350. Cool. 

Mix sugar and cream cheese. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over cooled crust. Dissolve jello in boiling water and add frozen strawberries. Pour over top of cream cheese layer and chill. 

Layered Lettuce Salad

1 head lettuce

1 cup celery, diced

4 eggs, hard cooked, sliced

1 (10 oz) pkg frozen peas, uncooked

1/2 cup green pepper diced

1 sweet onion, med diced

4 slices bacon, fried and diced

2 Cups Mayonnaise

2 tblsp sugar

4 oz Cheddar cheese, shredded

Tear the crisp, clean lettuce into small bite size pieces and place in large bowl or 9x13 baking dish. Later rest of ingredients in order given. Add the sugar to the mayonnaise and spread over the top as you would frosting. Top with grated cheese. Cover and refrigerate 8-10 hrs. At serving time, toss and garnish with parsley and additional bacon. 

Cranberry Marshmallow Salad 

(this is a great substitution for the traditional cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving)

1 (12 oz) pkg fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped

2 cups sugar

1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, with juice

1 container Cool Whip

2 cups marshmallows

In a large bowl, stir together the pineapple (w/juice), cranberries and sugar. Refrigerate overnight. 

Before serving, stir in the Cool Whip & marshmallows. 

YUM!!!!!

These are just a few of the MANY different dishes we have on our Thanksgiving table. Did any of them seem weird to  you? Maybe. 

Give one a try and see if you have a new favorite!!! 

Happy Turkey Day!