Grayson's First Thanksgiving

I would argue that Thanksgiving is Ryan's favorite holiday. For most people who host a semi-large family Thanksgiving, I bet it doesn't top the list. Ryan, though, loves to cook. He could spend all day in the kitchen. Guess what? I don't mind. His food is all homemade and all amazing! This year we had Pioneer Herb Roasted Turkey with Sage Gravy, Southern Cornbread Stuffing, Bourbon Vanilla Cranberry Sauce, Sweet Potato Gratin, French Cut Green Bean Casserole, Homemade Honey Wheat Rolls (yes from scratch!), Classic Pumpkin Pie, and Apple Granola Pie with Homemade Bourbon Ice Cream.

For my part of helping with Thanksgiving, I always make cute place cards, a homemade wreath, handmade menus, and a signature cocktail. This year's cocktail was a Chilled Harvest Cider Punch. It was amazing. I will share the recipe in another post because you have to run the store and get the ingredients to make this. It was that good! I made turkey place cards and a turkey wreath this year. I went kinda cartoonish/kidlike to celebrate Grayson's first Thanksgiving.

Here are some pictures of the man of the hour, Grayson, and some of our family.

Grayson and Nana Jane

Grayson and Aunt Nee Nee

Pop showing off Grayson to Great Grandpa CW

It was a wonderful first Thanksgiving for our family and although it was a long day, we truly enjoyed having everyone over to our home and cooking for them.

Thanksgiving 2012

This year, Ryan and I hosted our first Thanksgiving Dinner for our families. Everyone who lives in town was able to come. My parents were there as were Ryan's grandpa and Pat, his sister Laurel, my Aunt Mare and soon-to-be Uncle Bob and my grandpa. Ten in total! Quite an undertaking considering we make everything, and I do mean everything from scratch. Mom and Mare brought appetizers and Laurel brought a pumpkin pie, but Ryan and I made everything else. The menu included:

Pioneer Herb-Roasted Turkey with a Sage Gravy

Southern Style Cornbread Stuffing

Orange and Ginger Scented Cranberry Sauce

Sweet Potato Puff

French Cut Green Bean Casserole

Homemade Honey Wheat Rolls

 

Pumpkin Pie

Vanilla Cheesecake Pecan Pie

Pear and Sparkling Cider Cocktails

It was wondeful to have everyone join us in our new home. I see many more family Thanksgivings to be hosted in the Alexander house!

Thankful

Thanksgiving was pretty darn amazing this year. Ryan started off the day running the Turkey Trot while I headed over to Mom and Dad's.  Once I picked him up at the DART station, it was just us and my Mom and Dad for a little while, which was nice. After about an hour Laurel, Ryan's sister, showed up with her boyfriend, also conveniently named Ryan. It was a real fun day with my husband Ryan, Laurel's boyfriend Ryan and my dad Brian. Whew!

We sat, talked and noshed on our Graves family tradition appetizer lunch. After a couple of hours, my Aunt Mare and her boyfriend Bob came over. So, for an hour or so, it was quite the full house with eight of us. Although I wish they could have all stayed for dinner, Laurel and boyfriend Ryan headed off to her cousin's house and Bob left to visit with his daughter. That left me, Ryan, Mom, Dad and Mare to share a wonderful Thanksgiving meal together.

Almost Turkey Time

So, it's almost Thanksgiving and, although I'm not a big Turkey Day person, it's always great to spend time with family. Thanksgiving isn't really my thing because I am not a big turkey person. Although my husband makes the best turkey I've ever tasted, I really don't like the bird or it's counterpart, gravy.

Anyway, this year we are headed to my parent's house where Ryan will cook all day, filling the house with wonderful, calorie-free smells. We are responsible for the turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans and pumpkin pie. My mom is making sweet potatoes and a pistachio salad. She is also making things to nosh on throughout the day and during the Cowboys game. Of course we will also be watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, one of my favorites, as soon as Ryan gets to the house after he and some friends run the 2011 Turkey Trot in Downtown Dallas.

It's shapping up to be fun holiday. Pictures to follow!