Spice Up Your Thanksgiving with a Theme: From Football to Indians

So we are all well aware that Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of October here in the states. We know that we will wake up to the same old parade on the tube and trek off to the relatives for too much turkey and too many naps. We will listen to Aunt Sally drone on about her gout and Uncle Fred about his diabetic test strips and wonder how long till we can go home.

This year why not spice it up? I'm thinking a themed Thanksgiving. Now we can do this a couple ways. You can throw caution to the wind and spice up the menu with some non-traditional dishes and some fancy new cocktails. For instance if you want to inject your turkey with jalapeno butter, throw some cilantro in your stuffing, and serve mojitos, you have created a Mexican themed Thanksgiving. These kind of non-traditional Thanksgiving ideas I could come up with all day. I think if your going to really do it up, why not really put yourself out there.

Pilgrims and Indians

If you are married and both sides of the family come for the holiday, how much fun will this be. Leave the food as it is. Go traditional there but let each side of the family know that they will be required to dress as the family is designated, Pilgrim or Indian. Now of course this is to be taken in good fun and not get overly serious about , but when it comes right down to it, this is an awesome picture opportunity and something that everyone will remember forever! Just try and be annoyed with Uncle Fred and his test strips when he is wearing a headdress. Think of how funny it will be when the family drinkers are running around in Pilgrim garb and cussing like the sailors they are. Good Times will ensue, I'm sure of it!

Football Frenzy

I know in many families, as in mine, Thanksgiving is about the football Gods. Well why don't we pick a spotlight game and have half of the family dress as one team and the other half as the opposition. This can create a ton of fun when one family member has to dress in the team that he doesn't really want to win. I would suggest decking out the house like it is the Superbowl and having some squares on hand for a little harmless wager. You should have all the standard football munchies for game time and maybe make a nice football shaped Jello mold to serve with dinner. I think a nice way to end the evening would be if the losing team/family gets dish duty. Fun right? Well as long as your team wins.

Happy Harvest

This one seems simple. Your kids do it at school. They make the crafts and learn about the fall harvest. Many families choose to celebrate their Thanksgiving in this manner, rather than the Pilgrim and Indian way. This may not aggravate and annoy your husband or wives family members like the other two options, but it will be memorable. I would suggest loading the house with fall colors and fruits and veggies of all assortments. Then maybe ask each family coming to bring a small dish made from their favorite harvest time pick. Oh yes, and of course please come in your best gardening or farming outfit. Overalls are optional but oh so fun to wear.

However you decide to celebrate your Thanksgiving, know that it doesn't have to be the same monotonous evening that it usually is. Have fun with it! Make it game night or break out the Karaoke machine after dessert. Remember that this is a time for family and thanks, make it enjoyable.