Hey!! Look Who's Back - Wanna help me with a Thanksgiving project!?

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   TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years ago

   Hi guys!!
   
   I've been hovering in the background (um, Meg...been waiting to hear from you ) How IS everyone!?
   
   Things are good here. My Dad is doing much better, and the freelancing has gone NUTS - more work than I can stand, yay!
   
   Anyway, I was hoping some of you might help me with a blog I'm writing: I'd like to publish a Thanksgiving tips and tricks/recipes blog, but I'd like it to be made up of suggestions from real people (my friends - you guys!). So, for those of you who celebrate it, if you have any tips or tricks up your sleeves that you use to make Thanksgiving go off without a hitch, or if you have some easy, delicious recipes you'd like to share - I'd love to hear/see them. Of course, everyone who's ideas are used will get credit, and I'll make sure everyone who participates knows where the blog is once it's finished.
   
   So what do you say? Anything to share?

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      Stevennix2001posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Welcome back gs, i missed you since you've been gone. how have you been?  im glad to hear your father is doing better these days, and hopefully this is the start of many more positive things to come.
      
      as far as any tips i can give you to make your thanksgiving more special, i can't say i have any at the moment.  however, i'll be sure to get back to you on that shortly then.

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         TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks, Steve! Nice to be back, and good to see you as well! I've been doing pretty well I think - feeling much better these days; thanks for asking. I hope I'm on an upswing as well.
         
         How are things with you? I'm looking forward to your Thanksgiving tips

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            Stevennix2001posted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I've been doing okay.  just been busy with work and school. that's all.  it's good to see you again, as hubpages hasn't been the same without you. 
            
            by the way, here's a link that gives a great recipe on how to make homemade apple pie if your interested for thanksgiving.
            
            http://www.suite101.com/content/homemad … les-a65461
            
            oh and here's some cooking tips from julia childs herself. i hope this helps.
            
            http://www.celebrations.com/article/jul … inner-menu

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      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Love your post looking for TG ideas.
      
      In our family, TG has always been a "potluck" time. Everone who comes to dinner brings something, and there are always wonderful surprises.
      
      For the most part, my mother has hosted this event for our extended family, year after year. She's the one to make the core food...the turkey and stuffing, her infamous potato salad, cranberry relish, and fried mushrooms. Desserts, salads, and dishes like lasagna and crabcakes and pierogies come along with the guests.
      
      But times change, to the point where this TG, Mom is catering out the core foods, inviting everyone to come along with their potluck dishes if they like.
      
      I think Thanksgiving is the time for giving thanks, no matter what form the thanks takes. It's all about people celebrating their lives together.
      
      As for tips and tricks?  The holiday foods are great, and important, but what's most important is being together. No matter how that comes to be. Chinese takeout or pizza delivery would be fine. Just so long as all are sitting together at the table and giving thanks.

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         TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Hi Sally! Thanks so much for sharing your family's TG traditions. I couldn't agree with you more - it doesn't matter what kind of trimmings there are - the important thing is to be together and give thanks. I'll definitely make sure to get that across in my blog
         
         Hey - care to share your recipe for cranberry relish - and perogies? I could REALLY use 'em

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            Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks for your question about the cranberry relish and pierogies...there's a story to both of them. I'll have to get back to you on that, after consultation with Mom and my Aunt Marian.

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               TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Awesome, Sally - I'm looking forward to it. Hope the idea gets family approval - I'd be happy to give them credit as well
               
               @ Steve: Awww, you're a sweetheart. Thanks so much for the research, it will certainly help me personally this Thanksgiving - unfortunately, I won't be able to use it for the blog - I'm going for a "people's perspective" on the holiday.

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      Granny's Houseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      How to make Lump Free Gravy
      We all know nothing is worse then lumpy gravy. We need gravy, we want gravy! Mashed potatoes and turkey gravy. YEAAAAA!
      
      http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Make-Lump-Free-Gravey

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         TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Hey thanks! Just in time for the third installment too!! This'll be VERY helpful! :-)

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   Susana Sposted 13 years ago

   I made a really nice pumpkin & lentil soup yesterday and could write down the recipe for you if you like?

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      TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Susana,
      
      That would be great, as long as you don't mind having it published. Feel free to either write it here, or send it to ncmonroe1981@yahoo.com (that goes for everyone - you can either post here, or send what you want to that email)
      
      Thanks for the yummy-sounding recipe!

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   readytoescapeposted 13 years ago

   Nice to see you back, glad to hear all is well.
   
   I’m kind of ho hum on a Thanksgiving hub, being as there will undoubtedly be a blue million of them published in the next few days, though yours I would read.
   
   I would however be quite interested in reading about your free-lancing adventures and your means to success.
   
   Welcome back

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      TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hey Ready! Thanks for the warm welcome :-) I have actually gotten on as a blog-writer with one of my clients' companies (it's a home decor/gardening/furniture blog...hmmm...I was going to post the link to it, but can't) Check out Max Furniture's website, and at the bottom you can see the link to their blog. I'm just getting the hang of it; I'm hoping they'll get better. The Thanksgiving article will be for them, but I'd like it to reflect the suggestions and ideas of real people (not the editors of Better Homes and Gardens, you know?)
      
      In the meantime, I've become the manager of business development/social media for another one of my clients (the gift basket company, if you remember)- I'm working on all their PRs, social media campaigns, Christmas (and beyond) advertising, helping with their blog, etc. Learning all about the wonderful world of "Inbound Marketing" such as it is today.
      
      It's exciting, and I even have my first business trip (paid for by the company! woot) coming up this weekend for strategy planning and training. I'm very excited - never been to Boston!
      
      How are things with you??

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         readytoescapeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Things here are pretty good, given the crappy economy here in FLA, but the weather is perfect, the beer is cold, and the scotch bottles are full.
         
         Spent Halloween scaring the you-know-what out of the neighborhood kids. (See the Hub)
         
         I finished the final rewrite of my novel and I am working on a home improvement “how to” book, while helping by son get his Marine Repair business started.
         
         Also my other son just returned from a deployment in the middle east yesterday, so we now have both our miltary boys home for a while.

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            TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I am SO glad to hear about your boys being home!!! Thank them for their service for me. I have recently been in Sarasota (that's where my school is) I always hate to leave, but my other friends there also complain about the economy.
            
            I haven't checked out your Hub yet, but it's on my list of Fun Things - which I stick to as diligently these days as my To Do list (which is, of necessity, quite diligently) - at any rate, I will read it soon. I should have gotten in touch with you about the Halloween blog. LOL
            
            Congratulations on the novel rewrite and how-to book! You are just all kinds of busy, and I'm really happy to hear it. When do we get to see the novel!!! *very excited*
            
            So great to catch up with you! Are you sure you don't have any Thanksgiving advice at all? ;-) Take care!

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   DoorMattnomoreposted 13 years ago

   Ive been wondering where you went and how things are. I'm really glad to hear things are looking up for you!! Ill look thru  my recipes for something easy and useful. Good to see you GS. 

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      TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks! I can't promise I'll get to hang out as much as I used to, but I'm hoping to be able to at least pop in here and there. I can't wait to see what delicious recipe you find for us! Yay!

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   katiem2posted 13 years ago

   So good to hear from you glassSpider

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      TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hey thanks!! It's good to be heard! How are you? Any Thanksgiving tips or treats?

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         katiem2posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I love pie and feel pie is a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving.  This year my sister is hosting thanks giving, she lives in the south and is having a tradiional cook out with bar b q and all the trimmings.
         
         We've never done this before, but everyone is in agreement.  I'll miss the stuffing and cranberries.

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            TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I love pie too! Pie is definitely a critical piece of the holiday for me. But I am intrigued by this Southern BBQ Thanksgiving idea - what's on the menu (other than BBQ, of course)? I might miss the cranberry sauce and stuffing as well - maybe you can come up with creative ways to work them in?

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               katiem2posted 13 years agoin reply to this

               potatoe salad
               mashed potatoes
               pasta salad
               macaroni salad
               baked beans
               slaw
               salad
               green beans, with bacon and onions
               veggies and dip
               potatoe chips
               sweet corn bread
               pie, I'm bringing lots of pie...
               
               on and on and lots of sweet iced tea!
               
               Note: I drink unsweetened iced tea so there will be plenty of that as well.

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                  TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  *salivates....faints....wakes up, shakes it off*
                  
                  Whoa...that's a helluva spread you've got there. Yes, tons of iced tea will certainly be necessary. In my family we'd have said we'd need wheelbarrows to cart each other around in. What's going over the coals? Are we talking pulled pork BBQ or steak and burgers and such...or, given the rest of the menu - all of the above. Sounds like an awesome shindig. I strongly recommend the inclusion of cranberry sauce - it goes with everything. ;-)

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                     katiem2posted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     lol I will def include the cranberries as your right it does go well with everything.
                     
                     There will be ribs both pork and beef
                     Pulled pork and ribs
                     burgers, hot dogs and brats
                     and all cooked on a smoker with cherry and apple wood
                     
                     Now I'm getting hungry...

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                        TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        You're not the only one!! I think it sounds like a great idea, and I really hope you and your family enjoy it - and thanks for sharing

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   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   Welcome Back GS!
   
   I'm glad things are moving along for you in a positive way.
   
   Sorry, I have no tips to contribute to your blog, but wanted to stop by anyways.

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      TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hey Cags! Thanks for the welcome No need to apologize - welcomes are just as welcome as suggestions! Glad to see you and hope you're well.

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         Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I am doing well. Thank you. It's a pleasure to see you back.

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   DoorMattnomoreposted 13 years ago

   http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Sall … tter-Bread
   
   cant give me credit, its not my recipe. But I make this every year, and its super easy...bread that you dont have to knead, just mix it up and stir it and bake it. And the honey butter..yum!!! Everyone loves it and thinks I am way awesome. (well...kind of. They wont get to eat any of it this year.)I got a great recipe for sweet potatoe casserole somewhere I want to give you too. its another "make a day ahead" thing...very easy, inexpensive, and makes everyone think your a chef. I try to make as much ahead as I can.

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      TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hey! I don't know how I did it, but I missed this post originally - thank you SO much for sharing, it sounds delicious and easy. Think I'll try it out

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   TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years ago

   Awww I was looking forward to seeing more ideas when I came on today - where's Meg, Crazd...LeanMan?? A ton of others??

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      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hey GS,
      
      When you were here before there were more people in the forums, roughly about 200 people then, but now there are less than 50 people here daily.
      
      Crazd, left Hubpages, but is on Facebook.
      LeanMan is still here.
      Meg? I'm not sure which one you're talking about but both that I know of, do come to the forums on occasion.
      
      There are some others that you will be missing too, because they no longer come to the forums. And, some of the more intelligent ones are one bans.

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         TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Oh wow - lots of changes! Thanks for the update, Cags
         
         @Sufi - Thanks for the welcome! I'm glad to be back and happy to see you as well. Reveling in all the work How are things on your end?

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   skyfireposted 13 years ago

   Good to see you back 

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      TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hey skyfire. Thanks! I'm glad to be back. I hope things are well with you

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    donotfearposted 13 years ago

    Hey, Spidey!!!! How you been doing! Good to hear from you again. I havent' been very active on the forums lately, but hope to see you around more.  Welcome back!

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    Sufidreamerposted 13 years ago

    Hi GlassSpider - Good to see you back
    
    Glad that the freelance writing is taking off - you put so much work into making that happen and now you can reap the rewards

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    TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years ago

    Hmmm....Anyone else with any Thanksgiving goodness to add?

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    Shadesbreathposted 13 years ago

    Welcome back, stranger.  One more voice of reason added back into the forum mix again.

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       TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Hey Shades!! Great to see you!
       
       Where's a voice of reason? Actually - I think I'm cured of the forums after my hiatus. LOL Or else of my reason. Stay tuned and we'll find out which it is.

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    TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years ago

    No one else thinking about Thanksgiving entertaining yet? No cool ideas to share?

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    RedElfposted 13 years ago

    Welcome back, GS. So pleased you're doing well.
    
    The Thanksgivings I remember most fondly were kid-filled, food-filled family outings. Always some pot luck (like Sally's Trove), and always tons of food.
    
    One thing I always appreciated was that our Mom always kept a selection of our old, and some new, toys on hands for the kids...and there was always some cool younger auntie or uncle who would take the kids in hand, and keep the games rolling until it was time to eat.
    
    That would be my tip - games, kids' activities, and someone to "help out" with them. Even in this day of cell phones, texting, and portable personal games, kids still enjoy board games, or a Wii tournament, and interacting with other kids and grown-ups.

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       TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks for the welcome, RedElf - I'm really glad to BE back and still afloat in the work world
       
       And thank you for the great tip!! I had never even thought of it, but you're SO right - there should definitely be some family fun and a bunch of things to keep the young ones occupied.
       
       I really appreciate you sharing that. And I hope your Thanksgiving this year is full of fun, fine food, and tons of family!

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    Ben Evansposted 13 years ago

    Nice to see you pop in spider.  It has been awhile.
    
    I would write about the spirit of thanksgiving in the scope of our families and freinds.
    
    I think thanksgiving more than any other holiday brings people and a good spirit out.  Thanksgiving is for the most part a secular holiday.  I am not wanting to tie this to or away from religion .............It is just a tradition that everyone can participate.
    
    I think more than any one thing people can relax during thanks giving.  It is not as stressful as Christmas and everyone can help prepare a nice feast.
    
    I just think it is a holiday without any needs or wants.  You bring yourself or invite others to share and you enjoy the time spent and relax.
    
    Okay for a dish.
    
    I like cucumbers sliced and put into vinegar.
    Put a little olive oil and this is about a tea spoon to half a cup of vinegar.
    
    Slice onions and save a few so you can garnish the top. 
    
    Cut some ripe tomatos about 1 tomato to cucumber (save a few slices to garnish the top).
    
    Other vegis that go well in the dish.....
    1) Cabbage
    2) Hot peppers
    3) Thinly sliced carrots
    4) Cilantro
    5) Apple slices
    
    Choose what you want to add.
    
    In the vinegar add the sliced vegitables add 2 table spoons of sugar (brown sugar is my fav)  I also like to add something spicy to give it a kick.  Also spices like basil go well in this.
    
    I mix everything together the night before and let it sit in the refrigerator.
    
    I put thinly sliced tomatos and onions on top and put a little black pepper and some paprika to give it color.
    
    Simple but something I like.

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       TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Ben! Thank you so much for sharing! My mouth is watering - I'm going to try your recipe this year - it looks like it has a ton of great variations and allows for one to be creative. I love that in a recipe.
       
       I couldn't agree with you more. While I enjoy Christmas, I can't help but really love Thanksgiving. I feel like everyone can find something to be thankful for, and I love getting together with friends and family to share each other's company (and a great meal ) without having to worry about a ton of decorations and gifts. I remember being a kid and helping my Mom and Dad cook and prepare things for days before, and then the rest of the family would all show up with dishes they had prepared. We'd all laugh together and stuff ourselves, and just be happy. Great holiday - great memories.
       
       thank you again so much for sharing....this might end up becoming a two part blog if people keep contributing like this - which I would LOVE.

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    RedElfposted 13 years ago

    Thanks so much, GS - right back atcha !!

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    mythbusterposted 13 years ago

    Nice to see u back, TGS! (I just welcomed a spider back? arachnophobe here lol)
    
    I was excited to seeya back so I went directly to post. Now I have to go back and read the thread properly lol
    
    *waves*
    
    back soon...

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       TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Awww *hugs* Great to see you too, mythbuster! Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm going to do my best to stick around for awhile this time

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    TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years ago

    Finally getting around to writing this blog - any last minute suggestions are appreciated, and BIG thanks to all the Hubbers who left comments here or took the time to write to me! :-)

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