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Countdown To Thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 11: It's Tradition

Quirky, heartwarming traditions and thoughtful additions create a treasured holiday.

To catch up on Megan Swoyer's first 10 steps of the “turkey day” planning process, read the full series.  Thanksgiving is turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy. It’s pulling on warm sweaters and indulging on warm pies. It’s Jell-O, football, wine toasts, good china and whipped cream. But it’s also rutabagas and Neil Diamond music. Yep. On Nov. 24, the Chisholms of Huntington Woods tuck their forks into a not-exactly-popular-but-totally-traditional rutabaga dish, while the Cherry family of Macomb Township taps their toes to a special Neil Diamond tune.    It’s those quirky traditions and absolute must-dos that make Thanksgiving our own. My own “it’s-not-Thanksgiving-until-we-do-this” tradition involves a couple of wax figurines. Every year in …

Monday, November 21, 2011

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 10: Work Ahead

These handy tips from the turkey trenches will help you with the last few crucial days of preparation.

To catch up on Megan Swoyer's first nine steps of the “turkey day” planning process, read the full series.  Chef Jim Bologna of The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham could be considered a kitchen boy scout: He’s always prepared, especially when hosting a feast at home with family and friends. Here are some of his tips: Keep appetizers frozen until the big day: Bologna also is big on having cheese and crackers with some cured meats on hand — that’s “always a win and  they will hold for quite some time, and go great with wine.” Plan, plan, plan: “Write your menu so that most of your items can be done ahead,” he said. “Most if not all of the sides can be done a day or two beforehand.” Plan the oven space: This is important so that everything that …

In this Article:

The Townsend Hotel (in Birmingham Patch), Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 1: The Write Stuff, Bed Bath & Beyond, and 4 more ›

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 9: Building a Great Turkey Sandwich

Stock up now on bread, mayo, pickles, mustard and more to create a healthy or not-so-healthy sandwich.

To catch up on Megan Swoyer's first eight steps of the “turkey day” planning process, read the full series. A lot of people enjoy turkey sandwiches the day after Thanksgiving. I don’t wait that long. Growing up, we indulged in turkey sandwiches around 10 Thanksgiving night. It was our family tradition to clear the big round table (used as a buffet for dinner), gather some chairs, pour some beverages, get out the poker chips, shuffle up the cards and ante up! My mom loves poker, and the poker chips didn’t fall far from the tree. We’d even play for money. These games would go on until well past midnight. But we’d always take a sandwich break, after maybe seven or so hands, and haul out the leftover turkey, white bread, mayo, etc. As a kid, I…

In this Article:

Dakota Bread Company (in West Bloomfield Patch), Sola Life & Fitness (in Rochester-Rochester Hills Patch), and William Beaumont Hospital (in Royal Oak Patch)

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 8: Potatoes – Lumps or No Lumps?

Traveling down the bumpy (er, lumpy) road of whipping up perfect mashed potatoes.

Megan Swoyer is helping us get ready for Thanksgiving. Read the full series for tips about the turkey, the wine, the gravy and more. “Megan said she’s doing the potatoes.” That’s what I heard upon entering my parents’ house one Thanksgiving a couple decades ago. There was a whirlwind of activity in the kitchen as I carried in a few sticks of butter and a bagful of potatoes, plopping them on the counter. “I’m here, no fear!” I told my mom and siblings as I took off my coat and got right to the task of potato peeling. No one paid much attention to me, until … I pulled out my huge, beat-up Betty Crocker Cookbook.  “What’s that for?” Mom asked. “I know, weird," I said. "But, I want to be sure I do them right.” “Do what right? The mashed …

In this Article:

The Community House (in Birmingham Patch)

Friday, November 18, 2011

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 7: Let Someone Else Do the Work

Local markets, hotels and caterers serve up a cornucopia of pick-up options for the big feast.

Follow along with Megan Swoyer as she prepares for Thanksgiving, with daily tips to keep you on track.  Day 7 offers tips for takeout, from sides to the whole meal. One of my friends is a bit freaked about hosting Thanksgiving at her boyfriend’s home.  “I’m a little crazed,” she told me. “His kids will be there and all of that (he’s divorced and has children who live out East). While she was sharing this with me, I was simultaneously reading email and had serendipitously received a note from the owners of Canapé Cart in Ferndale. “Hey,” I told my friend. “You can order all of your sides from this great place. It won’t be like you’re not cooking; you’re just making it easier and you can get to know his family better, etc. by not being a …

In this Article:

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 3: Choosing the Right Wine (in Troy Patch), Dan's Giant Submarines, Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace (in Troy Patch), and 3 more ›

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 4: My Gravy Secret

Today: Get out your gravy recipes or head to the store to pick up a favorite brand. Don’t forget about those with allergies.

Follow along with Megan Swoyer as she prepares for Thanksgiving, with daily tips to keep you on track. Day 1 was The List, Day 2 was Delegation Day and Day 3 was Picking a Wine. Now, for the gravy. One of my favorite Thanksgivings involved a big discussion on gravy. It was the year my two younger brothers and I drove to Pennsylvania to celebrate the holiday with relatives – big doings, as it was the only time in our history that we weren’t with our immediate family (eight siblings) on Thanksgiving. My Uncle Harry wanted to get rid of an old desk and chair (a wedding gift to him from my grandparents) and I, at 24 furnishing my first real apartment and sentimentally swayed, wanted it. Thanksgiving seemed the perfect opportunity. Waving good-…

In this Article:

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 1: The Write Stuff, Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 2: Delegate, Delegate, Delegate, Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 3: Choosing the Right Wine (in Troy Patch), and 8 more ›

Monday, November 14, 2011

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 3: Choosing the Right Wine

You can serve anything from a Riesling to a Rose with the big bird, say area wine experts.

Day 1 was The List; Day 2 was Delegation Day. Here's Day 3 of the Turkey Day planning process: If anyone knows about wine it’s Linda Jones of the Lansing-based Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council. Come Turkey time, Jones starts contemplating her favorite pairings with a Thanksgiving feast. “For a Pure Michigan Thanksgiving dinner, I’d suggest with turkey a dry or semi-dry Riesling, perhaps by St. Julian, Chateau Grand Traverse, Black Star Farms, Bowers Harbor or other Michigan producers,” she said.  Michigan wines are available at a variety of different stores in the area, including Whole Foods,  Busch’s and Cloverleaf Fine Wine in Royal Oak. “Michigan wineries make a variety of Rieslings of varying sweetness levels," said Jones. "…

In this Article:

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 1: The Write Stuff, Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 2: Delegate, Delegate, Delegate, Cloverleaf Acquisition (in Royal Oak Patch), and 24 more ›

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 2: Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

It's Day 2 in Megan's "12 Days of Thanksgiving." On the path of organization, she is focusing on potluck pleasures and family chores.

I never feel bad about delegating, and that's how we do Thanksgiving in my house. This goes for cleaning, too. Today, I’ll ask my sons to wash the dining room windows (I know they’ve been dying to do this) and my husband will help me do a thorough job of dusting my cabinet of tchotchkes, which everyone seems to look at when they come to our home. My husband also is hanging new blinds today that will help cut back on reflection and glare on the television when everyone’s tuned into the Lions at 12:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Day 1, we made a list (Did you make a list? If not, there's time to catch up.) Today, refer to your list and jot down more specifics on what you’d like everyone to do and bring.  Carolyn Hefner, owner of The China …

In this Article:

The China Closet (in Birmingham Patch) and Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 1: The Write Stuff

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 1: The Write Stuff

Follow along with Patch Home & Gardens writer Megan Swoyer as she prepares for Thanksgiving, with daily tips to keep readers on track. Today: Get out a pen and start The List.

Thanksgiving 2011 – and once again my husband and I are hosting! Things we work around to make the day special: health issues range from a teen with Crohn’s disease (sensitive to too many fat grams, digestive issues) to an adult who requires a gluten-free diet. With that, fat grams and wheat and gluten factors are top-of-mind (Example: there’s no way I can open a jar of, say, Spartan-brand gravy and call it a day … most mainstream canned and jarred gravy has wheat and gluten ingredients, not to mention fat grams aplenty). Other challenges: Between family members attending or volunteering at America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit and Lions football fans (especially this year!) glued to the television, it’s not always easy to have an ETD (…

In this Article:

Bed Bath & Beyond (in Troy Patch), Papyrus (in Troy Patch), Pier 1 Imports (in Troy Patch), and 1 more ›

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Megan Swoyer

5:55 pm on Monday, November 14, 2011

Thanks for the inspiration, Cindi. This just may be the year!   more ›

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