I made a controversial executive decision to skip mashed potatoes at my Thanksgiving table about 15 years ago and I have never looked back. This year I'm not hosting so it's not up to me, but mashed potatoes, as wonderful as they are, are superfluous in a meal with stuffing and at least one orange starchy side (sweet potatoes or butternut squash).

Oh, Jessica, you would be banned from our Thanksgiving. Nobody likes sweet potatoes (so we skip them), but to do without plain mashed potatoes is a crime. (And also would result in Dillo eating only plain turkey, because he's the picky one.)

Mashed potatoes are so good with turkey gravy, and you don't get that all the time. Also, leftover mashed potatoes fried in butter are so good it's almost worth making them just to have leftovers. ALthough we probably won't have them this year because, like Calli, my holiday table will be three people and I'm allergic, so. ANd that is all also true of sweet potatoes (well, not so much the gravy, but leftovers, yes)

I think we are also not having turkey for the first time in a while, gonna try stuffed pumpkin with mushroom gravy. A couple of years ago we were all set to skip the turkey until my dad particular requested we have it, so we'll see what happens there, I guess.

Not sure what we're doing for wine. Probably whatever I bring, guess I should poke around in my "cellar" (cardboard boxes in the garage). Ooh, I should get some holiday beer for the football games after!

It is just Matt and me this year . And since my neighbor is a duck hunter and have lots of duck in my freezer I am doing duck. I will be doing mushroom pate and matt will be doing acorn squash will bacon. Matt is on call so we are going to eat as it happens.

It's mom and me for Thanksgiving. And I work from 330 to 930 . Black Friday weekend and everything. I'm also getting a root canal the day befor I realize I will regret this) so it's going to be small meal with lots of soft food.

If I had my way the ideal meal would be dressing with giblet gravy, ham, sweet potatoes, fried Brussels sprouts, mac ad cheese, parker house rolls with pumpkin and sweet potato pies for dessert.

Oh, Jessica, you would be banned from our Thanksgiving

Hey, if I'm not hosting it's up to you! They just won't appear on MY menu.

I went with the mashed potatoes for the gravy and carby people, but am not having bread stuffing, instead doing the cauliflower variety. My son is the picky one. He will eat turkey and rolls. No gravy, no butter, no salt & pepper. He is a totally plain eater. No doubt the inlaws will bring desserts which will meet his criteria too, although he doesn't do pie. He is so weird, also absurdly skinny.

I love tons of side dish options, but I'm just not having enough people to warrant that this year.

Turkey gravy is also excellent on rice--either white or brown. I'm just saying, as a person forbidden potatoes and biscuits and/or rolls, but very fond of gravy.

I'm invited to the neighbors' to whom I will be taking a bottle of their favorite (and mine!) red in, ahm, thanks. Because she's an amazing cook. And they always invite the most *interesting* conversationalists.

I wonder if I'll ever be able to take over holiday meals? We host family Christmas Eve and my mother's in charge of dinner, for as long as she wants to be, I guess.

Maybe I could just invite people for Easter myself! Basically I want to eat ham, and my mother never does.

Just got a nice helping of stress that I can't talk about. Ugh. Not what I'm needing these days.