Thanksgiving Detail

This year my daughter decided she would like to learn the ancient family secret of how to make a turkey. This has been passed on from generation to generation. My Great Grandmother taught my Father who taught me. I was very excited when she said she wanted to learn--she's never been interested in cooking and I don't believe in forcing the issue. I feel like making kids do something they don't want to do develops a life long "haveta" instead of a "wanna". Sort of like church. If you present them with the opportunity, eventually they want to go but if you force them, they see it as drudgery instead of a blessing. My opinion only, will have to wait and see if it was correct :)

When I was growing up, making the turkey was not an option. I am a girl, duh. Girls have to make the turkey. Even though my dad was the one teaching me, the assistants were girls-- my mom and I. My brothers got to lay on the couch watching the parade. Duh. They're boys. It turned out okay though, I really like to make a turkey. I rebelled against it for awhile but later found those memories to be some of my favorite ones. (hmmm, church parallel? nah.)

My family is from the South. The food is to die for. Literally. Real Butter. Everywhere. My Dad was a Marine. Everything is done systematically. You may not leave anything out and it has to be done in exactly the same order each time. Making egg nog is a 3 hour process. One day my Dad decided that if he died, no one would ever have proper egg nog again. So I had to learn. And Learn. I would try and hide. But no. Wait, I digress....turkey....

Rhia did really well. Everything was perfect. Course she had a much calmer teacher than I. And don't tell my dad but I refrigerated the onions to cut the smell down for her. So it was easier to stir without tears rolling down your face. She stuffed the turkey (wouldn't put her hands in though), made the cole slaw and learned how to make gravy my mom's way. Shhhh, my mom and I cheat-- who really has time to make a roux? Dad would freak out though....sort of like if he found out we put A-1 on steak. Yikes!

She posted a bulletin on her Facebook "I am learning to make the best turkey in the whole world--Lewis turkey!"

Her Grandpa would be very proud. I was very proud. I'm sure my Great Grandmother was smiling down on us, glad that her legacies were living on. She was an amazing woman.

Oh, I almost forgot! I got to see the Thanksgiving parades for the first time. Rhia made us record it on the DVR and then we watched it together.

My brothers missed out. Those parades are stupid. And what's with this High School Musical thing? Ugh. What a bunch of sap. I'll choose the turkey cooking anyday--I'd even rather make the 3 hour egg nog.....ooops, I digress again.

Hope your day was as beautiful as ours.