I'm just your average Thundercats ho' ([info]misplacedmind) wrote,
@ 2008-11-25 17:11:00
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Current mood: sleepy
Current music:Donovan - Fairytale

Here's a question for you all, part etiquette, part brainstorm:


Say you're invited to Thanksgiving dinner, and the enthusiastic and well-meaning host vehemently insists that you bring nothing. However, you're painfully aware that going to an event like this empty-handed will cause your dear-departed mother to roll over in her grave (not an easy feat, given that she was cremated) AND will lead to feelings of inadequacy and embarrassment.

What do you do?

Currently, my plan is to bring a nice flower arrangement for the table, and a bottle of wine. I'll probably do that regardless of the responses here, but I'm looking for something more. Something different. Something a little less obvious than wine and flowers.

C'mon people! Throw some ideas at me!


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[info]starcrossedlady
2008-11-25 11:30 pm UTC (link)
I would probably bring over a quick bread of some sort and make the excuse that you thought the hosts may partake of it for breakfast. But that's me ;)

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[info]misplacedmind
2008-11-27 12:26 am UTC (link)
Breakfast! Awesome! I got a similar idea from some co-workers. I'm going with an entire breakfast basket, argument being that they'll be exhausted from cooking all day tomorrow, and will appreciate having their morning taken care of the next day. I'm making apple oat muffins, and croissants from the refrigerated tin (I have no clue how to go about making them from scratch!) with jam, and strawberries and whipped cream, and a box of granola, and some single-serving yogurt, and some single serving juice. Seems like a lot, but there are two adults and 6 children in the family, heh! It may not be enough! (esp considering two of the "children" are teenage boys)

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[info]karmaticbliss
2008-11-26 12:28 am UTC (link)
I think something home-baked would be a nice gesture and you can say that you thought they may enjoy it later. Wine is ALwAYS appreciated, though!

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[info]sparkofcreation
2008-11-26 12:56 am UTC (link)
I like the wine and flowers idea, but another idea might be to bring something for people to nosh on before or after dinner—maybe one of those giant popcorn tins, or some chips, or cut veggies and dip, or I had an aunt who always managed to find cupcakes shaped like turkeys to bring, etc.

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[info]misplacedmind
2008-11-27 12:22 am UTC (link)
Cupcakes shaped like turkeys would be *awesome*! However, when she said "nothing" she really meant it, food-wise. I mean, last year I refused to take no for an answer, and brought like two desserts (a cake and a pie) and even though she knew I was bringing them, there were a total of 4 or 5 desserts altogether. I think she just really, really likes providing the whole meal! I think I'd be the same way if I were hosting, so I'm inclined to take her at her word this year.

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[info]sparkofcreation
2008-11-27 02:31 am UTC (link)
I didn't mean as part of the meal--but in my experience Thanksgiving is a several-hours-long event, and people like something to snack on when they first arrive or later when they're hanging out and talking.

BTW I'm currently having issues with someone who is insisting on bringing something to *my* dinner that I emphatically Do. Not. Want. So I do see her point!

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[info]marxis
2008-11-26 01:20 am UTC (link)
Bring a smile and your birthday suit!

That and flowers would be nice. Or a simple dessert.

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[info]stillspastic
2008-11-26 01:38 pm UTC (link)
do you have any photo albums or videos you could share? something to provide entertainment after dinner? or perhaps a nice fall wreath for the door? you can get plain ones and make your own with the fixin's, or you can get one pre-made and doctor it all up... i made some of those for christmas gifts last year and they were very well received.

wine and flowers will be lovely. a dessert is always a good call, but go untraditional and get some plain pretzels and make your own chocolate (or other) dips and do a nice assortment. they look fabulous, and people will gobble 'em up.

i could go on....

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[info]misplacedmind
2008-11-27 12:20 am UTC (link)
I thought about doing up the chocolate-covered pretzel rods that I bought fixin's for at Halloween but never made. I doubt I'll have time, though, as I've not made them before! I think I'm going with a breakfast basket...

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[info]weemadharold
2008-11-26 06:24 pm UTC (link)
Jaffa Cakes. You can't go wrong with Jaffa Cakes.

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[info]sparkofcreation
2008-11-27 02:41 am UTC (link)
While I agree that it is, indeed, impossible to go wrong with Jaffa Cakes, finding them might be a bit out of [info]misplacedmind's way. (Although they can be bought at our international grocery store, which is primarily East Asian but has a rather large British section.)

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