My dad was a chef in the Army. Like many WW2 Veterans He didn’t talk about the Army much, but when WW2 was over, he used his GI Bill go to college and majored in Hotel and Restaurant Management.
Sgt Phaneuf
Food was his calling and every Thanksgiving he helped my mom in the kitchen. We never went out for Thanksgiving Dinner because he was a chef. Cranberry Sauce and brown gravy were his Thanksgiving cooking assignments from my mom. Sgt Phaneuf was underemployed in the family kitchen but took his assignments from my mom on the holiday menu seriously and without questioning her homemakers authority. Sgt Phaneuf delivered the Cranberry Sauce and brown gravy at home on time and to perfection. I remember each year He ground fresh red cranberries with lemons and orange peel and lots of white sugar into a magnificent, sweet but tart cranberry sauce- to die for, as they say.
After my dad passed, I found this menu from his WW2 days in 1941. It gave me a better understanding of him and what He did in the Army serving 2000+ men for Thanksgiving Dinner during WW2.
What’s Thanksgiving Dinner menu without cranberry sauce and stuffing?
The Army menu had chestnut stuffing, cranberry sauce, fudge, cigars and beer. Sounds good to me.
Dad knew how to make cranberry sauce for 2000+ soldiers. On Thanksgiving Day, He made a special cranberry sauce for the 6 members of our family. Cranberry Sauce made in the kitchen by my Dad was a big part of our family tradition and celebration. PS - Unlike the Army menu, there were no beer or cigars for us kids….
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Macys Day Parade Tradition
We watched the Macys Day Parade from New York on TV Thanksgiving morning and ate Thanksgiving Dinner at 1 pm. That was our family tradition.
Today 2023 - New Family Traditions
Tessa and I have now relocated to Georgia. I know many of You 50+ News readers have now retired, moved, and possibly become grandparents. Now on Thanksgiving Day, instead of serving Thanksgiving Dinner at your home you may now go to your kid’s house for Thanksgiving or go out for dinner.
Today, Tessa and I will be going on a 2 mile walk in the morning and out to Thanksgiving Dinner and then to a movie. Cranberry sauce will be made by someone unknown at the restaurant. It won’t be like Dads, Im sure. Going out to dinner and a Thanksgiving Day Opening movie is our new tradition now that the kids are grown up.
This year the movie will be Napoleon, from the director of Gladiator and Black Hawk Down. It opens on Thanksgiving Day 2023. Not a chick flick, or Hallmark Movie for sure.
Happy Thanksgiving 2023!
Whatever you do be grateful and have a great Thanksgiving!
What are your memories or new traditions on this Thanksgiving Day 2023?
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