I remember going to a friends place in college for Thanksgiving and we were eating at 1:00. I didn't expect that so I had a big breakfast. I still gorged myself but I made sure to ask when they ate after that.

At my brother's, usually at 3ish.

Don't serve till Uncle Fred is drunk, kids are fighting and the turkey is dried out. But you're still waiting for the relative who swore they would leave early and is bringing the mashed potatoes. And is an hour late.

'Afters' if ya want--brandies, etc.

I like evening. I have a glass of wine and sample the hors d'oevres at my leisure...

On the west coast.

Sadly, that's varied more and more the last few years due to share custody and the like. Last year it was a traditional Thursday dinner with my kids. This year it's being punted to Saturday and it just feels damn weird again.

half my family. I am in MA btw.

I am facing social death this year. The friend who usually bails me out has no plans, either.

Anyone in the Bay Area is welcome to rescue me.

And the kid will be busy watching the Lions game.

As the younger members of our extended family married and acquired families of their own, there got to be too many conflicts to be able to accommodate 30 or 35 people. We had four generations in two rooms at four separate tables.

Plus, after their bellies were full, most of them simply hauled ass, leaving grandma and I, and one granddaughter, to clear the tables, wash, dry and put away the dishes, package up the leftovers, and finally sit down for a couple of toddies.

But in answer to your question, when we did it we normally served the dinner at about 4 pm and sometimes it was 9:30 or 10 by the time it was all over.

but that's only because my wife has to work until 6. Otherwise I'd be shooting for around 3 or 4. Pacific Northwest by way of New England.

and served mid afternoon. They were covered dish affairs, everybody brought something and we all cooked and cleaned up. It was the holiday everybody hid from their families so we'd have something to be thankful for.

My mother was 2 PM on the dot for all holiday dinners.

Wise apple answer!!!

We have what we call a "misfit" Thanksgiving tradition that started years ago after many of our friends went thru divorces.....and had no place to go. So we opened up our house, and we have an event that lasts all day long. Well noon to midnight.

There is an antipasti platter/appetizers and cocktails that starts at noon, football and cocktails in the early afternoon, as well as fishing and cocktails down on the 'crick' ( ask your husband about that word), then the Thanksgiving buffet and cocktails is spread out at 3 , at sunset the bonfire and cocktail portion of the evening begins, more football and cocktails, after dinner drinks and cocktails, and night caps and cocktails.

Last year we had 60+ folks pass through. If folks are unable to drive home they are welcome to stay.

Alka Selzer for breakfast

Then you had me at afternoon cocktails, crick cocktails, Thanksgiving buffet cocktails, bonfire cocktails, football cocktails, after dinner drink cocktails, and nightcap cocktails.

What's your address again?

We're not into the Thanksgiving-as-lunch thing.

We're in Oregon AND, YES, WE ALWAYS SERVE SALAD! (See this) http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7373953

In southeast Michigan.
Have plenty of snack platters during the game. I won't serve the turkey before the game for fear of a turkey leg being flung at the tv screen.
Yes it has happened....more than once.

could ruin the atmosphere if people take it too seriously

Enjoy that fine meal.

I am a long time, disappointed, Lions fan.

Just having fun...

each family is assigned a food/beverage to bring. The food is served at 4pm. (Minnesota)

Many years ago we went to a smaller family gathering at my brother's SIL's house. They served the Thanksgiving at noon. After the meal, the food was cleared and put into the refrigerator. The leftovers were then brought out at 5 pm and everyone started to eat again. That was a long day.

Who the hell wants to eat a giant meal at 1:30?

No turkey, screw that noise, I hate turkey. It's grilled T-bone steaks covered with mushrooms sauteed in garlic.

Then we snack all afternoon until the stragglers show up for dinner, at which time we continue the gluttony until 8 or 9 when we shuffle out to our vehicles and return home.

... a very accomplished cook (actually an accomplished everything) except when it came to whatever bread we were having. Became the stuff of lore! I don't remember ever having a holiday meal that wasn't accompanied by the smell of burnt bread! Making me nostalgic.

The first whiff of burning bread prompted someone to declare dinner was ready. She burned the rolls every year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, like clockwork. It elicits such vivid visceral memories. My mother was an OK cook with a limited repertoire (I never tasted a green pepper or squash until I was 19). On Thanksgiving and Christmas, she made easy peasy recipes, as an example what my entire family came to refer to as The Pink Stuff.

I have a funny story about sitting down at the chow hall when I was first in the USAF. I forget what the meal was, but there were biscuits. I set my tray down, got seated, and picked up the biscuit, turned it over, said "Huh!" and set it down.

Everybody at the table was looking at me strangely, wondering why I was so impressed with the biscuit. When I explained to them that I'd never had a biscuit with the bottom still on, because my mother always burned them to the pan, it cracked everybody up.

had to tell that story many, many times after that, because everyone thought it was hilarious.

I bring the food. I cook the day before and then take it to my Dad and stepmothers house, Thanksgiving day.

I'm in the South.

Fuck em if they don't like it

Thug life

My turkey waits for no one and I got shit to do

I have teenage boys. We live in SC but are from FL.

Virginia

If not, we will eat at 2 or 3 ish here on Thurs.

Last two years found that cooking the turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and pie the day before made things much easier on the day - just potatoes and peas!

Last edited Mon Nov 23, 2015, 07:43 PM - Edit history (1)

And there is often oyster stuffing or fried oysters.

Hors d' oeuvres at 1, dinner at 2.



We're in SoCal.

Everyone likes the leftovers better.

My family all lives between Pittsburgh and the Shenandoah Valley.

Thanksgiving is not a holiday here, and I still work for a living, as do most of the people who come. So we have it on Friday evening to give people (we are expecting 20) time to get here. My wife has ordered an 18 Kilogram turkey from a local farm. Like Art Buchwald said, it's the one time of year when the Americans eat better than the French do.

My wife and I make Blackberry cobbler from the ones I had gathered and put up. It is always so tasty.

A fellow canner! Comrade!

I always serve canned raspberries (or defrosted frozen ones) in my grandmother's depression glass berry dishes at Christmas breakfast.

We make blackberry dumplings at least once in the winter. A favorite treat. And I make cranberry flummery for Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve.

After cooking for 2 days and feasting I must have time to plant my ass on the couch, watch some football, doze off, then eat again, watch some football, doze off . . . I've planned carefully for all this and none of the elements can be rushed.

This year we're totally breaking from tradition and having it at 6pm on Wednesday, and instead of fixing everything from scratch, dinner is going to be catered.

We usually have 14-17 people, but we'll just be having 4 (myself, hubby and the kids) this year. We are going to veg out on Thanksgiving day, pick at leftovers, and spend time planning our shopping strategy for Friday, which now includes a new microwave and oven, which is why dinner is being catered. Sooo, I guess we're lucky that our conservative family members backed out over the weekend. Between my pending rotator cuff surgery, my husband's fingertip reconstruction, my one SILs foot reconstruction, our microwave and oven being on the fritz, I'm thinking this break from tradition is probably a good thing. It is always entertaining when the prepper conservatives, progressives/liberals and gun-humping wiccans get together for family dinner

The restaurant will let you add quantity, but the menu is set. It still sounds like we'll have plenty of leftovers for $139 (that's to serve 5). The menu reads as 9lb boneless turkey breast, pumpkin stuffed ravioli, mashed potatoes, sun dried tomato/basil stuffing, tossed salad, steamed broccoli, brussel sprouts, gravy, pancetta/almond green beans, glazed carrots, wild rice, and vanilla bean and pumpkin gelato.

I may supplement w/ my apricot spice cranberry sauce and a pumpkin pie.

it was always served about 5 pm or earlier.

but I imagine it will take at least 1/2 an hour to start serving.

We are in North Carolina, but not natives.

Growing up, we usually had Thanksgiving dinner around 4 pm in the afternoon.

earlier when I was a kid in the 50s.

I am doing the turkey, giblet gravy, cornbread dressing, sweet potatoes, asparagus and green pea casserole, and banana pudding. Guest are bringing over dishes, bread, beverages.

We eat all day, thereafter!

We love to gather around as a family and cook, eat and be merry.

but my health issues got in the way of that this year. In fact, I am amazed that I'm even going out to Thanksgiving this year...my son is driving, tho, so it's all good...

When nobody's had any lunch because I told them to get out of the kitchen (so they're all good and hungry), but not so late that we all have acid reflux and indigestion.

Usually around 1:30-2:00.

I eat and then I head back to work.

4 PM at my aunt's house this Thursday.

But also 11:30 AM earlier today at my girlfriend's workplace.

I'm in Illinois. My husband does all the cooking, so after everyone leaves about 5 it gives me time to do all the dishes before we are ready for our turkey sandwiches near 8pm.

Something like turkey-asparagus-and gaucamole omlets, and sweet potato hash-browns with cranberries, whip-cream and crushed walnuts...

By 9 AM all those that wanted could be out shopping, those who didn't want to go shop could... well... LEAVE anyway.

SO put the ky-bash on the suggestion.

and then again later that night.

Cocktails start at breakfast.

In theory, halftime of the Cowboys game. Not that we are Cowboys fans mind you.

What, you thought I was Canadian or something?

I smoke the bird just about every year and given its non-precise nature....when its done. Makes it hard on me because I have to tell the wife when to make the garlic mashed potatoes. Of course the mulled wine makes the decision to tell her also "non-precise"

A very few years when the weather was horrid/snowy, we ate at 2 p.m. so people who had to drive 100 miles could get back on the road sort of early. No one EVER cancels, or almost never!

Pretty much.. I will probably call about 4pm.. after that, its anyone's guess. On the menu this year, dungeness crab, which I like better than Peking duck.

but not so late that everybody is passed out from hunger. We snack the rest of the day, and then have leftovers for a week.

I do all the cooking, middle son will carve up the bird, and then I get to do the clean up. I think I'm going to ask for help for that this year.

My family eats between 4pm and 5pm.

we do the same. It's tradition.

depending on how things are going in the kitchen.

We like to have dinner early, then hang out, watch football, play board games, and graze the left-overs now and then.

We wouldn't have dinner at 7 pm on any day. My elderly mom doesn't want to drive home in the dark. While my horses can, upon rare occasion, wait until later for me to get home to do barn chores and feed them, I usually try to be home by 5 or 6. I'm fine with driving home in the dark, but I'm ready for bed at 8:30 on work nights. I do stay up later when I don't have to be up at 4:30 in the morning, I'm still not great company after 6.

Earlier if it's just the family. We like to leave the evening for whatever blockbuster movie is around.

but this year my son is working on Thanksgiving so we will be having our big dinner the following Saturday.

as an adult .... making the meal .... hopefully before 6:00PM

Then 10 people dropped to 3 -

So 3 at 3 at a restaurant!

We are cooking Italian food for 12 people instead - at 4 pm on Friday!

But we got so we told my sister we were eating at noon since she was always late.

Now most years we drive over to my in laws who are in a different time zone. They usually get food set out by about mid-afternoon, maybe 3 our time, around 2 their time. It really sucks since we have a two hour drive there and get up early to organize what we're taking. By the time they are serving, we're completely famished. I might throw a candy bar in my purse or go out for a coffee to keep me going.

This year I'm taking a pecan pie and a key lime pie - and making an extra key lime pie to eat at home. Over the weekend I'm cooking our own turkey dinner so we have leftovers. I also bought a ham - spiral sliced, fully cooked so we already cut it up and packaged it into portions for two to four dinners worth each. We'll do the same with the turkey so we can have "holiday" style meals for months and months!

I grew up in Central Florida, my in laws are in Panama City, Florida though my husband's parents were both from Minneapolis.

Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, always 1pm. You can set your watch by it (for real, it's crazy!). It used to be noon until about 15 years ago when a batch got old roughly at the same time, so we pushed it back one hour and kept it there ever since.

I couldn't imagine doing supper for it, though. Oh gods, that's terrifying.

earlier than usual - 2:00 - so everyone can get back on the road home before it gets too icy. Some are coming from Wyoming and will probably take dessert back. We do start at 10 w/ mimosas and hors d'oeuvres, so hope folks will still be hungry by 2.

What can I bring?
Have a happy Thanksgiving.

start about 11 and hope we're still sober enough to eat at 2:00.

After the meal with belts loose and top button undone, we switch to cranberry juice and vodka.

First, my daughter, her husband and my granddaughter usually go to Disneyland or Disney World (they alternate) the day after Thanksgiving and will be gone a week or so. I don't want a lot of left-overs so we don't cook a lot of food. This year I was willing to settle for a small turkey breast but daughter insisted on a whole bird. A friend of mine brought over a huge 2 foot stalk of Brussels sprouts so we cut it in half -- she took one half and I have the other. I bought one sweet potato as son-in-law and I are the only ones who like them. Stuffing is right out of a box -- no muss, no fuss and it always is edible, if not actually good. Handy little packets of turkey gravy powder -- never a lump. Maybe/maybe not make instant mashed potatoes. Costco's pumpkin pie ends the meal. Last year I made a couple of jars of cranberry sauce and one is left -- so I don't even have to make that.

Secondly, they are all football fans and I really don't like watching it, so we don't actually sit down for Thanksgiving meal. When the food is finished cooking, everything is lined up on the counter top and everyone makes up their own plate. They go to the family room and watch football while they eat and I go to my room and watch, well, anything other than football or I go to my desk and cruise the internet. Hmm, come to think of it, this describes dinner every night.

In prior years this process started mid-afternoon, but this year, granddaughter doesn't get off work until 5:45 so it will be a later dinner.

We have Thanksgiving lunch.

We eat around 1 p.m. EDT.

We snack and eat leftovers for the rest of the day.

We always play board games, cards, word games etc.

We listen to music and just enjoy the day and the people in our lives.

Now it is whatever time people schedules allow.

The feasting is between 1 and 4. Some of the family always comes out and helps get things done for the evening chores - there's always that percentage who enjoy being outside moving/working with the animals after the feast.

After we're done we play cards and drink some more into the night

My mum is Irish but she still always set the timetable for Thanksgiving feast in the afternoon as well.

But we have little finger foods family members snack on throughout the day.

Gather at noon, dinner around 2. Out here on the left coast, gather around 3 and dinner around 5.....I say around as it's always "flexible".

Since it's just the two of us, and my husband's least favorite food is poultry. my annual indulgence to ME. is whenever I feel like cooking