I have officially declared that Thanksgiving dinner this year will be 'out'. I'm just not in the mood anymore to make a big meal for 2 people. So, I've been looking around at restaurant web sites checking out their offerings. So far, it looks like we're going to go to Normandie Farm in Potomac. It's a bit pricey, but it is a holiday.

That is a really nice menu. If you can't find something you like on it, you should just stay home and have a hot dog. I saw quite a few items I would like on my plate. Why is there no icon for drooling?

There is ...

The menu is exactly why its high on our list. We figure if we were to go between 3 and 4, the breakfast crowd will be gone. Big deal, so I wouldn't be able to get a belgian waffle or eggs benedict. I can get that at Ihop! My guess is that most of the fruit and salads would still be out, but we won't let that interfere with the real stuff like lamb, turkey, roast beef, etc. Of course, Larry started drooling when he saw the raw bar stuff.

My family has been dining out for Thanksgiving for three years now.

Good food, no worrying about who is bringing what, no mess to clean up afterward, just relaxing and watching football...

No going out here, although I do simplify the menu if it's just a few of us (like the 3 of us and 1 set of parents)... must have turkey, dressing, gravy, potatoes and / or sweet potatoes, peas, cranberry, pie... but I've been known to take shortcuts on everything but the turkey and gravy (microwaved frozen peas, instant mashed potatoes, canned cranberries, seasoned dressing cubes). Having some home-canned goodies stashed away adds an easy special touch.

Then again some years I produce a feast that fills every corner of the table. I'm not yet sure which way it'll go this year.

For several years, we've been getting the turkey breast dinner from Safeway or Giant. I'm just not in the mood for that anymore either. It seems we always forget to put something on the table and there are always too many leftovers. Sure, they're ok for a day or two, but 3 days later, when you still have potatoes, gravy and peas in the refrigerator, it's time to throw in the towel. We tried freezing leftovers a few times. Yeh. Found them somewhere around April... or was it August?

If I can talk him into it for Christmas. I'm going to try to get in touch with the USO. Cam, you'll probably remember this. Local families would host a service member or two for holiday dinner, rather than them eating on base. I don't know if it was done through the USO, but I do know someone that can find out for me for sure. For a while, I was helping The Cookie Lady out of Fairfax. She would collect names and addresses of people overseas and send care packages to their unit. I still correspond with several of them years later.

Rick, I spent most of my Air Force career overseas but I can remember a couple of times when the base would ask us if we wanted to be one of the couple dozen troops that would be included in the program to have T-giving meal with a local family.

Overseas, we had meals with family. That is... our fellow service members, because when you are stationed overseas among Germans, Japanese, Brits, what have you... your fellow military members ARE your family. I loved that about being overseas, having so many family members.

Join the Navy, see the world. I saw Orlando and Pensacola. And I was allergic to Pensacola!

I never participated myself, I opted to stay on base. The restaurant on base put out a pretty good meal. (NOT the mess hall!) A buddy of mine from boot camp went once. I took us 45 minutes to back to our quarters and it was only a 5 minute walk. We just weren't moving all that fast.

I know it's odd, but Florida is one of the 7 States I have not been to yet. No inclination to go, either.

In my 23 years of service, not counting deployments and temporary duty assignments, just my permanent duty stations, I was stationed in Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Germany, Arkansas, Japan, Oklahoma, back to Germany, Guam, and back to Kansas. 13 years overseas, 10 years Stateside. Loved serving but especially those years overseas. You can't experience a country visiting for a couple weeks on vacation but you sure can when you live there several years. What a great experience.

Time to get serious on this discussion. I will cook for about six.
With working full time and feeling like I neglect dinner, having five days off (WOOT!) is going to make it nice to make THE meal.

Sally,

If you have an Aldi nearby, this week's produce specials...

Potatoes, 10# - $1.49
Pineapple - $0.99
Sweet Potatoes, 3# - $0.99
Cranberries, 12oz - $0.79
Celery - $0.69
Yellow Onion, 3# - $0.69

Yes RIck, we love Aldi! We use them for many basics. Mark already snagged the potatoes, celery, cranberry. Need more onions, they're such a staple.
I'll be looking for their thin crisp spice cookies that they only have in winter. I forget the name, but they are a treat.

Those Aldi prices may be worth a trip up the road to Sally's Aldi.
We don't get an Aldi ad down her. so thanks Rick!

With Trader Joes in Annapolis, why don't they add and Aldi? Not fair! Most basic canned items that go on sale for a buck at other stores, are everyday 59-79 cents at Aldi.

Where is your Aldi?

Went to Aldis yesterday and picked up a FEW things. Hehehehe. My cart was full. Will need to still get some perishables.

Sally, the crisp holiday cookies are called Spekulatium. I've seen three varieties: ginger, almond and orange. All of 'em good.

Oh yeah, why could I not remember Spekulatium ithanks Lisa -it's the almond ones I like, I don't think my Aldi has had the others...

MariposaMaid- Corner of Ritchie Hwy and Jumpers Hole Rd, small shopping center with Goodwill store, Aldi, Ihop, couple other spaces. I see seven in the Baltimore area, none around Annapolis.
https://www.google.com/webhp?s...

Judy---

Everything you could ever want is available in stores i n Perry hall.
i am so grateful!!!
we have 5 Grocery Stores available within 1-2mil from my house.
2 Weiss
1 Aldis
one Giant
And one Safeway (My fave)...

If I want to drive a couple miles further---there are a couple more...

THE place to LIVE!!!!! Gita

REMEMBER YOUR QUARTER when you go to Aldi. Use the quarter to get a cart from the rack, and get the quarter back when you store it. And take your own bags/ boxes. You bag it yourself. (they sell bags and give away boxes in case you forget)

I'll be turkey shopping today- going for 18-20 again as last year. Hm. wonder how many want drumsticks? Seven people at dinner, probably.

Mom was worried one year about me finding the right size turkey. I was amazed when I counted how many groceries are within my usual travels. Ah suburbia.