While I am notorious for saying everything is my favorite – my family relentlessly makes fun of me for this – Thanksgiving is our favorite family holiday. That’s because it’s about giving thanks for two other favorite things: family and food. Here are some favorite family traditions, old and new, that make the day special.
Dumplings. If I had to choose one symbol to represent the Hayden Family Thanksgiving, it would be the dumpling. This tradition continues from my Great Grandma Emily, whose parents were immigrants from Germany. It’s a simple food, really, but it’s a family signature dish that ties the years and generations together. Even after my daughter was born, I measured the ingredients in front of her and talked to her about how to mix it just right. Every year, there is a photograph of all the women standing around the stove with spoons dropping the carefully-crafted dough into the boiling homemade chicken broth. It’s a total labor of love. The photographs I have start with my great grandmother, grandma and mother around the stove. As the years pass, those included in the photographs change bringing sorrow for those lost and joy for those added. No matter what, every time we gather around that stove, it’s like everyone is there. While this traditional photograph on Thanksgiving, does seem to center around the women of the family, which could seem a little sexist, I will tell you that my brother, Denny, makes amazing dumplings.
Apple Crumb Pie. This is another signature family dish. My maternal grandmother was really the one that started the food-loving culture in my family. The apple crumb pie is one of those special recipes she created that no one can perfectly recreate but we sure love to try. The crust and crumbs are made from scratch. The apples must be cut in a certain technique. If you are lucky enough to be brought into the traditional process, you cannot try to change or improve it as my husband, Tony, learned early on. Mechanical apple peeler, are you kidding? The crumb recipe must always be doubled. Some of the newcomers to the family have questioned why we would double the crumbs but only use 1-1/2 recipes on the pie? “You’ll see,” we say, as the remains of the butter sugar mixture get passed around after the pie is in the oven.
Our Thanksgiving is on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. When the first of us left the nest, my mother was inspired to move our Hayden family Thanksgiving to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. That way, nobody had to split the day or eat double dinners. Although, I realize now a huge benefit is having an extra day or two to prepare and cook. It’s worked out really well. Now, we have a more relaxed family Thanksgiving that everyone enjoys. On Thursday, while all the kids are with their in-laws, my parents eat spaghetti and chocolate cake. There’s a lot of tradition on those recipes, as well, but that’s another story.
Swap Out the Turkey. Because everyone usually has turkey on Thursday at the other side of the family, we have recently been making all our traditional family sides and swapping out the turkey for a different protein. Last year, we did carry-out King Edward’s fried chicken, which everyone loved and was such a breeze. This year, we are making pork roast. Another fun fact, my dad is always the one who cooks the meat.
Family Photograph. We are not a family that has ever really taken a lot of formal family photographs. However, the first thing we do when everyone arrives for Thanksgiving dinner is take our annual family photograph that will be used for my parents’ holiday card. Usually a little disastrous, we always end up with something to send out, even if a certain child decides to hold one of those huge, bubble-blowing toy lawn mowers. That has been a favorite card that my parents’ friends still talk about.
One Disaster. Without a doubt, every year. To me, these are the most precious and memorable moments. From a too-big turkey with a new Martha Stewart recipe that left our bird and house a little “smoked” to curdled cream in mashed potatoes to precious dumplings in dish smashing to the floor, it just wouldn’t be a Hayden family Thanksgiving without one. To paraphrase Christmas Vacation, another family favorite, if you know our family, you’ll think nothing of it.
Best wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving and bountiful blessings from our family to yours!
