This Grandma makes reservations. Holidays are an exception, although the best tip for grandmas at holiday time is to turn over the cooking and baking to the parents of the grandchildren and offer to watch the grandchildren instead. This is wonderful! We get spoiling time and give their parents the heavy holiday lifting. Now that our grandchildren are of an age to be eager to help, they and I set the holiday table, make decorations and play. Even if you are not a creative grandma you can buy Thanksgiving decorations to put together with the grandchildren. Take a look on Amazon for ideas.
The second tip for Thanksgiving, that is also equally best, is to celebrate other occasions in conjunction with Thanksgiving when the entire family is together. Children love celebrations, the more the better, and it does not matter to them that it is not yet the holiday. Every year I buy a Carvel ice cream sheet cake for dessert and put “Happy Birthday” on it to celebrate a cousin’s birthday that falls close to Thanksgiving. Consider doing this for the fall and winter birthdays around Thanksgiving. It is a win-win making for an easy and delicious ice cream dessert the grandchildren are sure to love.
Next, celebrate your winter holiday, whether it is Christmas or Chanukah or Kwanza, in conjunction with Thanksgiving, especially if it is the only time the entire family is assured to be together. Because this Grandma and Grandpa are not going to be with the grandchildren during any of the eight nights of Chanukah, we celebrate Chanukah for as many nights as we are together celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday. We bring out the menorah and light candles each night, sing songs and celebrate, even on Thanksgiving Day.
Of course, the grandchildren get Chanukah presents each night they are with us. Grandchildren love presents and visit presents double as holiday present and actually save grandma money. This year they are all going to be with us five nights, so each grandchild will get five presents each. I have learned to remember that the presents must fit into a suitcase to get home, but request the parents of the grandchildren to bring an extra empty suitcase. As the grandchildren get older Apple and iTune gift cards do not take up much room.
The grandchildren LOVE this family tradition and ritual and why not. They get extra nights of Chanukah and extra presents. We send the remaining nights of presents, three this year, to arrive during actual Chanukah, and usually save the largest in size for delivery to their homes then. The parents of the grandchildren are wonderful and FaceTime us as they light the Chanukah candles at their homes, so we can, long distance, see them open their presents from us and celebrate Chanukah together long distance. Remember, thank yous via FaceTime and video are the new way. Unless you are traditional and want to try to give personalized stationery to the grandchildren for a holiday present. See Amazon selections.
At Thanksgiving, this Grandma used to try one new recipe for the holiday. No one really liked this as it seems everyone wants same old. Family tradition and ritual is such that the holiday does not seem the same, at least for our family, unless it is the same old family recipes. I still try one new if I can, even if it flops. One year however, about twenty years ago, I happened upon a simple pineapple stuffing recipe that all the children devoured. It is pure sweetness with no redeeming nutritional value, so, again, why not. Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is about anyway!
Try making it with your grandchildren. It can be made a day ahead and reheated. I found that freezing the bread cubes instead is using day old bread works better and divides up the task. For younger grandchildren, they can rip bread into cubes rather than cut cubes. There will be lots of crumbs, so remember to cover your kitchen counters and floors with old towels for easy cleanup. Be sure to only use crushed pineapple. Add more, rather than less sugar. Double the recipe as needed as this recipe serves six. Use a disposable pan.
THANKSGIVING PINEAPPLE STUFFING
INGREDIENTS
1/2cup salted butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2-3/4 cup sugar (or up to one cup of sugar to taste)
1 pinch salt (less than 1/8 teaspoon and add in only if using unsalted butter or margarine)
4 eggs
1(20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
5slices day old bread, cubed
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9-inch baking pan.
In a medium bowl cream the butter or margarine with sugar and salt until fluffy.
Add in eggs and beat until well combined.
Mix the drained crushed pineapple and the bread cubes.
Transfer to greased baking dish.
Bake for 1 hour (allow to sit for about 5-10 minutes to firm up).
Happy Thanksgiving!
Remember grandchildren remember rituals and traditions most in their lives. Thanksgiving with the family is one that is memorable and will be remembered. Take lots of pictures for their annual photo albums and revel in family
Joy,
Mema
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