Thinkin’ about…

Hamsgiving!

Each year, our kids end up going to several Thanksgiving dinners, at which they are presented with the standard turkey-and-stuffing fare. Well, last Thanksgiving, I thought I’d give everyone a break from the “sameness,” and cook a ham instead. It went over like the Goodyear blimp on Super Bowl Sunday.

So, at the Fink house this Wednesday night (another change we made, since the actual Thanksgiving Day is so crowded for them), we will have a delectable Virginia or Kentucky ham, mashed potatoes, candied yams, green beans and corn, yeast rolls, cranberry sauce (from the can, and I am not ashamed to admit it because I love the stuff and it reminds me of home and childhood, so there — mock me if you must), a fruity salad, pumpkin pie, key lime pie and chocolate pie. Boom.

I find also that there is a built-in tendency to overeat when there’s a turkey on the table…like it’s coded into our DNA that if we see a stuffed bird, we must become one. That temptation is somewhat diminished with the ham butt. Tasty.

Seeing as how it’s all going down on a school day, I thought I would not bake pies this year. Mavis is taking care of the homemade pumpkin pies for everyone, and Edwards is doing the rest. Again: don’t judge. Hamsgiving is for family! Can’t wait to get to it. Mavis and I haven’t had full-contact kitchen exercises in quite awhile.

What are your plans? Anything fun?

10 thoughts on “Thinkin’ about…

  1. Lori

    Big changes in this household in 2012. Since my “adult” children both are out of the house and have significant others, they won’t be making the traditional trek to Grandma’s house this Thursday. The three of us still left at the homestead will be travelling there alone. We’ll all be together here on Saturday for fried turkey and all the “fixin’s.” The good part is that the menu can be changed! At my family feast, one who messes with the same ol’ menu is subject to excommunication from the family. In this branch of the tree, we LOVE variety in our food choices, so that will be fun! And, alas, we will all be at Grandma’s on Christmas Day!

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! We have much to be thankful for, indeed!

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      It’s strange when they finally fly, isn’t it? Sad sometimes, too. :-( But it’s great that you still hang on to some of those traditions, like everyone piling in the car and going to Grandma’s on Christmas Day. I hope my kids will always want to come back home on Christmas Eve (when we do our gift-giving and dinner). I love it when everyone is together!

      Have a great Thanksgiving, Lori — we are blessed for sure!

      Reply
  2. Mavis

    I’m loving Hamsgiving! The menu is fabulous, but the company is the important part. I wish my other two sons could be here with us, though. :-( But, we will wish them a good day, anyway!

    I’m looking forward to our “kitchen love”, Bird! We’re like a well-oiled machine in that galley. It’s going to be wonderful!!!

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      I wish J & J could be here too, Mave. There’d be tons of added laughter! We will get those boys here at the same time one of these days.

      I put it in the Droid to remember to take the hams out of the freezer tomorrow morning before I leave for school. Oh, and the Thriller will go get the yeast rolls too, HA

      Looking forward to knocking another feed outta the park!

      Reply
  3. Skylar

    I get to go home immediately after class on Wednesday morning only to come back Thursday night for our 8am call on Friday’s football game. This break will be a little less relaxing than I would have hoped.

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      Oy … the rigors of being in a large college marching band, Skylar. Kinda icky. But from what I see from your photos on Facebook, you’re having the time of your life! Just three more interrupted Thanksgivings, then you’ll have a lifetime of memories. I’m sure you’re enjoying the heck out of KSU. (But I don’t envy the driving back and forth.)

      Reply
  4. RD

    You have planned a wonderful time and a terrific menu. Ham for thanksgiving works just fine, and the turkeys love it! (It’s in the same vein as the cows saying “Eat Mor Chicken.” ) Last year we had chicken instead of turkey or ham. Whatever the menu, the most important aspect of thanksigivng dinner is family being together. We’ll be having Thanksgiving dinner with a group of ten people, none of whom are physical family and some of whom we don’t know. So, it will be a time to make some new friends. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!!

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      What fun! I’d love to go to a Thanksgiving dinner where I didn’t know anyone! (The Thriller, however, would be less than thrilled.) Knowing you and Bonnie, you’ll make fast friends with everyone around you. Just tell ’em the story about how your old beater car had 600,000 miles on it and you never used the air conditioner once.
      :P

      Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! Hugs from the cold north.

      Reply

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