It's the eve before Thanksgiving and my to-do list hangs on the fridge. There are lots of cross offs and some still left. It’s 10:42pm and I am done for the day. The rest will have to wait for tomorrow.
Being from a typical Italian family, my mother has always hosted every holiday, from New Year’s Day through Christmas. Lots of tradition and to say lots of food is involved is an understatement. David is an only and his parents also live in Connecticut, so they join us as well. We are fortunate that our girls see both grandparents for every holiday.
A few years ago, we began hosting Thanksgiving. I wanted to give my parents a break from all the hosting duties, and to be honest, with two small children, it was so much easier to stay home and everyone come over, then to pack the car, bring extra changes of clothes, diapers etc. And forget the nap schedule that went right out the window.
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As the years go by it’s become one of my favorite holidays. Steeped in tradition, Thanksgiving, is so much more than the eight hours of eating. It’s not just a day we give thanks. Yes, of course we do that like every other American family, but it’s become a lovely way to merge some of my and David’s family traditions with new ones we create each year.
Growing up, my Grandma D (dad’s mom) was the mashed potato queen. Lumpy and buttery her mashed were the best. (And I’m not even a mashed fan.) My cousins and I would wait until the grown ups left the room and then go to town. Rumor has it there has been more than one mashed food fight. I take the fifth.
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My Nonna (mom’s mom) brought the lasagna. Thanksgiving was not complete without her lasagna. I mean really what Thanksgiving is not complete without lasagna? By the time the Turkey course was served, we were so stuffed the poor turkey would just sit there. Lonely turkey.
Now that we host, we have kept many of our holiday traditions and created some new ones. We have done away with the primo piatto (literally translated means first dish), and have instead begun with the antipasti course, and go right into the turkey and sides. (Crazy, I know.) Much of the preparation is the same. And thank God my husband likes to make “la spesa” (shopping). He and my dad have started a tradition of going to buy the antipasti early in the day at a local Italian market in Hartford. It’s my husband’s favorite part of the day I’m sure… marinated mushrooms, mixed olives, lupini beans, roasted peppers, artichoke hearts and tonino (tuna in olive oil)… they sit in our porch waiting to be served tomorrow.
My mom's sausage stuffing is a favorite, and I continue to use my grandmother's mashed potato recipe. (Complete with lumps.) One of the girls favorite new traditions is the children’s talent show we put on after the turkey and before the desserts. It’s become so fun, and truly one of the highlights of the day. They think about this all year long and begin working on a program in October. It begins with the reading of the First Thanksgiving play, complete with Pilgrims, Native Americans and a turkey. Then each child dances, sings or somersaults across the rug to loud cheering from us adults. My oldest has been looking forward to playing one of her piano pieces, while my little one is ready to dress her cousins up for the show. It's adorable and so fun to watch the kids.
I truly love celebrating this very special day when we give thanks for all we have, and celebrate our traditions. Old and new…
