Today is LET’S LOOK!
Once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!).
It’s hard to believe that today is our second to the last link up!! I would like to say that this year has flown by…but that would be a lie.
A huge lie.
This has been the longest year of our lives.
Okay…
Here’s what we’ve been “looking” at so far this year…
In January, we looked at our bedside tables.
In February, we looked at our winter wardrobe.
In March, we looked at what’s inside our bags.
In April, we looked at how we typically celebrate Easter.
In May, we looked at our weekend.
In June, we looked at how we can make sure we’re encouraging racial diversity at home
In July, we looked at our summer wardrobes.
In August, we looked at our desks.
In September, we looked at school pics.
In October, we looked at how we pumpkin
…and today, we’re looking at YOUR HOLIDAY MENU!
Awwww! Here we are the day after Thanksgiving last year 🙂 .
So, on Monday, I did a Q&A with Shay on Stories and there were so many questions about how we “do” Thanksgiving as a family, so I thought I’d address that first and then…all the food.
My family has always split holidays and spent Thanksgiving with one side and then Christmas with the other (and then reversed it the next year), and when I met Andrew, his parents were already doing that with his brother and sister-in-law and her family, so we all just hopped on the same schedule and we split it. One year, we do Thanksgiving with my family and then Christmas with Andrew’s and then the following year, we reverse it. We’ve been doing it that way since the beginning, and it works well for us. (My cousins do this with their in-laws too, so we’re all on the same schedule.)
Today, I’m going to share how we “do food” on Thanksgiving and then how we “do it” on Christmas too!
Let’s be real, this post is pretty easy for me because I have #alltherecipes right here on my blog already 🙂 !
Awwww! Thanksgiving with my grandparents. How sweet is this pic from 2018?!
So, when we have Turkey Day with my side of the fam (like this year), we all divide up the menu and share the cooking responsibilities. We always eat at either my mom or my aunt’s house, and I almost always bring one savory side and one pie (per my mom and aunt).
Here is an entire post focused on my TERRIFIC TURKEY DAY SIDES! Yesterday, I shared…
…my in-laws’ 5 Bean Casserole as it’s ALWAYS a huge hit!! I also really love bringing…
…this Loaded Potato Casserole too. You can see all of the recipes though right HERE.
When it comes to pies, my family ALWAYS has…
…a Pecan Pie, but I love to change it up…
Pumpkin Pecan Chocolate Chip Pie
Cranberry Orange White Chocolate Pecan Pie
…there are so many variations of the pecan pie to love!!! Ha!
You can also check out…
…my 22 Pie Recipes for Thanksgiving post where I have so many other perfect holiday pies too!!
So, that’s how I do the “food” on my side of the family. Several years ago, my mother-in-law and I decided that when it’s their year to visit, instead of the two of us making a traditional Thanksgiving meal, we would rather the men in our family…
…treat us to a wonderful steak dinner 🙂 . Ha! I love this so much!!!!! We used to make all of this food and then it hit us, we would love to go out and have a “fancy” dinner instead and then look at the Christmas lights around town. Now, it’s something we look forward to each and every time. It’s our untraditional tradition.
Now, speaking of my in-laws, on Christmas Eve, we do the reverse with them! On Christmas Eve, we go enjoy that fun steak dinner and lights…
…before going home and getting ready for Santa to arrive the next day. Since that would have been their “off” year for Thanksgiving, we do it for Christmas Eve. Either way, it’s one of my personal FAVORITE traditions!!
When my family celebrates Christmas Eve (again, every other year together), Andrew and I always host and we…
…have my family over for an appetizer party on Christmas Eve! Everyone brings their favorite app, we eat, we open presents, play games and vote on the winning recipe.
Last year, our Christmas Eve was NUTS!!!! I had a hysterectomy less than three weeks before Christmas (so Andrew had to pretty much do all the major work before everyone arrived), my grandmother fell and had to have emergency knee surgery on the 22nd, Sean and Catherine had Mia on the 23rd and my cousin and his ENTIRE family, got the flu…so we lost more than half our peeps! We made the most of it, but we sure did miss the rest of our family who couldn’t join us.
So, if you’re looking to do appetizers like us this holiday season (totally my jam!!!), then make sure you check out…
…my All About Holiday Appetizers post. There are several WINNING recipes in this post from years past!!
Whew! That my friends, is how “we do holiday food”. It’s a little untraditional at times, but we really do love it. Speaking of which…
…today, I’m also posting Crazy Good Cranberry Recipes too, so check those out as well. From drinks to apps, desserts, entrees…so many cranberry recipes for your holiday!!
I would LOVE to hear how you do holidays at your house!! I think it’s so interesting how everyone does them differently. Comment and share! If you linked up today, do that below 😉 . See you guys back here tomorrow!! xo
Erika Slaughter says
I love seeing a peek into everyone’s holiday!
Leslie H. says
We started eating a steak dinner at Thanksgiving too! Christmas has us eating appetizers and lasagna and Christmas Day is prime rib. Our kids are older now and all about the food! ❤️
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Thanks for sharing these delicious recipes, Shay! ?✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Taylor says
Usually on thanksgiving we host my moms side and dads side at our house. It’s a long day full of food, football, and then Black Friday shopping. Due to Covid we are cutting the guest list in half so it won’t be the same:/ but we are making the best of it.
Carrie says
Thank you so much for sharing that, it’s making me so frustrated that so many families are ignoring all the recommendations. We too are keeping our Thanksgiving super small and even agreeing to all play it extra safe for 10 days prior to it. We are even keeping our own kids remote vs in person for school. Love that we have that option! I would love to hear how people are getting creative to have a different and safe Thanksgiving. We are thinking about zoom games with extended family or at least a zoom of some sort.
Carrie says
I meant remote learning for just the 10 days before, they are hybrid so really they only miss 2 days in person!
Julie C. says
I absolutely LOVE your tradition of a steak dinner!!! I’m not really crazy about traditional Thanksgiving food, but I could TOTALLY get on board for a steak dinner…and so could my kids 🙂 Thank you for sharing your traditions!!!!
Elspeth says
I love the idea of alternating every year and being able to see both sides of your family! Too fun!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Kristi says
How are you going to manage gluten free at parties? Can you make most of your recipes gluten free?
Mix and Match Mama says
Last Christmas was our first official g-free holiday, so everything I made was gluten-free. My mom has really gone out of her way to start making g-free food when she entertains too (and she’s careful about cross-contamination), so between the two of us, Kensington should have plenty to eat (plus allllllll of that turkey she loves so much!!).
Megan says
Have you found a gluten free pie crust? It’s my first major holiday GF and I am sad about desserts and rolls being an issue! Thanks so much for your thoughts!
Mix and Match Mama says
I’ve been using Trader Joe’s!!
Laura says
We have the same tradition and I think it works out so well! Does Andrew’s brother and sister-in-law come to your house as well as his parents? When do you go to his parents’ home?
Mix and Match Mama says
We used to spend the holidays in Missouri, but his parents prefer coming here (they say our larger city is more festive!), so now, we do that instead. We make our trips up to see his fam then at different times throughout the year. When his parents come down here, that’s the year, his brother’s fam spends with her parents.
Mignon says
Will you consider doing a “Blog Fun Facts” or something like that post?
One where you share the most read post of all time, most read of this year and most popular recipe? Your most favorite type of post shared with us etc etc etc?
Mix and Match Mama says
That’s a fun idea!!!
Danielle says
Hi Shay! So I have learned a few things from reading your blog the past few years and every Thanksgiving morning I make your sausage and crescent roll casserole! It’s become tradition! On years I host my in-laws I have also learned “cook a little and buy a little” I will cook the turkey and stuffing. I will order some sides. I also learned this from reading your blog and from my first year of trying to do it all! I love making my family stuffing recipe.
Dana says
Before we moved overseas, we would go to literally 5 houses to celebrate on Christmas Eve and Day. It was crazy! We had a bunch of little kids and a minivan and would have 2-3 loads of gifts to bring home. It was a blessing, but also difficult to communicate that Christmas is about our Savior and not just mountains of presents! ? So when we moved to France we changed it to where it was just our little family. On Christmas Eve we would go into Paris and drink hot chocolate and look at all the lights. Christmas morning was very calm and I always made sure to get plenty of toys for the kids to play with that day. We stuck with traditional American food, too. French people go all out with lobster, truffles, fancy meats, etc. We did grow to really love foie gras though! And our kids love escargots, but not their parents so much. ? This year I might try to round up some duck breasts to remind us of our French roots, they’re delicious!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Your holiday in France sounds MAGICAL!!!
Dana says
I forgot the best part! We would always round up some sort of musician (it was amazing how the Lord provided the best quality musicians almost every year!) and they would play a little concert in our living room. Our French friends and neighbors would also bring traditional Thanksgiving dishes they had prepared. They were so good! I provided American recipes with video and then almost all of them would reduce the sugar, salt and butter by about half. ? It was such a special tradition and we all looked forward to it every year! And we would also hunt down a turkey and my husband would smoke it. The only time they really ever had smoked meat!
Tracy says
We usually try to flip flop years also, but I always have a hard time remembering what we did the year before! ? My husband’s side of the family ALWAYS does traditional food, no matter the holiday. My family switches it up year to year, sometimes traditional, sometimes off-the-wall just depending on everyone’s mood I guess.
Dana K says
Usually my mom and I share the cooking duties for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but this is 2020 and of course our world is upside down! Mom is having serious memory trouble and can’t really cook much. I’m in the middle of a 60 hour college course for a state requirement for my teaching career (and have 7 assignments due in the 6 days following Thanksgiving week). We agreed that this year we’d have Thanksgiving catered from an excellent local restaurant and take the stress off both of us! I feel a tiny bit guilty for not cooking, but I know I’ll feel the relief of not having to do it all!
Nicole says
What’s your favorite turkey bacon? Thanks!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Super basic…Butterball!
Susy says
So glad to have this note. Our first experience with turkey bacon was . . . . unexpected. Of course Butter Ball would have a good one. Thank you! Will try that one next.
Bev says
My mouth is literally watering! Thanks for sharing!
Amy says
I love the untraditional! Since both my husband’s parents are deceased we do both holidays with my family. Thanksgiving is traditional (honestly kind of boring) but Christmas is where we bring it, when it comes to the food! We make homemade pasta and sauce for our Christmas meal.
My dad’s dad is Italian and my dad is one of nine kids. Christmas was a blast! We would work for weeks making pasta to feed everyone.
Hope to keep that tradition going with my family!
Mix and Match Mama says
I love that Christmas tradition!!!
Erin Young says
I can’t help but think that Christmas Eve was some sort of foreshadowing for the rest of 2020! 😉 Sending all the good vibes for the holidays this year! God Bless!
Mix and Match Mama says
I just LOL! Right?! People kept dropping like flies from our Christmas…and then well…it never got better. Sigh.
Rosie says
We did #alltheappetizers on Christmas Eve for YEARS, and then last year my mom confessed that spending all day cooking stressed her out and she wasn’t really able to fully enjoy the holiday. No one should be stressed on Christmas! So instead we changed things up and ordered a bunch of different entrees from the local Chinese restaurant, and it was a HUGE hit. New tradition! Although this year it’ll just be immediately family, it will still be great.
Mix and Match Mama says
Seriously, such WISE ADVICE!!! If your holiday routine is stressing you out, change it!
jordan says
this is very helpful! when it’s your time with Andrew’s family, does his brother’s family come when his parent’s do to see you as well? (I totally get not posting pics of them as I know you have said they want their privacy) Thank you!
Mix and Match Mama says
We almost always see them in Missouri when we go up there and visit (and I almost never talk about those trips here). When his parents are down here doing the holidays with us, that’s their turn to do the holidays with my sister-in-law’s family (so no one is ever alone during the holidays).
Kelly says
We host Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas day for our family. We have the most kids and grandkids, biggest home so it just makes sense. We do traditional TD and ham and sides for CD but I took a page from your book several years ago and we all bring apps for Christmas Eve and I think it’s my favorite:).
Cristy says
Since we have the most kids (4) in our family, we host for Thanksgiving and Christmas- we just say the invitation is open to all and just let us know if you are coming so we can plan how much food! Whomever is coming usually brings one item that they like to make and I adjust my menu that I cook around that. I just ask in advance. We stick with the traditional foods for both holidays, but on Christmas Eve we have my grandfather’s Shrimp Perlou recipe. Shrimp Perlou is a traditional SC Lowcountry dish and is served over rice, and is almost like a soup – we can prep it during the day, and then it’s perfect for after family Christmas Eve service, and it kind of feels like he is with us, even though he passed on several years ago, because the only time we ever cook it is Christmas Eve.
Allena Gurley says
We are so lucky because my husband and I started dating in HS so everyone is local. It makes it so nice to not have to travel and be able to see everyone every holiday. We usually are with my in-laws Thanksgiving day and then my family on Saturday because my dad and sister also have birthdays Thanksgiving week so we do a big celebration. I’m not a huge traditional Thanksgiving person – my favorite food is the chocolate pie my mother-in-law’s sister makes! I could skip turkey completely and just eat pie!
How often do y’all see Andrew’s family in a year? (Normal year, not Covid year) I think it would be hard for me to be so far away, but I’ve never known anything different than everyone being close together!
Mix and Match Mama says
It varies, but I would say we see Andrew’s parents about every 6 to 8 weeks on a normal year. I grew up with all of my family super close by…but I’ve learned over the years being married to Andrew, that I get a lot of quality time when we see his family because we all stay together (versus just popping over to my mom’s for dinner). It’s a blessing I wasn’t aware of until I married Andrew.
Lily says
I have questions for the folks who alternate holiday years with family! I love this idea in theory, but we haven’t been able to make it happen. My in-laws side mostly live within a few hours drive, and so everyone wants to make “just a day trip”, even if my side is visiting…and it’s hard to say no to that. My main question is – on the year you are with Parent Side A, does that mean Parent Side B are all alone? Do people try to get siblings on the same schedule so you can ALL be together every other year, or do you alternate so the parents are not alone every other year?
Mix and Match Mama says
I would love to hear what people do too! For us, we do something different for each set. Andrew’s parents want to alternate (one year with Andrew and his family, the next year with their other son and his family), so they’re never alone and get lots of quality time with each side. My mom however, would rather be alone than not have Sean and I both there with all of our kids. On her “off” year, she does Christmas with both sets of my grandparents and my aunt and uncle (whose kids are spending that holiday with THEIR in-laws). So, they’re not really alone…they’re just all without kiddos.
Allena Gurley says
We are all together so then yes, the ‘other’ family is alone on the ‘off’ year. For example, on Thanksgiving, I spend the day with my in-laws and then do my side of the family on Saturday (but we also have 2 birthdays at the end of November which helps). Sometimes my parents will still see my sister on Thanksgiving day, but not always. Although now that I think more about this, I don’t think my parents are ever alone, it’s my in-laws! For Christmas, we see my parents as a whole family on Christmas Eve, wake up at our house Christmas Day and go to my in-laws late afternoon on Christmas and do Christmas dinner with my in-laws (and my husband’s brother and his family come then too). However, my sister spends 2 nights w/ my parents (even though her family only lives 45 minutes away ha) so my parents aren’t alone on Christmas Day. My in-laws are alone Christmas Day until we all come over in the late afternoon. Sometimes they have both seen their mothers (who are still alive), but this year they won’t due to Covid. Our family has always said we didn’t care what day we celebrated but the priority was being together so more like Shay’s mother.
Alexandra says
We did a traditional Thanksgiving gathering and huge meal with 30+ family members for over 20 years. 2 years ago, our family unit decided to head to our condo in Florida for the week and do Thanksgiving dinner at Capital Grille… you better believe we’re doing that again this year! It’s so lovely to not cook that day!!! Ha! Plus, we are close by to family and see each other very often so there’s no guilt. Christmas Eve, we do a traditional Lithuanian dinner with a traditional stew and seafood meal at my grandparents. We open gifts and it is our “big” celebration! Christmas morning is church and Santa presents. Christmas night is more low key with casual apps and drinks. Everyone brings a gender neutral gift to play “steal-a-gift” and it is the best time!! I’m so happy we’ve finally made it to the most wonderful time of the year!
Joanne says
Since my husband and I grew up in the same town and all our family lives near enough we used to stop and visit each one for every holiday. I put a pretty firm to stop to that once we had kids and while it took us a few years we finally fell into a routine where we still see everyone on/near Christmas but Thanksgiving is just my mom’s family as my in laws go away.
Connie says
Growing up we always had Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve at my grandparents house with extended family. (My dads family lives in another state and he is from a family of 10-so nobody travels on holidays, but we do for family reunion yearly) My Italian grandpa and great uncles always played their accordion’s for awhile and us kids would sit in front of them on the floor and sing along to whatever songs they played. Grandpa would make us guess, which was easy for us. Spaghetti and homemade meatballs were always included besides turkey and all the other food. Pumpkin pie too! Since they passed years ago. My parents have just their five children and our families over for dinner on both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Spaghetti and pumpkin pie included. We also have ham both holidays. We all help with food and each bring a dish. And help clean up.
Christmas Eve was held at a hall to fit our extended family (my mom is from a family of 8) for dinner and gifts. (after my grandma & grandpa passed years ago). Except the last few years now. It just got to be a bit much for people going to both sides of their families. So many wonderful memories! My favorite time of the year!
Emily says
Well, our holidays are going to be totally different this year thanks to Covid but to be honest, I’m secretly looking forward to being home on Christmas Day rather than running from house to house to see family!
Patty Anderson says
Our kids are so scattered (even as far away as Cambodia), so it’s rare that we are able to get together for Thanksgiving. Since my husband doesn’t particularly care for turkey, we have our own tradition of eating his favorite heart healthy spaghetti (which is awesome) and then we drive to the outlet mall in Park City to spend an hour or so when it opens for Black Friday shopping. We barely shop, but there’s something fun about watching the craziness! Then we head home for cocoa and Facetime calls with the rest of the family. This year we’ll be skipping the outing to Park City and just enjoying being snug at home…counting our blessings for surviving 2020 so far.
Susy says
We love Thanksgiving Day—it is a lovely day in slow motion! With the focus on family, not presents and all the other activity, we cook together while watching the parade and dog show. Long distanced for years on opposite coasts, we have been cooking together-apart by Facetime and previous iterations of Zoom for years. We make homemade yeast rolls, cornbread and sausage stuffing, the moistest turkeys and sweet potato casseroles. And a variety of pies. Then, whether together or apart, we all take a post-dinner walk together! It is the loveliest day of the year. Then on the Monday after we decorate! Special respect today to all those families who will be celebrating alone/apart in order to secure the safety of all family members. It will be an especially joyful holiday next year—and we will appreciate it, and each other, all the more!
Lesley says
My family started doing fondue on Christmas Eve a few years ago and we have loved it! I usually make a festive green salad to start and also do some savory meatballs or other app to eat between our cheese and chocolate fondues.
Jen says
My family used to all live out of town so we’d do Thanksgiving with my husbands family. They always do it the day after Thanksgiving so since we didn’t have my family in town, we’d pick up my husbands parents and go eat chinese food on Thanksgiving! Now I’ve recruited a bunch of family to live near me and we do it the day of and invite my husbands parents as well.
Ashley says
Thanks for sharing! I’m curious if you are changing up your plans this year due to Covid. Would love some of your ideas on how to mix up the traditions in a safer way like you did for Halloween.
Mix and Match Mama says
The good news is that this happens to be our Christmas year with Andrew’s parents, so it will just be the eight of us. For Thanksgiving, we’re still nailing that down. I will not be seeing my dad’s parents (for sure) this holiday season.
Kristi says
Yum!! I was just wondering when you grab those soups from Trader Joe’s, how many lunches does it usually last you? Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
If it’s just me eating it, typically two lunches.
Shelly Powers says
So when it’s not your Christmas with “one side” do you do Christmas with them another day or do you just skip presents & get together totally that year? Does it mean if it’s “their Christmas or thanksgiving” they get the actually day but the other fam gets another day (I guess that goes more for Christmas bc presents & kids etc) than thanksgiving!
Also how do y’all does your family do presents with the cousins / kids? Do your parents buy for the grandkids and big kids and y’all buy for the parents too. Do y’all buy for all adults, draw names, play gift games? Same for kids draw names, kids all get presents? Sorry that’s a lot and probably a blog post in and of itself!
My kids are teens and so are the cousins. We try and set a reasonable price $20-$25 dollars but with teens that’s kind of hard bc well… they are expensive! ? So They really only want gift cards and cash and that’s so boring. Wondering how y’all did Christmas when y’all where teens or thoughts on what you think you will do when you have teens (15-18 age)
Mix and Match Mama says
Great questions!! Honestly, you’re right, it could be a blog post! Okay, we will do a smaller version of Christmas in advance on the “off” years. That’s typically, just dinner with one set of parents and we share a few gifts in advance of actual Christmas. We only buy gifts for the immediate family (so not my cousins, aunts, uncles, their kids, etc). I always buy for my parents, grandparents and Sean’s family (as my immediate set)…and then the same for Andrew’s side. My grandparents will buy a “couples” gift for each set of grandkids (there are four) and then something small for each of their great-grandkids.
Belinda says
Hi Shay! What about Christmas day? Is there a special meal or celebration?
Mix and Match Mama says
Ohhhh! Good question!! We typically eat a big breakfast casserole for lunch and soup for dinner. We stay home and stay cozy all day 😉 .
Amanda says
My husband is Jewish so we don’t have to divvy up the holidays!
Lisa says
What kind of covid protocols are you all following for Thanksgiving and Christmas?
Mix and Match Mama says
We are nailing down the details now!
Kim says
My in-laws live 1.5 miles away and my parents, sisters & families, and sisters-in-law live within 20 minutes of our house so we see everyone for every holiday. I host Thanksgiving for both and do all the cooking for my husband’s side. Since we host for my family, we do the big heavy foods — turkey & mashed potatoes — but the rest everyone helps with because my side is a larger group. Christmas we usually do Christmas Eve with my family and order pizza, breadsticks, & salad for after candlelight service. Christmas usually changes year to year with my husband’s side and some years we order KFC and some years it’s a homecooked meal.