The Start of a Scituate Thanksgiving Tradition

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and it is only a few days away.  Thanksgiving is the most important holiday to me for five reasons:

1.   It is a day to share a sit down, home cooked meal with the people you love

2.   It does not involve any gifts

3.   Turkey dinner is one of my favorite meals

4.   It is family oriented

5.    A kick off to the holiday season.  To me the holiday season includes Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. A time to spend with family and friends

This Thanksgiving will be my first Thanksgiving hosting and establishing some new traditions outside of the ones I have practiced for years.  In the past we have gone to a relative’s house.  However, with families growing and branching out we thought we would make Thanksgiving a home holiday where we would host for both sets of our parents and make it a small intimate meal for six (plus two small dogs). 

(sold at Out of the Blue)

Some new traditions that we are incorporating into our first Scituate Thanksgiving include:

1.   Oysters on the half shell for an appetizer.  Chris and I adore oysters and luckily my dad loves to get them straight from the flats.  Inspired by Erin Murray and Island Creek we will be serving them two ways a) Naked- shucked and some lemon on the side b) Island Creek Style.  This was introduced to me during an oyster class I took  through the Boston Center for Adult Education taught by Erin Murray (author of Shucked) and Skip who is the  founder of Island Creek Oysters:  Shucked, a lil lemon, a drop of vodka, and some green Tabasco sauce.  Delicious!  If you like bivalves you have to give this a try.


http://www.bcae.org

Island Creek Style

Naked

http://www.islandcreekoysters.com/

http://shucked.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/shucked-life-on-a-new-england-oyster-farm-now-available/

 Pairs well with Westport Blanc de Blanc.  This wine is perfect with oysters.  Light oak taste (doesn’t taste like a #2 pencil) with some fruity notes. http://www.westportrivers.com/wines.html

     2.   Local Wines. We took a drive to Westport Rivers last week to stock up on some wine for the holidays.  We wanted to serve tasty wine  and also felt it was important to support local wineries.  We venture out to Westport Rivers at least once a year.  The vineyard in tranquil, picturesque, and relaxing.  We did not take a tour this time but enjoyed a tasting which was excellent.  The fireplace by the tasting bar is very cozy during these cooler months.

http://www.westportrivers.com/store.html

3.    Cork place cards.  In the past I have used wine corks cut horizontally with a slit for the tag. This year I have been saving up my champagne corks and will be using them to signify who will sit where.  Don’t worry with such a small group nobody has to sit at the “Kids' Table”. Just for the record I hate “kids' tables”.  After a certain age  it only makes one feel like a second class citizen. Not cool. Especially if ou are an adult at the kids’ table. 

4.   Instead of saying grace we will be doing a sparkling wine toast.  A thank you to our parents for always being there for us, joining us on this special day, and remembering our loved ones who are no longer with us.

5.   A Bongi Turkey will be the center of our feast!  Bongi Turkey Roost in Duxbury has tasty fresh turkeys that will not disappoint.  However, beware and plan on standing in line for some time in order to guarantee that fresh turkey.  It is well worth the time and effort.

http://www.bongis.com/

6.    We will be using  China dinner ware that was passed on from Chris’s “Nana Kelley”.  She would be proud to see her  cherished dinner ware  get such special use.

7.      Farkle- A game we  learned from our parents that involves dice, pennies, and fun. I think this game was brought back from one of the old folk communities in Florida.   When you “farkle” we obnoxiously say it with a thick Boston accent, “ ya FAHKLED”.    Ok well maybe I am the only one that does the "FAHKLE" thing……

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farkle

8.   Later in the evening when we start stomachs begin to growl we will put out rolls and all the goodies and it’s “make your own turkey sandwich” night. 

9.   To top off this Thanksgiving I will be making a Thanksgiving basket for the animal shelter filled with donation goodies for our fury friends.  This will be delivered after Thanksgiving.  It is something I hope to do every year.

http://www.scituateanimalshelter.org/
Photo of animal shelter by: http://www.scituatedailyphoto.com/2010_01_01_archive.html




 10. Last but very important…..I will avoid  Black Friday  like the plague.  I WILL NOT  go anywhere near a shopping center.  I  have no interest in waiting in line in the cold, getting up before sunrise , or being trampled by strangers. I am also scared I will run into that crazy lady who is  featured on the Target commercials. She makes me want to only shop online.  Instead of shopping l'll be spending the day listening to Christmas music and putting up decorations. By the end of the night I will be rockin around my Christmas tree.   Black Friday is just not my thing.  Football also falls into the “not my thing” category.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WbMfHdHgjs

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving.  Everyone has their own traditions that they embrace on this  special day.  I would love to hear your traditions.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Scituate Light; taken during the 2010 holiday season