A "Jenkins" Thanksgiving

A Northern Thanksgiving Menu

 

 

Turkey

STUFFING

 (made from bread cubes)

Corn

Green Beans

Sweet Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Rolls

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Jelly

Pumpkin Pie

Apple Pie

Cheesecake

 

 

A Southern Thanksgiving Menu

 

Turkey

Ham (served cold)

Dressing

(Made from cornbread)

Corn Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

 Sweet Potato Casserole

Rolls

Cranberry Jelly

Deviled Eggs

7-layer Salad

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Pie

Cheesecake

 

As you can see, there are only 5 items that are the same between a Northern and Southern Thanksgiving menu.  The vegetables may all be similar, but the South likes to casserole everything.  Granted, the menu can change from family to family, but this is my family's menus- the north vs. the south.

 

I am not a huge fan of "southern" thanksgiving.  Casseroles just aren't really my thing.   My Mr. enjoyed our "northern" thanksgiving, but he prefers Has Casseroles.  The only reason we will be having Mashed Potatoes at our "southern" thanksgiving is because I am bringing them.  Thanksgiving isn't Thanksgiving to me with our some light & fluffy Mashed potatoes.  

 

I had never had Pecan Pie (pronounced Pa-con if you are a southerner, and PEE-CAN if you are a northerner) until I had moved down here.  Now this is ONE thing that the South does right on Thanksgiving. 

 

This Thanksgiving my WHOLE immediate family was together for the first time since 2003 (the best I can figure).  One of my sisters moved to Florida in 2004, so I figure that last thanksgiving we had all together was in 2003.  Now, 3 weddings and 2 little ones later, we grew from a family of 5 to a family of 10.  

 

It was Sawyer's first Thanksgiving, and He really enjoyed the little bits of food that we was given!  I am pretty sure that his favorite was the Homemade Candy Cane Ice cream that my Dad gave him! 

 

My "Norton" side is waiting until Saturday for their Thanksgiving.  My in-laws were gracious enough to hold off on Thanksgiving dinner so that I could spend as much time with my family as possible. 

 

The biggest feat for my family is yet to come later this afternoon.  Family pictures!  Before this year my family was spread across 3 different states.  My Parents were up in NY, me and my eldest sister were here in MS, and my middle sister is in Florida.  Needless to say, it has been difficult to get us all together in the SAME place long enough to get a family picture done.  That last picture we had done was at my wedding, which doesn't really count since I was the only one in a fluffy white dress.  In fact, I think the only family pictures that we have gotten over the past 10 years is at each wedding!