Things you cheat eat before Thanksgiving dinner

[NanceGreggs]

8. "Dinner is scheduled for 3pm ...

... so we will probably eat around seven."

My dear friend (now sadly departed) used to talk about the one Thanksgiving dinner her mother cooked.

Marguerite told everyone (about twenty people) that dinner would be served at 3 pm. - but never having cooked a turkey (or much of anything else) before, she put it in the oven at a very low temp.

She eventually served dinner when the turkey was finally cooked - at 11:15 p.m.

As my friend related, there was NO chit-chat at the dinner table. People were so hungry, there wasn't a moment to be spared in staving off imminent death caused by starvation.

After that experience, my friend always advised that the smart hostess, who wants to avoid unpleasant or confrontational table-talk, simply tells her guests they'll be eating at least eight hours before food is actually put on the table.