My favorite Thanksgiving meal is just what we have every year. My family gathers at the house of my sister (the one who is not a former chef), who cooks and cooks and cooks some more. My sister puts tons of food on the table--corn, peas and carrots, brussel sprouts, broccoli, candied apples and yams, a couple of different mashed potatoes (plain, cheese and garlic), cranberry sauce, that green bean casserole with the crunchy topping, spanakopita (I have no idea how this came into tradition), a mushroom casserole, corn biscuits, crescent rolls, huge bowls of stuffing, wonderful home-made gravy and one big mama turkey. This is supplimented with bottles of beaujolais nouveau, white zinfandel and sparkling cider, along with chocolate milk and iced tea for the kids.
After we manage to get everyone and all the food at the table, we say grace, clink all our glasses together in toast and then dive in. For the first serving, everyone grabs some turkey and stuffing and whatever side dish is nearby or is their favorite. For the second go-round, we go for more turkey and stuffing and whatever sides we missed the first time. Afterwards, the men folk waddle to the living room to watch the games while the wimmin clear the table (sorry--that's just the way it works out in my family. I offer to help every year but I'm always told to get out of the way.) Eventually, dessert is served. We never do anything elaborate--pumpkin and coconut custard pies, maybe a cheese cake, with ice cream and/or whipped cream, served with coffee.
And now I am hungry.