Well, I have to admit to the time the oven wasn't working and I didn't notice until about 1 hour before everyone was supposed to arrive. It had been working the night before when I baked the pies, but...
We got out the Weber grill and, luckily had plenty of charcoal and put the turkey in and hoped for the best. Dinner was served two hours late, but was very good.

This was one of those luck mishaps since we found out how good turkey done in the Weber was. We usually do one at some point during the holiday season, but do the traditional roasted turkey for Thanksgiving.

The family can be very unforgiving if traditions are deviated from. Of course, that means that old Baltimore favorite, sauerkraut with the meal, along with the way-to-sweet-for-me candied sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top.

One year, when I was a teenager, my mom insisted on making the stuffing from scratch. She spent hours cubing bread and putting together this elaborate stuffing. Well, my family all arrives and my aunt, always wanting to be helpful but never quite is, insists on carrying the stuffing into the dining room. She takes all of two steps and drops the very heavy casserole dish sending stuffing and glass everywhere. She is in tears, mom is ticked and my cousin (the offending aunt's daughter) and I ended up throwing together about 3 boxes of Stovetop. Thank God my mom had the foresight to at least have some in the pantry!! Ever since, my Aunt has stayed out of the kitchen and not offered to help.

Another year, my Mom managed to drop one of the pumpkin pies onto her hand as it came out of the oven resulting in a third burn on her hand. Never a dull moment!

Although not a cooking distaster, three years ago on the Monday morning of Thanksgiving week I woke up to a horrible case of the flu. After speaking with my mother that day to catch up on all of our holiday plans, she promptly phoned my sisters and informed them of my health status. In fear of spreading germs to their children, I was UNINVITED to Thanksgiving dinner. Yes...uninvited!!! I had been set to fly out the following morning. I was horrified and thought my holiday would be a disaster, but it turned into a wonderful opportunity to redefine the holiday on my terms that has persisted.

I have since learned to embrace non-traditional holiday celebrations. I know many visitors to this site don't agree, but there is something to be said for bucking tradition.

i dont know if this counts, but last year i had thanksgiving at my boyfriend's house, and his family makes these ridiculous martinis. after a few of them, i managed to both insult several family members by referring to them as "old," as well as break one his mother's crystal wine glasses. oops! luckily i hid the glass and didnt get blamed for it (i dont think!)

Every year when we were kids, my parents and aunt and uncle would take us to Ocean City for Thanksgiving weekend. Mom and my aunt would cook our Thanksgiving dinner for 8 people in the little efficiency kitchens in our motel rooms. One year, my uncle watched Chef Tell carve a turkey on television and he decided he would do the same technique on Thanksgiving day. Somehow, my uncle's carving job ended up not with perfect slices, but with cubes. My uncle has not been allowed to carve a turkey for 30 years.

Amie, I'm quite sure they noticed the missing crystal wine glass, and I'm willing to bet you got the blame. If you are still together with this boyfriend and get invited back this year, my advice is to go easy on the martinis and after the hostess has had a few, 'fess up.

My husband, who is a chef, had one too many tequilas with the kitchen staff, after work, the Wed night before Thansgiving. He came home at a decent enough hour, considering he was cooking for 12 at our house the next day. He fell asleep on the sofa and at some point rolled off the sofa in the night and broke his nose on the coffee table. Two black eyes and a broken nose made for great family conversation and dinner was still awesome!

SG:
I agree with bucking tradition. My husband and I either spend Thanksgiving with his family or mine; we alternate years.
One year, we told my family that we would be with his family, and we told his family that we would be with my family. IT WAS THE BEST EVER. We had an incredibly relaxing, intimate Thanksgiving with just the two of us.
Great NEW tradition. :)
Mrs. Braun