Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

On the eve of Thanksgiving

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1. Thanksgiving, like the fourth of July, and Halloween are not a French thing.
2. Sacha is sad.
3. Thanksgiving without a turkey is like Christmas without a Charley Brown Christmas tree, or Halloween without a pumpkin.
3 and a half. We are vegetarians. French Husband and I have been none meat eaters for over 30 years, and Sacha and Chelsea since birth. Therefore this Thanksgiving like the other Thanksgivings we have shared  leaves the turkey alive and well… and it ain't the same thing without a turkey, even I know that.
4. So I said to Sacha, how do you want to celebrate Thanksgiving?
5. Thursday is not a holiday and Friday is not black.
6. Sacha responded, "I think I need to live in Willows (my hometown) for a full year… I miss not having what I don't know… Halloween, Thanksgiving, Proms, American High school…
7. Feeling sorry for him I said, "Maybe I should buy a turkey?"
8. SACHA yells… "YES!" I screamed, "Are you gonna eat it?" He says, "Yes."
9. French Husband runs downstairs, nearly tripping and killing himself, "What!! You are going to buy a turkey? A live turkey?"
10. Sacha and I respond with a unanimous, "Dead."
11. French Husband is French and a vegetarian he puts his foot down, "No dead turkeys are allowed in our house."
12. I guess we will have tofu, or something.
13. Thanksgiving nevertheless is for giving Thanks with or without a turkey.. I do believe that too.
14. Sacha frowns. He needs to express his American DNA… so do I… tofu style?
15. I wonder if I cooked a dead turkey and called it tofu if French Husband would notice?

I don't know why I numbered those sentences… but I did. What do you do to celebrate Thanksgiving? Do not mention Turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing or pumpkin pie… please.

Comments

79 responses to “On the eve of Thanksgiving”

  1. maria

    Please tell Sasha not to worry, have your Thanksgiving without Mr. Tom –in my house the bird is pretty much just the excuse to put all the carbohydrates around on one’s plate: mashed potatoes, corn pudding, green beans with real fried onions, stuffed mushrooms, cornbread chestnut stuffing, roasted carrots and parsnips, and cranberry sauce. Get all that on your plate and you won’t have room for the turkey. Of course what do my truly American children LOVE best?? The Pillsbury crescent rolls—you know, the pretend French croissant that comes in the refrigerated tube with a 3 month shelf life!!

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  2. Gracie

    We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Italy of course, but in the give-thanks spirit we already had our dinner with friends last saturday (a bit earlier, but if it’s the occasion for thanking, why fix a precise moment?). Go to my blog to see what we did.
    And tofu is ok with me if you eat it with the right attitude……

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  3. TACE

    I have two Thanksgivings, Canadian and American. We had Mexican food for the wee little Canadian Thanksgiving we celebrated. I don’t think a holiday is necessarily always the specific food. It’s the celebration, splurging on yummies, indulging. I think it’s the indulging not the *bird that shall not be named* that makes the holiday so holiday-ish. One year my Mother made lasagna for our holiday meal. I thought that was sooooo cool. But I can understand the urge to be a part of a holiday it feels like you’re missing. But, from what you’ve shared about your family, the way you all love each other and are there for each other….he’s missing nothing on Thanksgiving even if all you eat is a bowl of cereal.
    p.s. your list was a hoot and a half to read, real and funny.

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  4. Katy

    No pumpkin pie, but my mother made the best pecan pie ever.

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  5. Massilianana

    I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving , like you say , it’s not a French thing . Still , ever since I suscribed to Martha Stewart Living magazine , I feel like Sacha : I wish to experiment all these celebrations in situ at least once , not only because the food looks fabulous but also because the spirit around all those preparations is so delightfully american , so special so…exotic , in a way !Have a nice tofu !

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  6. rel

    Corey,
    You could rent or borrow a live turkey and let him run around out back while you eat you tofu.
    Then you can all say that you had a turkey for dinner. 😉
    rel

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  7. becky up the hill

    I’m sorry Cory, but my Thanksgiving memory does involve meat! Growing up in East Biggs, our traditional Thanksgiving breakfast was fried pheasant with biscuits and pheasant gravy. There were always cold fresh mandarins from the tree too. After I married and moved away, my folks made sure I had a pheasant for Thanksgiving. They are both gone now and no pheasants are coming for breakfast tomorrow ;o(!

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  8. Sally Chapman

    This is SO funny. I can just visualize Sacha and then French Husband running and screaming about a turkey. I do think that it would be a great Thanksgiving were you and Sacha to get a LIVE Turkey and have him as a guest for the day with French Husband.
    Have a wonderful Day.

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  9. Sue K

    My 33 year old son and his wife arrived after a 10 hour drive last night (in snow and rain). We always have Thanksgiving together, and for him it is tradition. I’m not allowed to change one thing on the menu! It’s the comfort of being together, having a couple special things to eat that we only have on holidays, the chance to reminisce. I’ve found that all three of my children, even though they are now adults, thrive on tradition. Since DH is a step-father, and now we’ve added a DIL, we have had to add items to the menu that are part of their must-have tradition – a special potato dish, and a certain pie. I would rather be together on Thanksgiving than Christmas – I feel cozy just thinking about the chance to cook and serve and nourish my family.

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  10. Miss Sandy

    Our Thanksgiving celebration can be summed up in two words, Family & Gratitude. You don’t really need all the trimmings if you have the core of the celebration, a grateful heart and family gathered around you!

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  11. Marie-Noëlle

    Being French, and living in France, I do not celebrate “Thanksgiving”. Still, I’ll be pleased to read about it here.
    NOW, what is “tofu”, please ???

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  12. Darla

    We are headed to the mts today. Although we aren’t vegetarians, this year we will have a vegetarian Thanksgiving. We are invited to a friends farm for a potluck. I’m taking a favorite recipe, Italian Torta Rustica. Its the friends and/or family that make the celebration.
    Darla

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  13. Julie Loeschke

    You kill me! May I mention rhutabagas?I think that we are the only family in Dillon who actually eats them. I seem to clean out the entire supply at our local Safeway grocery. They are great mashed with butter. We have much to be thankful for this year,especially just being together.Have a blessed day! Warmly, Julie

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  14. Susan

    I can’t imagine living a life without meat, but I certainly respect your ability to do so. Like Sasha, I want to live in France for a year to experience everything there is; the holidays, the food, the wine, the people, did I mention the food? It is a possiblity for Sasha since he has family in California. Live life to the fullest. Susan

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  15. Catalina

    hilarious!
    I was vegetarian for a year and a half and I tell you was very difficult socially…nowadays people is more understanding and they don’t feel hurt if you don’t eat meat
    I agree that thanksgiving (or Christmas or whatever special holyday) is not the same without the special food associated with it. But you still have the meaning and love that comes with 🙂
    Tofu?????!!! NO! heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp! (I don’t like it….sorry) Tofu will never enter my house….I could have only cramberrie sauce 🙂 Love it!
    Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

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  16. Karin

    Thanksgiving at our house means that the rooms are filled with family. We start our day with a breakfast fit for a king- fried dough, with butter and maple syrup (or molasses if you like), crispy bacon, sausage and a huge bowl of fruit, to counteract the effects of the rest of the feast. We call it the “Heap Big Thanksgiving Breakfast Bash”, and it does live up to its name!!
    Craft supplies come out of the art room, football games are viewed on the TV and the men and women separate to enjoy their favorite pastimes. I think that the women fare better because we can sit and relax as we create and the men just become more stressed!
    Then a meal follows later in the evening, that includes the unmentionables, but also corn pudding, green bean casserole, maple-glazed carrots, fluffy mashed potatoes and scallop casserole.
    Desserts wait for much later- apple pie, chocolate cream pie, Indian pudding (my favoirte). Mmmmm.
    Now, I must go start cooking, or we will have none of that tomorrow!!

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  17. Amy {berriehead}

    We celebrate in a very traditional American way…I’ve got tom turkey in the sink (all 23lbs of him) in the sink thawing out as I type…he has a date with the oven tomorrow promptly at 9:30 a.m. we’ll have mashed potatoes stuffing fresh rolls lots of gravy vegetables a salad, cranberries some fluffy sweet deserts…pies apple and pumpkin & pecan… I’m making a batch of pumpkin cookies this morning;) Give thanks no matter what you’re eating! Happy Thanksgiving to all:)

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  18. Dee

    After eating all “the unmentionables” we play games…some take a nap…some watch the football games. Later in the evening…it’s time for the “unmentionable sandwich”! …and more pie! Oh…did I mention the cranberry sauce I make?…with Grand Marnier?…after eating that the rest of the day just breezes by! 🙂

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  19. beachy

    Just being at the same table with family. What goes into our bellies is just to refuel us from all the laughing we usually do together that day!
    Lots of Love to you and your family this Thanksgiving, Corey!

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  20. Billie

    My husband and I drove from Florida to N. Carolina to visit my eldest son, his wife and two of the most adorable children on the planet!! Smoked (dead)turkey, ham, sweet potatoes…several pies… the norm! The kids and I have many projects planned… burp contests, making homemade marshmallows…how many hershey’s kisses can you add to your hot chocolate?? Hope your Thanksgiving is a really happy one! It’s not about the turkey, Sacha!

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  21. ceylon sapphire

    Im laughing over this line…
    French Husband is French and a vegetarian he puts his foot down, “No dead turkeys are allowed in our house.”
    If its really is an “OUR” house… surely everyone gets a vote and a dead turkey can come in if there are more votes for than against…?
    Or am I being too much of an Australian stirring the poop? One can never tell with me! 🙂

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  22. missy

    Mom has 11 grandkids.When they were all little Thanksgiving consisted of women cooking,babies,cleaning as men stuffed and
    lazed watching football. So we started tradition of picking a theme,dressing up,and
    having a ‘shotgun wedding’ picture which always leads to laughing,music,and dancing.
    (shotgun wedding= hurry up wedding for expectant bride,reluctant groom and Father with shotgun). We have done ‘Charles Dickens’,Gay 90’s,Pilgrims,Roaring Twenties,
    Lord of the Rings (my fav!!). The kids are
    grown now and love it so much they come in
    costume rather than dress after we eat.
    Makes for some amazing pictures at the table!!
    Blessings on you and yours for Thanksgiving.
    Love,MIssy from the bayou

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  23. Linda@Lime in the Coconut

    So funny. Yep, I say cook the ole’ bird anyway. Tell French husband it is tofurkey.
    we usually take a long walk on the beach as the turkey cooks, then we eat outside as the sunsets…Grateful for it all!

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  24. Melissa’s Cozy Teacup

    Well, I guess if you ever do come to my house for dinner, no steak for you! lol
    After not hearing form him for months, not even on father’s day, grrr, my step son called last night and has decided to grace us with his presence. There is, after all, food involved and when you are a 22 year old man living in a friend’s closet doing nothing all day but playing video games while you wait to go to Iraq, you probably don’t eat much of anything unless it comes pre-cooked and pre-packaged. At least his dad gets to see him finally after months of silence. Can you tell this is really bugging me? So today, Wednesday, mom and I head over to my sister’s house to help her finish cleaning and setting up for tomorrow. This should be interesting. She has a sassy dog, a papillion no less!, and my nephew will be turning 11 Dec 27th. He tends to be sassy what with all those hormones exploding inside him. Do hormones explode? Dunno but he says the funniest things. He is a stinker and I love him.
    Sorry for the long comment. We will be watching Bond, James Bond movies at my sister’s house and I’m bringing the pie and a pumpkin cobbler.

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  25. Cindy

    your children are SO lucky to be half french/half american 🙂

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  26. Ed in Willows

    Sorry Corey but for Thanksgiving, I usually eat way too much of the stuff I can’t mention.

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  27. Denese

    Our whole family is going to the beach (Gulf Coast, AL) for Thanksgiving! Yay!
    You may say, ewww, Alabama? It is 4 hours away, has miles of white sand and shells, and is pure heaven. At this time of year it will be deserted because true Southerners think it’s too cold (weather report: 55-70 degrees) to go to the beach.
    Tell Sasha that Thanksgiving is so not about the food. It’s about giving thanks, eating lots of carbs (all of which you all can eat) and being together!
    ….and some of us watch American football.

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  28. Ellen Cassilly

    I think that a live turkey in your courtyard would be lovely and you could eat the turkey eggs. We will be in VA and will get to meet our newest grand nephew – Case. We are thankful that we will al be together. Even if he does have a funny name.

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  29. Marilyn

    I will be placing one black olive on each finger and then eat each one of them. Yes, there is the traditional food involved, but also some healthy greens and salad with sliced oranges and cranberry vinegrette. At the end of the meal we spend time together saying what we are thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving from America.

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  30. Lynda

    We’ll be celebrating without a turkey … it’s weird celebrating American Thanksgiving in Canada when we celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving (with a turkey) last month. We have turkey in October and again for Christmas so American Thanksgiving this year will be a ham … not the same (as my dh reminds me constantly!) but I say 3 turkeys 3 months in a row are just too many! Happy Thanksgiving to you & your family no matter how you celebrate!
    xo,
    Lynda

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  31. shannon in oregon

    we spend it with those we love. be it family or friends who are like family. this year, my family is all here. most years we host “stragglers thanksgiving” for friends who have nowhere to go…i hope they found someplace this year. 🙂

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  32. Janet

    Can’t you at least make the poor dear a pumpkin pie? 😉 Vegetables!

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  33. Michelle

    I celebrated Thanksgiving in San Francisco one year with my vegetarian aunt and uncle. Since it was just us three, we made lasagne and it was awesome, but it wasn’t “Thanksgiving” enough for any of us. You might be able to get away without the turkey if you did all of the extras and pumpkin pie for dessert!

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  34. martina

    It will be smoked ham, yams, green beans with almonds or salad tomorrow. Maybe a little soup starter. No dessert as some do not eat dessert and there would be too much left for the others. A slice of pie from the store will have to suffice for me today. Are you going to make turkey shaped cookies like your Mom does? Maybe Sacha can bite the heads off the cookies like your brother does at your Mom’s on Thanksgiving.

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  35. deirdre

    Um, sorry…I celebrate with all those things. And then complain for hours afterward that I’ve celebrated too heartily.
    I like the smell of roasting turkey better than the actual taste. It’s all those delicious carbs that have me in their thrall.

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  36. Dana Smith

    We are going to Plymouth, MA where it all began!
    Dana in VA

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  37. Suzanne

    Dear, dearest Corey,
    Surely I DO NOT celebrate with those wonderful things you mentioned! Portugal observess American traditions from the other side of the ocean, though some of them have been imported (like Halloween in the last couple of years).
    I think Thanksgiving is a beautiful tradition and I do understands what Sacha means! But I also believe that sticking with our principles and values are part of Thanksgiving! And principles at your place (french wise) are green! You are vegetarian, so FH is right: turkey is certainly not a leaf! ;o) Yet… maybe you can try and cook one and tell FH you’ve “sculpted” a bulky piece of tofu! =;)
    As you’ve said, the important part is to celebrate and give thanks for all the good things we have! AND… you can always make cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and sweet potatoes… american style!
    Or maybe paper cut turkeys, put them around the house and dress like the first settlers! Would Sacha go for it? 🙂
    Love*

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  38. Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

    Sacha is feeling the tug of culture. I don’t think it’s a “greener grass” thing either. I think he wants to immerse himself in his second culture. That’s not a bad thing.
    HOORAY!! Get a turkey.
    – Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

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  39. Deborah

    At my mother’s it’s not the bird-that-shall not-be-named or stuffing, it’s chicken and dressing. The boiled chicken breasts (slices or pieces pulled from the breast) used to go on top of the dressing for serving, but for some years now, it goes into the gravy instead. Me, I don’t need any meat with my cornbread dressing – it’s yummy enough on its own. Also have to have some kind of beans (butter or green), sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce. I’m hungry just thinking about it!
    Sacha, in our country, there’s not just ONE Thanksgiving traditional food; it changes from family to family as you can see from these comments. So, just decide what will be your family Thanksgiving tradition and then that food, or foods, can be served each year in your own tradition. However, I wouldn’t suggest tofu – ugh!

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  40. Bramble

    Thanksgiving at our house does include turkey though I was a vegetarian (I married a carnivore!) Cranberry chutney,sweet potatoe souffle (savory, not sweet), scalloped potatoes with leeks and cream, green beans, and all the trimmings (olive and pickle dishes, hot buttered rolls, mulled cider, wine and don’t forget the pies! Pumpkin, mincemeat apple and cherry there is one to please everyone!
    Although the cooking begins the day ahead,
    what is most important is that our family and friends know that we are thankful for them in our lives. The food could be awful, but if the company is good it is always a great day.
    Tell Sacha that my son (15) and his cousins
    have started the tradition of making one special dish each holiday that is from them to everyone. Some years it has been easy but as they get older they are all enjoying the commeraderie and the fact that they are learning to cook! We enjoy the raucous laughter that springs from the kitchen! After dinner the boys go outside and play football or explore their Grandmother’s woods. Sometimes with surprising results!
    One year they found a peacock!
    Thanksgiving is what you feel toward the people you love and that can happen every day of the year.But the feast doesn’t hurt!
    Blessings to you and all of your family. Bramble
    PS…Glad to see your Mom on the mend, she reminds me of my Mom with her use of “antiques”.Many days we drug something home that seemed odd until she worked her magic on it. Aren’t we lucky to have Mom’s who thought outside the box?!!! It made life much more interesting and fun. I also have the same wallpaper in my kitchen!

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  41. Alina

    “I miss not having what I don’t know.” Me too, Sacha, me too!

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  42. Brother Mathew

    How about tofurkey. Check out http://www.tofurkey.com Happy Thanksgiving.
    Brother Mathew

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  43. jody

    Corey,
    We are vegetarians, vegans, also.
    We substitute pinto beans for the turkey, and have fun with the humor in it.
    I found a great recipe with butternut squash and basmati rice, coconut milk, etc that i make sometimes.
    I have a bug so this year we are going very simple.
    It really does not matter what we eat, though for the young ones it is all great excitement to have a feast with family and friends.
    Give thanks for all we have been blessed with Corey, and spoil Sasha with every other kind of yummy food. Long live the turkey!
    xo jody

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  44. caren

    At our house we don’t care for turkey, so instead I have a great receipe for whole chicken breasts. You put sliced lemons, fresh rosemary and slices of butter under the skin (which we don’t eat but it makes for great seasoning). Then on the outside you rub with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with sea salt. DE-LISH!!! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  45. Annie

    Thanksgiving and family. It’s ALL about family. The chairs are full, the table surrounded. All the rest is dressing. OH! Oops. I said dressing. Wanted to avoid a food word. NOT. Lots of laughter here Corey. I’m sure YOUR day will be filled with it too. Hugs to all, Annie

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  46. Donna

    Hi Corey- just a note to let you know I’ll be thinking of your family this Thanksgiving. I know your dad will be missed but stories bringing laughter and tears will wrap ribbons around the dinner table throughout the day-in Willows and your home, too.
    Warmly
    Donna

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  47. Star

    My husband and I are vegetarian as well, but I have to say I’m not all that creative. Since my meat-eating family is here, we are having Tater Tot casserole as the star of our Thanksgiving meal (made with TVP crumbles). There will also be green bean casserole, escalloped pineapple, cauliflower and broccoli salad and pecan pie bars for dessert.
    Wishing you and your family the most wonderful day as you give thanks. (And could you share some good vegetarian recipes with us?)

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  48. Franca Bollo

    You’ll have to excuse me. I have my cranky pants this morning and they’re feeling pretty tight, especially through the crotch.
    Is killing an animal really necessary to celebrate a day of gratitude? At the very least, if one insists on a turkey, they should kill and dress it, as well as cook it, themselves … as the people with whom this holiday originated did. At least then, one can make a small connection to the living animal whose legs they’ll gnawing on tomorrow. The sacrifice should be recognized and honored.
    As for alternate menus? Anything autumnal. Persimmons, wild mushrooms, chestnuts, brown butter and sage, butternut squash just touch the tip of the possibilities.

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  49. julie

    We are also vegetarian….yea!!!!!! So, we generally spend Thanksgiving eating AROUND the main courses……filling up on salads,trying to determine how much chicken stock has been added to the mashed potatoes!(MILs….what can you do?] When we eat at home, I make Tofu Casserole-sesame oil and tamari marinated tofu,layered with mushrooms,onions and miso-tomato sauce. Great on mashed potatoes with a green veggie on the side.[thanks to Friendly Foods-Pickarski-a great book] YUM!!!!!And, to those who wonder, I would bring our Tofu dish to Thankx dinner, but that is not encouraged by the hostess. (Although sometimes I do it anyway!!)
    After dinner, we head to our good friend’s home for dessert and wine and lots of conversation and laughs.

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  50. Rosemary

    We have all of the NORMAL fare!!
    So sorry not vegetarians here.
    If you like broccoli, I have a great broccoli caserole recipe that everyone loves. Lots of veggies along with the you know what! All in fun!!
    Have a Happy Day!
    Rosemary

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  51. Muriel

    Happy thanksgiving!!!

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  52. Mary Kate

    Rafa always tells us the story of the year that his father got a turkey from his boss for the holidays–only it was alive!! He had to bring it home in a sack, and they left it in the hallway still in the sack and the children were too afraid to go into the hallway with the turkey in the sack. They were discussing what to do with it, when one of the neighbors came over and said “Give me the turkey. I know how to take care of it.” She had grown up on a farm and knew how to “take care” of turkeys and chickens, and other things too. So she “took care” of it and cleaned it and then they made a big turkey dinner for everyone!
    How about tofu sculpted to look like a big bird?

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  53. Colette

    Hmmm. Find a huge piece of tofu and carve it into a turkey shape. On second thought just buy a turkey, may a live one to drive French husband so crazy that he’ll ask you to, um, serve it up for dinner.

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  54. Jenny

    How fascinating! Do what y’all need to do to give thanks and feast on the tastes y’all love best. I do love me some turkey, though. But what i find so interesting is the dual cultural identity your son (and maybe daughter?) desires to understand and be a part of. As I am very ignorant in these matters, do your children have dual citizenship? Do they revel in their American ways as they do their French? I am just so curious. I guess growing up American I take for granted the melting pot of traditions that whenever I hear of French traditions I somehow give them more weight as they are older and sometimes of richer origins and at times less commercial.

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  55. Kris

    Well, if I cannot mention blank, blank, blank, and blank then I cannot tell you what or how we celebrate Thanksgiving. So, I’ll just wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving and tell you that I agree with you about the reason for the season. Let us all hope that even the poorest of the poor have someone to share with them.

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  56. Suz

    Corey, our Thanksgiving dinner always includes corn pudding, a recipe of my mom’s. Corn seems to be a very American food also. 🙂 Here is the recipe.
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    Combine the following and pour into a casserole/baking dish:
    2 cans corn (one whole kernel and one creamed corn)
    3 T. melted butter
    1/2 tsp. salt
    2/3 c. cracker crumbs
    2 eggs
    1/8 tsp. pepper
    1 T. sugar
    1 T. minced onion
    3/4 c. milk
    Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration, however you choose to celebrate it! 🙂

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  57. Monica Roberts

    While you and your son are over there hungering for a piece of the American pie (pun intended) I’m over here wishing for a knife full of really good, melt on your tongue pate, a big bowl of Moule Marinier, and a whole tart Tatin for me alone. Yes, it is Thanksgiving here in California, but the turkey isn’t the highlight in our family (big and Irish) … give us a giant bowl of buttery mashed potatoes, mushroom studded sourdough and cornbread crispy-baked dressing, a slew of fresh green beans with bacon and onions, and a few other savory side dishes (no sweet potatoes and marshmallows, or Jello salad for us thanks) and we’re ready for the race that ends hours later with a pumpkin and walnut bread pudding, slathered in slightly whipped cream or creme Anglaise, and an amazing French apple cake we get at our little French bakery (He doesn’t speak English, but She does) here in town. Then, when everyone is almost comatose from overload we all get our money out (which we are very thankful to have some of right now) and plow into a rousing game of Bunko to alleviate the torpor, while the kids blast away on Guitar Hero in the garage.

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  58. Mahala

    I am terribly allergic to turkey, so my husband has always bought a ham and a turkey. I don’t eat either!

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  59. Monica Roberts

    Got so carried away with the food I forgot to mention the whole reason we gather together … to bless the world and all upon it, and thank the Lord for what we have.

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  60. Kimberly Baker

    I’ve been wondering on just this as a new American bride in France with my Italian husband (last year at Thanksgiving, we were already married, but still living apart, me in Washington and he in Paris, so I celebrated with a dear friend and her family). We don’t have an oven, so I can’t cook a ____, and we don’t really have the money this year to go to a ready-made feast. So, sad to say, I am planning on letting the day just pass us by. I guess I just feel “creating” a Thanksgiving here for us is more than I can handle – especially since it doesn’t mean anything to him, and he won’t be disappointed, and I hope for the day just to be over and me not to think about what I’m missing.
    : (

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  61. stljoie

    Corey, get a small pumpkin, about 6-8 inches wide and cut the top off for a lid and clean out. Season the inside with salt, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Make your favorite bread or corn bread stuffing, with or without apples, raisens and nuts and stuff the pumpkin and set the lid on it. Now, holding a knife straight down make slits (pockets) every few inches around the outside of the pumpkin..some up, some lower, and put pats of butter or whatever you prefer in them and bake at 350 for about 1 1/2 – 2 hours.
    It’s not turkey but it definitely is very Thanksgiving..ish…and good.

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  62. Lorrie

    As someone who lived in another country and culture for many years, I empathize with you and your family. Embracing two cultures is difficult – it seems that there is always something missing. But the benefits outweigh the difficulties.
    On this day, Corey, when you are so far from your family, and missing your father, take a moment to grieve the distance, then look at the wonderful people in France who make up your family there, and give thanks with joy.
    Joy and sorrow may seem like opposite emotions, but in reality, they often come walking into your heart hand in hand.
    Thanksgiving joys to you, Corey,
    from a Canadian who celebrated in October, but has reason to be thankful everyday.
    Lorrie

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  63. candy

    We celebrate with our family of choice – our special friends who God has chosen for us. We gather, we eat, we play games but mostly we’re thankful that God had extra plans for us when our own families are far away or for other reasons unavilable. This year, like last, we’re having a multi-national day with new friends from China and Zimbabwe and old ones from right here in the ol’ USA. The opening up of our home and our hearts is what this day is all about for me. The food is just icing on the cake!

    Reply
  64. 1eyedmonkee

    ohhh you’ve stirred up some memories of 12 years living in Spain. Certain holidays ceased to be “real” and others now make us homesick for Spanish holidays never known to this part of the world. It is Three Kings Day we still celebrate to honor our “other” home and to make my two 20-somethings feel a little teeny bit better. The perils and pleasures of Third Culture Kids and households…we are so lucky – we are so cursed.

    Reply
  65. Evelyn

    Well, aside for the stuff that I can’t mention, we lie around and are LAZY, LAZY, LAZY, watching football and reading all of the store ads to find the best Black Friday sales. It’s up at 4 AM on Friday for me to meet my BFF Mary Anne for SHOPPING!
    Have a Happy Thanksgiving, tofu style!

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  66. Sugar

    Awww I can’t mention pies? But I make the best! I have a special walnut and brown sugar topping on our pumpkin pie. I plan to tuck sprigs of rosemary between the skin and flesh of our little bird. Smells heavenly. Other than the vegetables ~ we like to toast each other with sparkling apple cider. 🙂

    Reply
  67. angela

    Well Corey, I just picked up a Boston Butt and Ham from my church, smoked and ready to be eaten. That will probably give French Husband a fit but I am in Georgia so we like our cholesterol/fat. Y’all could have dressing or stuffing as those in other parts of our country say, couldn’t you? We will also have squash, field peas, collards, sweet potato souffle, Texas Cake, corn, rolls and sweet tea(I know some are horrified by that notion) but sugar will not dissolve in cold tea! I wish you and your family the greatest of Thanksgiving Days no matter where you are, and tell Sacha he can come here anytime(these Southern girls would eat him alive)!!hahaha.

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  68. Elaine

    Corey,
    Perhaps Sacha could come to my house for turkey? Shhhh, don’t tell FH.

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  69. Jen

    Hi! I haven’t posted on your blog in a LONG time… but I often stop by. 🙂
    This will be my first vegetarian Thanksgiving and most of my family thinks this change in my diet is CRAZY! My mom wonders how I get my protein and my brother just responded, “that’s stupid.” lovely, isn’t he?
    Anyways, I will eat all of the non-meat items… basically everything but turkey… which I never really enjoyed anyways. ha! We have all the normal things, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, green been casserole… but the one YUM thing that my family makes that I don’t ever hear on any other American table is dumplings and sauerkraut… potato dumplings!! and sauerkraut!! My mom is Czech and I remember my grandma always making that for holidays! I can’t wait!
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Jen

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  70. nancy

    Too much traditional Thanksgiving food and greatful for my boisterous siblings and that my mom has made it to another Thanksgiving.
    Tell Sasha it really isn’t the turkey that makes it Thanksgiving! He has all he needs right there with you guys. Isn’t he the lucky one!!!!!
    Have a good day.

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  71. Shannon

    Here’s the next best thing to turkey:
    A recipe for Tofurkey
    http://www.yak.net/fqa/296.html
    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  72. Laura

    Corey, you make me smile!!!
    My sister’s boys are with their dad on the official Thanksgiving day, so we always get together on Friday. This year – oh, this will make French Husband happy – my mom has decided that it will be a “Pizza and Games” celebration. After all, it’s about being together and I share none of Sacha’s excitement about that bird! I am excited about PIZZA! My mom noticed that the kids and everyone else wasn’t eating much of the traditional foods because they had dined the traditional T-day way on T-day. So this year is an experiment! If you spend a year traveling the US on your Harley come to my family’s celebration on Thanksgiving – you are sure to have something interesting, something French Husband will approve of!
    Laura

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  73. Joy at Cupids Charm

    Hi Corey,
    I can’t mention what we are having here in the states, Florida to be specific. It’s all the traditinal goodies and the guilt that will follow for sure. It’s just myself and my husband so the cooking will be limited….but good! I really like to use the day as a day to reflect on all that I am grateful for. I know that sounds typical, but I really do use this time to reflect. I am sending best wishes to you and your beautiful family during this special time of year. I love your blog and it is something I am also grateful for, for being able to stop by and read about your adventures in France. ~ xoxo ~ Joy

    Reply
  74. Sarah

    Tofu all the way! We press the tofu and sautee slices of it with garlic and a spritz of soy sauce. Serve with vegetarian gravy. Who needs turkey? My vegetarian children have grown up thinking Thanksgiving mean “tofu cutlets”. Happy Thanksgiving.

    Reply
  75. christy t.

    Happy Thanksgiving friend Christy

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  76. Mary

    We’ve been invited to friends whom we introduced to each other, who’ve now been married one year, and just moved into their beautiful new country home! I’m thankful knowing they are grateful to us for bringing them together, and that they want to entertain us on this special holiday. They know I’m vegetarian but will have plenty of vegs., and Bob will gobble up my portion of that unanamed bird!!
    Thinking of you – thankful for you.
    Hugs – Mary.

    Reply
  77. Cousin Chris

    No to Turkey, No to Tofu (what ever tofo is), just Thanksgiving Portuguese style….Plates full of Sopas do Spirito Santo..Piles of Beef thats been slow cooked for about 5 hours in wine and secret spices, Fava Bean Salad, several bottles of red wine (for the food and the cook)and the sopa with cabbage served over 3 day old french bread. Let’s EAT……NOW!!

    Reply
  78. le petit cabinet de curiosites

    May be we should have thought about it before and I would have cooked the turkey in my house ! I guess as a french husband ” bien élevé ” Yann wouldn’t have said anything !
    Let think about it for next year !
    Today , I know it is not too late but I’m pretty buse to have time to cook a ” dead ” turkey …for you my american friend
    Happy thanksgiving to all of you

    Reply
  79. Beverly

    Oh you guys make me laugh!
    I can have Thanksgiving without turkey…not that we ever have, but I could do it…because the trimmings are the best part of the meal!
    Skip the tofu!

    Reply

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