ThriftyFun News
Volume Eight, Number 38 (Thanksgiving Issue), November 19, 2006
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
It's been two weeks since our last issue. We were unable to send a newsletter last week due to email problems.
This week we have tons of Thanksgiving tips! Hopefully they come in handy as you start to create your Thanksgiving feast.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, many thanks to everyone that takes time to contribute to and read this newsletter.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Susan
If you have any Thanksgiving question, feel free to submit them here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_request.ldml
Tips:
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Tips
Clay Pot Turkey
By Amanda Formaro
This little turkey is quite simple to make. The cost is minimal and he makes a great table decoration or hostess gift for Thanksgiving dinner!
You will need:
- 1- 1 1/2" diameter wooden ball
- 1- 2 1/4" diameter clay pot
- 3 or 4 feathers
- small bowtie or 6 inch length of ribbon
- green button
- 6 inch length of jute or raffia
- white craft or hot glue
- black finetip marker
- small and large paintbrushes
- acrylic paints in brown, tan, mustard yellow, red, and rose
- clear coat spray
What you do:
Body
Place newspaper down on work surface. Turn clay pot over and glue wooden ball to
bottom of pot. When glue is dry, use large paint brush to paint entire the
outside of the clay pot and the entire wooden ball with brown paint. Let dry and
apply a second coat. When dry, use large paint brush to fleck on spots of tan
paint for effect. This does not have to be perfect! Using small paint brush,
paint on feet and beak, use the photo as a guide if needed.
Head
Use small paintbrush to paint on the gobbler in red. Dab large paintbrush or
stencil dotter in rose paint. Dab onto newspaper or paper towel until all excess
paint is removed. Gently dab onto "cheeks" of turkey's face. With the black
finetip marker, drawn on eyes and dot nostrils onto beak. Spray entire surface
with clear coat.
Finishing Touches
Glue miniature bow tie in place, or fashion a simple bow out of ribbon and glue
in place. Trim excess to suit your tastes. Tie a piece of jute or raffia through
the holes of the green button. Tie a bow and trim excess. Glue button to the
body below the bowtie. Glue feathers to the back so that they stick up above the
back of the turkey's head.
Originally published 3/11/2001
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Oreo Turkeys
These are cute little turkeys made out of oreo cookies and candy pieces. They are even easy enough for young children to help make and look great on the holiday table.
Requires:
- 2 Oreo Double Stuff cookies
- 1 malted milk balls (like a whopper)
- 4-6 candy corn
Directions:
5 minutes preparation time.
Take 1 oreo apart. This will be the base.
Place the whole oreo on its side on the base, so that it sticks to white of the oreo.
In front of the oreo on its side, place a malted-milk ball for the turkeys head.
Place candy corn, points down, in between the oreo cookie that is standing on it's side.
By Cheryl Lore from Asheville, NC
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Frugal Turkey Enchiladas
I decided to use up the last of a turkey that I had in the freezer by making enchiladas. I was appalled to find that the enchilada sauce was well over $2.50 a can. Instead, I bought a packet of enchilada sauce mix for 50 cents, and the required can of tomato paste which was in my cupboard cost 33 cents, bought at Big Lots. Total $ .83 for the sauce which would have cost me over $2.5 ready made.
I made a pan of turkey enchiladas, and then used up some taco meat and made a smaller pan of enchiladas in a pan lined with foil, and popped it in to the freezer. Not counting the meat I figure the total cost to be $.83 for the sauce, $1 for the tortillas and $1 for cheese to top both pans. Not too shabby!
By Linda
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An Onion and Celery In The Turkey
Place a whole onion (skin and all) along with few large pieces of celery inside the cavity of your turkey before baking for a very moist and flavorful bird. I also baste the turkey with apple juice instead of butter or fat which results in a beautifully golden crisp skin and moist meat without any added fat. As a bonus your house will smell fabulous. The turkey will not have the taste of apples.
By Callie - Tampa, FL
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Organizing the Cooking of Your Thanksgiving Meal
Find pans/baking dishes that fit into your oven somewhat like a puzzle, allowing for air flow. Now create your menu to make ALL of these "casseroles" to bake at the same time.
Your turkey can be baked the night before reserving some broth. Cover it well, refrigerate then add the broth the next day before microwaving as all those "casseroles" come out of the oven at once.
Mashed potatoes can be reheated as a "casserole", just add cream cheese while mashing. Everything done all at once...just like Mom could do SO easily!
By Leigh Ann from Farmington IL
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Cook Big Holiday Meals The Day Before
With the big holidays coming, I find when I cook a big meal, I'm too tired to eat. So I make everything possible the day before. Potatoes are peeled, boiled and mashed, dressing is made and baked (when it's done, pour over some chicken broth, cover with foil and it stays moist), turkey is cleaned and placed in the roaster then back in the fridge. Then on the holiday, all I have to do is cook the turkey and "reheat" the rest. Much easier, no one can tell the difference and I can sit and enjoy the meal with my family!
By The Duck
Answers:
I Agree
You are right. I do everything up to four days before the holiday.
By patsAZ
Cooking The Night Before
I cook the turkey the day before, debone, then put back into roaster and make sure meat is covered with juice that is made when the turkey is cooking then cover roaster with aluminum foil. The next day I put the turkey in the oven at about 250-300 degrees for 3-4 hours it is ready to eat and is very tender. (11/08/2004)
By Valerie
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Leftover Turkey Ideas
You don't have to stuff yourself with all that turkey right away. Cut it up into bite sized pieces, and measure the turkey into individual freezer bags. Divide the turkey into the amounts you normally use turkey or chicken in recipes. Next time you want to make a casserole or something, your turkey is all cooked and measured for you, and you just have to toss it in with the other ingredients for a quick dinner. And it isn't as boring as two weeks of turkey sandwiches!
By Lynn
Post your ideas below.
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Make Mashed Potatoes Ahead
Making mashed potatoes at the last minute in order to keep them hot is very tricky while your juggling everything else for Thanksgiving. I make them a day or two before. I just make them as usual, sometimes adding sour cream and garlic salt. Put them in a casserole dish and refrigerate.
Then on Thanksgiving, I pull them out and let set to room temperature and microwave to warm them up at the last minute. No one knows they were done early.
By Candace - Annapolis, MD
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Brined Maple Turkey with Cream Gravy
Awesome Thanksgiving Turkey!
If you have not "Brined" a turkey before, you need to try it. It makes the meat SO tasty and SO juicy. Here is a recipe from Cooking Light:
Brining makes for a juicier bird, and the subtle flavors of the brine soak into the turkey. Kosher salt works well for the brine because it dissolves more easily than table salt. If you have time and refrigerator space, the brining procedure is worthwhile. If not, the turkey will still be quite good.
For 12 servings
Ingredients
Brine
- 8 quarts water
- 3/4 cup kosher salt
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons black peppercorns
- 8 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
Turkey
- 1 (12-pound) fresh or thawed frozen turkey
- 1 cup cola
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried rubbed sage
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 onions, quartered
- Cooking spray
Gravy
- 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
1. To prepare brine, combine first 6 ingredients in a large stockpot, stirring until salt dissolves.
2. To prepare turkey, remove and reserve giblets and neck from turkey. Rinse turkey with cold water; pat dry. Trim excess fat. Add turkey to pot, turning to coat. Cover and refrigerate 24 hours, turning occasionally.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
4. Bring cola and 1/2 cup syrup to a boil in a small saucepan; cook 1 minute.
5. Combine thyme, sage, seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Remove turkey from brine, discarding brine; pat dry. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat. Rub thyme mixture under loosened skin; sprinkle inside body cavity. Place 4 garlic cloves and onions in body cavity. Tie ends of legs together with twine. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under turkey.
6. Place turkey on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Insert a meat thermometer into meaty part of a thigh, making sure not to touch bone. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes. Pour cola mixture over turkey; cover with foil. Bake an additional 1 hour and 45 minutes or until thermometer registers 180. Remove turkey from pan, reserving drippings for gravy. Place turkey on a platter. Cover loosely with foil; let stand 10 minutes. Remove twine. Discard skin.
7. To prepare gravy, while turkey bakes, combine reserved giblet and neck and the broth in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes. Strain mixture through a colander into a bowl, discarding solids.
8. Place a zip-top plastic bag inside a 2-cup glass measure. Pour pan drippings into bag; let stand 10 minutes (fat will rise to the top).
9. Seal bag; carefully snip off 1 bottom corner of bag. Drain drippings into broiler pan, stopping before fat layer reaches opening; discard fat. Add broth mixture. Place broiler pan on stovetop over medium heat, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Combine milk and cornstarch in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk; add to pan. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
10. Strain gravy through a sieve into a bowl. Discard solids. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 6 ounces turkey and about 1/4 cup gravy)
CALORIES 375 (25% from fat); FAT 10.5g (satfat 3.6g, monofat 2.5g, polyfat 2.8g); PROTEIN 51.7g; CARBOHYDRATE 15.7g; FIBER 0.2g; CHOLESTEROL 140mg; IRON 3.6mg; SODIUM 809mg; CALCIUM 91mg
By Marnita from Cumming GA
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Sharing Thankful Thoughts
As your Thankgiving guests arrive give each a paper fall leaf to write a "thankful" thought on. Have them drop them in a clear vase or fishbowl. They needn't sign it unless they want to. Then, if there are only a few, read them before the meal, or after, or hang them up for all to see.
By Linda
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Label Serving Bowls
I get out all the serving bowls I will need for the feast when I set out the holiday dishes. I drop a note in each bowl or platter to remind me what goes where.
By Linda
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Cute Edible Apple Turkey
These are really cute turkeys made out of apples that kids can make for school or just eat as a snack. They also make adorable Holiday Table decorations. They can be made with either Fruit Loops or raisins. Variations: head can be a cut out that is glued on or a large marshmallow with raisin eyes and a candy corn stuck into it for a beak.
Requires:
- 1 apple
- 1/4 cup Fruit Loops cereal or raisins (if using Fruit Loops you will need a few raisins for the neck)
- 6-7 mini marshmallows
- 7-11 toothpicks
- 1 green olive
- 2 cloves
Directions:
5 minutes preparation time
To make the feathers: Take raisins or Fruit Loops and slide onto toothpicks about 3/4 the way down. Place a mini-marshmallow on the end. You will need 6 or 7 "feathers" depending on the size of your apple.
Stick the "feathers" into the back of the apple.
To make the head: Slide raisins down toothpick and top with a green olive (head). Use cloves for eyes. If your olive has a pimiento you can pull it out the back of the olive and let it hang so that it looks like a turkey wattle.
Insert three toothpicks under the turkey so it can stand freely.
By Cheryl Lore from Asheville, NC
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Cook a Turkey Breast Side Down
Here's a tip for an outstanding Thanksgiving Turkey. Cook it with the breast side down. Yep, turn that bird upside down and insert a stick of butter in the cavity, put in a roasting bag and cook that baby. You will have the juiciest turkey you've ever had because all the juice stays in the bird. A friend of mine gave me this tip, he has a catering business. I always put mine on the night before we eat on about 250 degrees and let it cook all night.
There is no need to watch or baste. Just take it out the next morning and go ahead and pick it all of the bone and put in a covered container in the fridge. When you get ready to eat, take out as much or as little as you need and warm it up in the microwave and serve. Your oven will be free the day you eat to get your other items prepared (much easier). I get LOTS of compliments on the meat and I have a hassle free meal and enjoy being with my company which is what it's about anyway. Many Blessings!
By Ginger
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Cooking Half a Turkey
Turkeys are so cheap right now. If you have a small family or even if you are going out for T-giving dinner, do buy a turkey anyway. The butcher can saw the frozen bird in half for you, thaw half to cook now, and wrap and stick the other half in the freezer to use a couple of months later. Turkey is so good and good for you-take advantage of this inexpensive bargain!
By Linda L from Vista, CA
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Write Christmas Cards During Football
Use the time while the guys are watching football on Thanksgiving (after dinner) to address Christmas cards.
By Linda
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Holiday Meal Planning
By Patty Getz
Don't Stress over Holiday Meals, Plan ahead. Stress is really about the unknown, do I have enough of; will I get this done in time? So some intelligent planning ahead of time, will help to take a lot of stress out of holiday meals.
One of the most important things I ever learned, is my family would rather have me on holidays, instead of having me slave away at a holiday meal all day. I would rather spend time with my family as well. There are lots of ways to reduce your work load, increase your family time,and have a great meal too.
1. have a buffet style meal:
I have done this a few different years, I cooked up and chopped up a few different buffet type foods a day or two before,then we put it all on a table and handed everyone paper plates and plastic utensils. Add a tablecloth, and some decorations to keep it festive, and Have fun!!
2. Ask Family Members to bring their favorite dish:
Many hands makes light work, ask each family member to bring something, and depending on the amount of guests you have, much of your work will be done for you. Don't be shy, most people don't mind helping out, they just have no idea what to do.
3. Plan Ahead:
No matter what type of meal you choose to have, planning well ahead of time, can make all the difference. There are lots of parts of your meal, that can be prepped a week or more ahead of time, and placed in the freezer,pies, rolls, and cookies can all be pre-made and frozen. A lot of items can be made the day before. All of this will minimize your work on the big day.
4. Get yourself a small Peechee type folder:
like the ones that students do their reports in. Put your meal planning sheets and notes in the notebook with all the recipes you plan to use.There is nothing worse than getting to the holiday, and not being able to find the recipe for Grandma's special stuffing. If you plan your meal, and collect your recipe, a few weeks ahead of time, then you will be well organized, and much less likely to stress.
5. Shop Ahead:
If you get your meal plan and your recipes collected ahead of time, then you will be able to shop the sales, save yourself money, and avoid the crowds, NOW that is is a win,win proposition!
6. Prep the day before:
Even if you have to cook some items on the day the meal is served, you can save yourself time by prepping ahead of time, items such as onions,mushrooms,celery, olives,and sweet potatoes. Get them all cut up, and place them in sealed containers in the fridge and they will be all ready for the next day.
7. Keep it Simple:
Everybody loves a good meal, but don't plan more than you can honestly do. Nobody wants a stressed out hostess, that never shows her face out of the kitchen all day long on a holiday. So when planning your menu, keep it realistic, balance things that can be made ahead of time, with things you will make on the day of the feast.
8. Don't be afraid to ask for help:
If you need help ask, nobody expects you to be superwoman, and your whole future is not resting on this meal, or whether you can do it all yourself. So be realistic, most people do not mind lending a helping hand, and in fact a lot of people love the socialization that happens when cooking with another person.
Most of all, enjoy yourself, holidays with family don't last forever, and should be cherished, not stressed over.
From my Family to yours, wishing you a wonderful and blessed holiday season.
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Cleaning a Turkey Pan Easily
With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner (It really will come fast!) I want to share a tip for cleaning the turkey pan. I don't use aluminum unless I have to; and I do have a stainless steel pan. Either one will benefit from this tip. After the turkey, etc. are removed from the pan, put hot water and about 1 cup baking soda and a small amount of dish detergent in the pan and fill it to the top. Let it soak while you are eating and it will be a breeze to clean. I have done this for years and it has always worked. (I have been married 42 years)
By Sshep
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Keeping Mashed Potatoes Hot
Once you've mashed them, keep them on low, covered in a crockpot. Butter melts well on them. Delicious!
By Betty G.
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Getting the Most out of Turkey or Chicken Bones
To pull the calcium out of chicken or turkey bones add 1 ounce vinegar to each quart of water up to 4 ounces total when you are making soup stock. It will not give a vinegar taste to the soup but will draw out ALL the nutrients in the bones.
By Reta
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Use the Crockpot for Stuffing
Prepare your favorite stuffing and bake it in your crockpot while the turkey occupies the oven. You can prep this the day before and refrigerate, it is so much easier than stuffing it into the turkey, the turkey will cook faster, food poisoning risk is decreased and the stuffing doesn't absorb all the extra fat dripping from the turkey.
By Linda
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Thanksgiving Cooking Traditions
Looking for ideas to start a tradition with my sister in law and her daughter (4 years old) while cooking Thanksgiving Dinner. Thank you for any suggestions/ideas!
Lori from Atlanta, NY
Thanksgiving Menus
In my family, we always had the kids make Thanksgiving Menus while the adults cooked. We have several years of colorings, drawings, "Melt In Your Mouth Mashed Potato" type food headings. It's a blast to look over.
By Carla
Get Them Involved
I have 2 girls, and one always likes to set a beautiful table with place cards and the other one loves to cook with me. If you make stuffing from scratch, a 4 year old can help break up the bread for the stuffing while you cook the other stuff to go into it and help mix it all up. If it is package stuffing, they can help mix it all up too. Just make sure their hands are clean! Kids can help with just about anything with guidance. Pick something they like to prepare and have them work together to make it. Special memories are created this way.
By Starlight
Baking Cookies
My mom, now gone, started a little tradition when my kids were 3 and 4 years old of making cookies together. They love to pat and roll them out with a rolling pin. Then decorate them with sparkles, etc. I've got some wonderful pictures too. My 3 year old then, with a big grin patting her cookies down. She's now 18 and in college. Wonderful memories. Also, any simple dish they can help with is so much fun, and keep the camera handy. When the kids got to be around 8 or 10, they dressed up as Pilgrims and Indians for Thanksgiving dinner. More pictures. Let your kids help with decorating the table, if they're artistic, they can make some pretty name tags. Always involve your children, you'll be so glad you did. An aging momma.
By glinda
Craft Ideas
Make placemats and/or centerpieces.
By cookwie
Special Treats That Kids Can Make
One of the things I did with my boys when they were young and we were having special meals was to find cookie cutters related to the holiday or theme and have them cut bread slices out with it. Then they would spread on either spreadable cheese (which I warmed a bit to make it smoother) or softened butter that was whipped with chive, garlic, vegetable dip mix or other dried herbs or spices and then I would refrigerate them until just before dinner and broil them or a minute so the boys had something they made for the feast. Another thing that we did was make the peanut butter pinecones (spread with peanutbutter and roll in bird seed or sunflower seeds) and popcorn strings to hang outside for a thanksgiving feast for the birds. They enjoyed this a whole lot because we would just sit together and talk about favorite family times or what we think the Macy's day Parade balloons will look like and things like that. Then they would watch the birds come and eat and try to see how many different kinds came to the yard.
By Renee Klevenhagen
Thanksgiving Tablecloth
Before we served, a sharpie was passed around for each to write (on the special thanksgiving tablecloth) three things that we were thankful for. One heartfelt, one small and easily taken for granted, and one silly/funny. If a child can not write, a parent can print for them. As a result, our 'special' cloth became more and more precious through the years. My Grandchildren have continued the tradition, their little printed scrawl often next to their Daddy's entry when he was the same age as them. If my house was on fire, I'd try to rescue that cloth rather than my jewelry.
By Doggy
Decorate Thanksgiving Cookies
I like the idea of using my old Tupperware cookie cutters (turkey, gingerbread people, etc.) to make sugar cookies ahead of time, then mix up frosting in differnt colors and provide the children with paintbrushes and aprons to "paint" the icing on in their own creative way. Or you could make Christmas ornaments together on Thanksgiving. At my mother's house, we always put the tree up on Thanksgiving after dinner. Hope this helps!
By Tanya
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Get Your Kids Involved in Thanksgiving Dinner!
Get your kids involved in Thanksgiving dinner! Have them help decorate the table by making Candy Cornucopias for place cards: Using ice cream cones, write each guest's name on the cone with decorator frosting. Place the cones onto a festive paper napkin and fill them with candies, dried fruit and nuts. Let the filling spill out a bit for a "cornucopia" effect.
By Kathy
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Thanksgiving Game Ideas
Every year, our Thanksgiving is dull. From someone looking in on it through the window, it would look full of warmth with a huge Norman Rockwell feast but the problem is entertainment. People never know what do with themselves. Half of them are from the upper crust from Palo Alto, real into achievement. The other half is more easy going (you get the picture). Any help on good non-competitive board games or other entertainment? Usually we play Trivial Pursuit but that never goes over well. Everyone plays real cutthroat and it's a drag for most of the kids and non-competitive players.
Gloria from Paso Robles, CA
Answers:
Game: Scattergories or Battle of the Sexes
I would say "Uno" but I swear that my mom and sister-in-law get into it, every time we play this. Try "Scattergories." You roll the dice and whatever letter shows, you have to use that letter for every category. It's really fun for all ages. Or try a game that pits the guys against the girls like "Battle of the Sexes". It won't matter about economics when the girls gang up against the guys.
By christi
Game: Balderdash
Have you tried the game called "Balderdash"? It's a lot of fun. Everyone old and young can play it and there isn't a lot of skill, just lucky guessing involved. You are given a very strange word that NO one has ever heard of and the dasher reads the word. All of the players make up a definition for that word and then vote on which one they think is the right one. It gets pretty funny because NO ONE has ever heard of these obscure words. We have a ball with this at gatherings.
By Connie A.
Game: Who Am I?
We used to play "Who Am I?". Someone would think of names for each of the players and the name of the movie star or famous person would be pinned on the person's back. Then you asked yes or no questions. We had a lot of fun with that.
By sandy
Game: Fish (Dominos)
A game called "Fish" played with double 12 dominoes is fun and can include lots of people. You start by each player drawing 7 or so dominoes, leaving the rest in the bone pile. Lay down the highest domino double, double twelve, double eleven, or work downward. That is your base, and the next player clockwise must play off of this "foot". Once 3 dominoes matching the double have been played, then any domino matching an exposed end can be played, until someone lays down another double, at which time another "foot" must be completed. Object is to be left with the fewest spots to be counted as points, or in other words, get rid of all, and especially your high counting dominoes. You can set game points for as high as you'd like. If you can't play, you draw a "bone", and if it won't play, you are skipped and the next player plays. It is almost addictive.
By Tripleb
The White Elephany
This is from my grandmother, who can flow with the upper crust (ie. dinner parties and luncheons) but also hosts fun parties. We play The White Elephany game at Christmas, but it works for anytime. Everyone is supposed to show up at the house with a wrapped white elephant gift (don't let anyone know what it is, or who brought what). (A white elephant is some kind of thing that may be junk to you but a treasure to someone else/something that could be found at a garage sale.)
We all (even kids) put our gifts in the middle of the table, and stand around the table. Then with a pair of dice, we take turns rolling, and whoever rolls a total of six gets to get a gift from the middle and can roll again until they no longer roll a six . Then once all the gifts are out, we set a timer (maybe fifteen minutes?) and we keep passing the dice around the table, rolling a six, and now stealing the wrapped gift from others. (If you roll two sixes, you get two gifts and, of course, roll again.)
The fun of it is that no one knows what is inside the gifts, and people just choose based on what they think is a good one. Some people are convinced that certain ones are terrible and certain ones are wonderful. And some people are lucky to get nothing at the end because when we've unwrapped them at the end of the fifteen minutes, I've seen battery operated heated socks, fake pearls, a partially mouse-chewed butter churn. . . It's great fun.
By Olivia
Scavenger Hunt/Sharing Memories
Another fun game from Grandma is a scavenger hunt in one room of the house. She hid little things in obscure places for people to find. A couple things were a white string - hidden on a cat statue as whiskers, a penny - hidden on the forehead of an Egyptian-type statue. I guess things aren't really hidden, they just blend in with the background. People walk around the living room, with list in hand, trying to see the hidden items. And whoever gets the most items, gets some kind of prize.
Another thing we do is tell a favorite memory from holidays or times in the past. (This works well if there is one particular person or family that everyone has in common/or everyone particularly likes.)
And with younger kids, we play cards. Whoever wins each round gets to choose something from a junk/treasure pile.
I'd say whatever you do, be excited about presenting it. If you are convinced that this is the best idea in the whole world, it'll catch on to the others. Even if they don't seem to be having fun, they probably just aren't showing it. Really, just be excited about whatever you present, it's contagious. (Grandma gets us to do all sorts of wacky things, just because she's excited.)
By Olivia
Outside Games/Thankful Tree
For nicer weather outside: croquet, football, frisbee, baseball. If your yard is big enough, tag football. You could use streamers to tuck at your hips or tie on. Grabbing the streamer would be simple to do. Go to the dollar store for these. Varied colors and cheap!
Make a thankful tree and give each guest a leaf shape piece of paper to write what they are most thankful for. Read them before, during or after your Thanksgiving dinner. You'll be surprised at the listing and learn something about the people you love.
Jennifer, CA
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