What is YOUR Favorite Part of Thanksgiving Dinner -- And Why?

The chit chat.

My family has a lot of good cooks. Don't get me wrong. In any other setting the food would be a major attraction. But at one of my family dinners, the conversation is still better.

Aside from that, just whatever they have to cook is fine with me. It's always really good. Smoked turkey, deep fried turkey in peanut oil, deviled eggs, loaded mashed potatoes, it's always all delicious.

Except the coleslaw. I can do without that. But there's always plenty of other stuff to eat.

Yes -- of course you are right -- and I was going to put an option for "The Time With Loved Ones," etc.

But I was thinking then most everyone would say that, and how the real meaning of the holiday is to be thankful and spend time with family, etc.

Which of course, is all true.

But is it so terrible that for just one little thread...

I wanted to talk about the food?

I've spent many holidays alone due to distance -- one Thanksgiving, I drove to another state to visit an inmate I was corresponding with. Boy was it an ordeal because one of the guards gave me a hard time, but that's another story for a different time. I was there almost the entire visitation time (about 5 hours,) and during that time, I think only 3 other inmates had visits. Talk about being lost and forgotten.

And when I was finally allowed in, my friend I had a Thanksgiving meal of packaged burritos, candy bars, and Fanta pop from the vending machines.

There have been many times when I've missed out on a "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner -- and while yes, the company can be wonderful and counts more than anything, the past few days, I couldn't help but think about the food.

Here's to wishing everyone a very healthy and happy Thanksgiving!

Cheesecake all the way for me

I'll be focused on the food first, then the conversation.

Pecan pie and or red velvet cake with coffee for the win!

Hey...welcome back. Hope all is well.

It worked itself out, thank you sir

We're glad to have you back!

Thank you! I likewise hope you have a memorable time with loved ones and plenty of delicious dishes prepared to perfection. Our Thanksgiving was last month. My daughter lives with her aunt, who would normally prep the dinner, but she was on a cruise at the time, so I spent what seemed like an inordinate amount of money on à la carte feast dishes from Whole Paycheque. And it was worth it. Part of the theme of Thanksgiving is "plenty" so I made sure we would have lots of leftovers also, which did help fray the overall cost per serving down to what could be accepted as more reasonable under the circumstances than a first glance would allow. So we had mashed with sour cream and chives, turkey gravy, sweet potatoes, an amazing stuffing with sliced apples in it, sliced turkey breast, and, um, what was the vegetable? Heh, I can't remember. Green beans? Oh! And an assortment of roasted root veggies. I transferred most of it out of their respective boxes so I could transport it in a large lidded container that I brought my share of the leftovers home in. My daughter does not care for cranberries, nor pumpkin pie, so I did not buy either of those. She does like their miniature peanut butter cookies with chunks of dark chocolate, so I rarely show up without those... I will also add, that my daughter was born at a time in my life when I was in an inordinate amount of emotional pain and completely lost in terms of how we understand that word as Christians, and yet, all these years later, despite all the turmoil and uncertainty then, she remains a huge blessing in my life for which I am grateful. Seoul, you are one of the most interesting and engaging people here, but even aside from and beyond that, the kindness and consideration you show others is a beacon in this sometimes very dark world, and for that I am grateful also.

Cranberry sauce with oranges has to be from the pit of hell.

We're glad to have you back!

Cranberry sauce with oranges has to be from the pit of hell.