Season of Thanks – Pumpkin Pie

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

We don’t celebrate the traditional way.  We got out of “seeing family,” years ago, when we started purposely traveling out-of-town, to avoid having to participate in crazy family things for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We’d say:

“Oh, sorry, we are going to Mi-Wuk village, snow sledding with kiddos.”… 

“Oh, sorry, we are going to Arizona for the Polar Express and seeing Grand Canyon.” 

All to avoid my husband’s sister and mom that decided everything and ruled/over-ruled others.  And we all squeezed into a tiny house (well, it seemed tiny after 35 people were there), and families were all assigned food to bring… and the people who had Pumpkin Pie duty, found the teeniest-tiniest individual serving of pie- thinking no one would want (which was BS for them being cheapskates), and all 35 people would want a sliver of the (2) 4 inch pies.

There were (2) years we went without Pumpkin Pie (because someone else that had pie duty, decided to bring 1 Pumpkin and various others- guess what everyone wanted?  A slice of each!) and I was devastated.  Because, I don’t care (or like) any other Thanksgiving food.  To me, Thanksgiving meal = PUMPKIN PIE and Ready Whip or Cool Whip- I’m flexible with my topping.

After those couple of years with his family, my husband promised we would always have pie and does our Costco shopping and will bring home that HUGE one from Costco for our family of (4.)  Hahaha.  We were happy. We will never go without Pumpkin Pie again! 🙂

After a few years of traveling, everyone’s Thanksgiving plans changed and there was no longer a big family event.  Now, we are no longer “forced” to leave town to avoid family.  (good- because we can’t afford more trips) My husband will typically grill some meat, as we don’t care for Turkey or cranberry sauce.  Instead of candied yams (GROSS- EW-ACK), we’ll have a healthier version for the kiddos.  Sweet Potatoes/Yams microwaved, cut up and rolled into balls… and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.  They love these sweet-potato-balls!

So this year, we have been so busy packing and getting our condo ready to sell, and last night met with a realtor.  I completely forgot about Thursday’s meal.  My hubby said “I’m off to the store, what do we need?”

“Meat.  Sweet Potato, regular potato, corn on cob.  Lettuce for salad. Biscuits”

Notice anything missing?  He comes home with everything, including a pumpkin pie!  GASP.  I had completely forgotten all about PIE.  That has never happened in my life!  Ever!  He was laughing with me.  He was like, wait a minute, is that a trick list?  Were you testing me?  Food for Thanksgiving never entered my mind once this season, including dessert!

I am so THANKFUL, my hubby remembered the pumpkin pie!  I would have seen a commercial during dinner (showing pie)  and would have cried if we didn’t have any.