Thanksgiving 2024
Thanksgiving is a time for family, food, and reflecting on the adventures of the year. This year, our family decided to shake things up and celebrate in Nashville! With Justin's work and school schedule making a trip down to us difficult, my family graciously made the drive up, ensuring we could all be together.
Justin and I knew we'd be doing some serious cooking, and we dove into the preparations with gusto. My family's arrival plans could have used a bit more fine-tuning, though. They called while en route, a little weary and realizing they'd forgotten a few key items. They asked if I could take the lead on the turkey, and of course, I happily agreed.
Justin and I tag-teamed the kitchen, creating a delicious spread: a roasted turkey, not one but two pans of savory stuffing (one was oyster stuffing!), sweet potato casserole, rosemary garlic mashed potatoes, my mother’s cranberry sauce, and both pumpkin and apple pies. We even had a little butter mishap – Justin's enthusiasm for buying butter by the log resulted in salted instead of unsalted, making our pies a tad saltier than planned. (They were still delicious, though!). For our first time in turkey roasting endeavors, I’d say we did fairly well. Although deviating from a traditional Thanksgiving turkey flavor, the skin was nice and the meat was flavorful and moist. We even saved the bones for a turkey soup the following day. The soup was so big, Justin was eating it for a week straight!
Amidst the flurry of cooking, we somehow missed capturing a photo of our culinary masterpiece! But the real joy wasn't the picture-perfect spread; it was the time spent with family. We relaxed, watched TV, opened Pokémon cards, and chatted late into the night, savoring the warmth and connection. Each year, Justin and I take on a little more of the Thanksgiving cooking, and honestly, I'm finding I really enjoy it. It's a special way to contribute to the holiday and create lasting memories, whether it’s at their home or in a new city.
Update: my mom took a photo of the turkey! I attached it below.
