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(Daily readings from the USCCB)Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Luke 17:17-18Happy Thanksgiving! Though Thanksgiving Day is not specifically a Catholic holy day, it certainly goes hand in hand with our life of faith.Spiritually speaking, we all know that gratitude is central to the Gospel message. Thanksgiving Day presents us with the perfect opportunity to look at this particular aspect of our faith. We are called to be eternally and deeply grateful. How grateful to God are you?Perhaps we all...

“Is There Anything in America to Be Thankful for Anymore?” (Psalm 73; Malachi 3:13-18; Deuteronomy 8:1-10) The fourth Thursday in November is set aside to be the Day of National Thanksgiving. That’s the reason why we have the day off from work. Because this is when all Americans are supposed to go to their churches and give thanks to God for his blessings on our nation. Ha! Yeah, right. How many people actually do that? Not many. Give thanks to God on Thanksgiving Day? Are you kidding? That would interfere with our Thanksgiving! No, we need the time to baste...

“Giving Thanks in--and for--2020” (Philippians 4:6-20) We have come together today to celebrate America’s Day of National Thanksgiving. This is the time every year when we gather in our churches to give thanks to God for his blessings on our country. However, this year is 2020. And if you listen to most folks, you would think there is nothing to be thankful for this year. But is that really the case? Today I want to tell you that it is possible to have a happy Thanksgiving this year, under the theme, “Giving Thanks in--and for--2020.” All of our readings today...

Deputy national security adviser K.T. McFarland dodged on Sunday when asked whether President Trump plans to name her as the U.S. ambassador to Singapore, saying only that “there are changes coming.” McFarland’s status in the Trump administration has been in question following the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn, who reportedly chose her for the job. Flynn resigned in February after misleading Vice President Pence and the public about his conversations with a Russian diplomat. “The president and I have had a number of conversations over the last two months, really, about what my role would continue to be...

“America’s Day of National Thanksgiving” (Deuteronomy 8:1-10) Ah, Thanksgiving! Turkey, football, movies, and the start of the holiday shopping season. No, wait, the holiday shopping season started back around Labor Day, I think. But seriously, is that what Thanksgiving has come to? Turkey, football, movies, and shopping? An opportunity to eat 2,000 calories in one meal, then fall asleep on the couch from all the tryptophan in the turkey? Or is it so guys can watch three football games in a row, from morning till evening? Or for the ladies to watch three Hallmark Christmas movies in a row? Then...

On Thanksgiving Day, we remember with reverence and gratitude the bountiful blessings afforded to us by our Creator, and we recommit to sharing in a spirit of thanksgiving and generosity with our friends, neighbors, and families. Nearly four centuries ago, determined individuals with a hopeful vision of a more prosperous life and an abundance of opportunities made a pilgrimage to a distant land. These Pilgrims embarked on their journey across the Atlantic at great personal risk, facing unforeseen trials and tribulations, and unforetold hardships during their passage. After their arrival in the New World, a harsh and deadly winter took...

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The Curmudgeon's Home Companion is the one food publication that speaks out about the virtues of cholesterol, rips the veil off the insanity of vegetarians and the dangers of low-fat fodder, and that tells the ugly truth about restaurant food that's more art than edible. It's the place to look every month for interesting, delicious and well-tested recipes that won't leave you either broke or exhausted. And it's so much fun, even people who never cook can't wait for it to arrive each month.Featured on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt and in newspapers around the country, The Curmudgeon's Home...

RECIPES FOR CHRISTMAS Plan for your Christmas Feast and Gifts HERE!Holiday Ham with Fruit and Root Beer Glazed   BOILING AND SYRUP INGREDIENTS: 6  12oz bottles root beer (high quality) 1 red apple, sliced 1 green apple, sliced 1 cup red seedless grapes 1/2 orange, sliced 1/2 tsp cloves cracked black pepper to taste 1 tsp file (ground sassafras) BOILING HAM:1) Place ham in a heavy-bottomed black iron pot or dutch oven. 2) Surround the ham with apples, grapes, orange and cloves. Add root beer and dust with cracked black pepper and file. 3) Bring to a rolling boil...

  The 11 Commandments of a THANKSGIVING DINNER ..Food, Fun, and recipes!To-Do's, to make your Holiday brighter..1) Make a list and check it twice.. Plan your menu in advance, and for heaven sakes write it down.. Pull out the recipes and jot down the ingredients and check to see if you have everything on hand to complete the meal without having to run to the store at the last minute.. Be sure to check the expiration date on spices and milks and dated stuff.. There isn't a good time on the day of a big dinner to run to any...

As many of you know by now, every year we post an annual Thanksgiving thread to get things off on the right foot for our holiday festivities.. Well, it's that time again, when we old timers dust off the holiday recipes. For you newcomers, just bear with us, it won't take long, and you could just move on if this is too corny for you to handle. Otherwise, cut and paste, and have a great Thanksgiving.. This is a bit early because I will once again be on the great oceans this years cookin and spinnin my tales of the...

Red Badger's Great Giblet Gravy 1 pkg giblets from the turkey (Liver, Neck, Gizzard and Heart) 1 16oz pkg chicken livers 1 16oz pkg chicken gizzards 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper 2 cubes chicken bouillon 2 stalks celery, diced 2 medium yellow onions, diced 1 quart hot water (to begin) 2 cans chicken broth OR 1 can and 1 1/2 cups turkey drippings 6 hard-boiled eggs, diced 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/2 cup COLD milk Directions: In a large pot, 4qt or similar, boil ALL the giblets, salt, pepper, bouillon, celery, onion and water for 1...

While searching for some older threads for a friend I ran across some of my favorite threads ever - Thanksgiving recipe threads! My wife and I continue to insist that all of our kids and grandchildren join us for at least one holiday feast each year, either Thanksgiving or Christmas. As part of the celebration we home cook all that we can, and way more than we will ever need. Everyone must participate in making part of the meal, even if minor. Everyone joins in on the cleanup, and everyone gets to choose their leftovers to take with them. I...

Let's figure out this Duck in a Noose thing

I originally began this cooking thread because – during my many years as a ‘lurker’ here before signing up – I greatly enjoyed the annual Thanksgiving cooking threads that I would see. (Somewhere on my hard drive, I’m sure I have many Freeper recipes that were posted over the years before I officially arrived on the scene.) Now, the holiday season is getting into gear, and Thanksgiving is on the near horizon once again. Please share with us your family favorites, traditions, and your memories of this very American of holidays. We’ve noted many times before that people really don’t...

“Though the Fig Tree Should Not Blossom” (Habakkuk 3:17-19) A long time ago, as a young man, I decided to go backpacking in the Sierra Mountains of California. I had cousins who lived in Fresno, so I went out there and stayed with them for a couple days before heading up to the mountains. They had an above-ground swimming pool, and there were some fig trees right alongside the edge of the pool, within arm’s reach. So here I am, on a nice sunny California day, swimming around in a swimming pool, picking these delicious figs right off the tree...

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION On Thanksgiving Day, as we have for nearly four centuries, Americans give thanks to Almighty God for our abundant blessings. We gather with the people we love to show gratitude for our freedom, for our friends and families, and for the prosperous Nation we call home. In July 1620, more than 100 Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower, fleeing religious persecution and seeking freedom and opportunity in a new and unfamiliar place. These dauntless souls arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the freezing cold of December 1620. They were greeted by sickness...

In the Army, where I have the privilege of serving, there’s an unspoken rule that no service member celebrates Thanksgiving alone. If word gets out that a soldier doesn’t have a place to go for the holiday, other soldiers will invite him or her to share a meal and celebrate. Our creed to never leave a fallen comrade isn’t just meant for times of war; it’s a way of life. All soldiers are reminded that they are members of a tight-knit community – a bond that’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s society. While it’s nearly impossible to duplicate the closeness...

“Three Words for Thanksgiving: Think, Thank, Talk” (Philippians 4:6-20) Today I have three words for you. These are three things you can do to celebrate this Day of Thanksgiving. They are three words that are easy for you to remember for the rest of this day. And here they are: “Three Words for Thanksgiving: Think, Thank, Talk.” We find all three of these ideas present in the Epistle lesson for today, from Philippians 4. First of all, we’ll start with the word “Think.” Paul addresses his brothers at the congregation in Philippi and he says: “Whatever is true, whatever is...

“Thanking God for His First-Article Gifts” (Apostles’ Creed) Thanksgiving is a time for “Thanking God for His First-Article Gifts.” What do I mean by that? I mean all the good gifts our heavenly Father gives us that are summarized in the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed. Let’s turn there, shall we? Page 322 in your hymnal. We’ll read that article of the Creed itself and then the explanation from the catechism. Together: “The First Article: Creation. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. What does this mean? I believe that God has made me...