Every year we go over to my paternal Grandparents’ house and have a delicious Thanksgiving feast. My grandparents are both from Hawai’i, but they’ve traveled and lived all over the world, including six years in Germany when my dad was growing up.

Because of this, our meals are always a melting pot of food from all over the world. Whenever I eat at family gatherings, I can just taste the love in the food. It makes you warm all over, especially when you know everything is home made.

This year we had:

• Turkey with Gravy
• Cranberry Sauce
• Green Beans
• Candied Yams
• Rolls
• Mashed Potatoes
• Stuffing/Dressing
• Guava Chiffon Pie
• Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
• Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (I used this recipe)

I really love my grandma’s yams and stuffing. Some of the stuffing she bakes inside the turkey and some she bakes outside so she can mix them together to get the perfect consistency. After we eat our big dinner at around 3pm, we drink some coffee, watch football, and play games.

We usually end up at home around 9pm, where my dad has been making his “Aorta Soup” in the slow-cooker all day. It’s that little something that hits the spot after a big, early meal so you don’t go to bed hungry. I don’t know how all the flavors are still fresh and vegetables still crispy after stewing several hours, but this soup is delicious. Sadly, no pictures of that since I ate mine up immediately before heading home.

What are some traditions you have for when you’re with your family?

Thanks to my mom and sister for snapping pictures!