Home is where you wear your sweatpants . . .

We've all heard this fact bandied about: Americans gain an average of seven pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's. The bubby, hubby, and I spent the Thanksgiving holiday at my parents. While there, I did my best to turn an oft-quoted statistic into a reality. It was not difficult, what with the Thanksgiving feast my mom prepared and my parents' willingness to indulge my cravings for Cincinnati favorites while I am at home.

Here is just sample of what I consumed over the course of five days:

Papa John's: I've said it before. I love the Papa and miss him when I'm away.
Gold Star: I'm more a Skyline girl, but Gold Star is closer. Regular three way with coney (add mustard but no onion). The meal deal was not complete without a Dr. Pepper.
Frisch's: Swiss Miss, onion rings, and a cup of vegetable soup. A Diet Vanilla Coke with the best crushed ice ever (one on Friday, another on Saturday). Big Boy, how I love thee.
LaRosas: Papa is not my one and only.
Funnel Cake: My brother-in-law waited in line for one at the Cincinnati Zoo's Festival of Lights. I did my part to help him out with it.
Hot Pretzel: My mom made some Friday night as we watched football. My dad tracked more down at the zoo on Saturday.
Graeter's: I savored some Black Raspberry Chip ice cream while I was at my parents. Now that I am almost three hundred miles away, I am fiercely craving the Toffee Chip I left behind in the freezer.
"Hammies": The term the hubby and I coined for sandwiches of leftover holiday ham served on mini Hawaiian rolls. Hammies kept me going Sunday mid-morning.
Assorted Baked Goods not related to Thanksgiving: banana bread, pumpkin bars with cream cheese icing

Thanksgiving Feast: two kinds of stuffing, turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes with cinnamon streusel topping, rolls, cinnamon bread, broccoli casserole, cornbread casserole, green beans, cranberry/raspberry jello, layered jello, and assorted pies and desserts (see below)



My mom was an obsessive pie maker this year. Note the detail on the top of her pumpkin pie.




Taking the pie crust leaves to the next level with her apple pie.



A coconut pie complete with blinding meringue (PITA gets credited with an assist on this one).



"Wait! Some people don't like pie? I better make cookies in the shape of turkeys," the matriarch decides. My sister-in-law prepares to fill her shoes by preparing miniature pumpkin cakes complete with marzipan leaves.

What did I contribute to the holiday meal? A sunny disposition. A great attitude. Charm and wit. A true desire to join the Clean Plate Club. And most of all . . . most of all, a grateful heart. I am so thankful for my family and all the food and fun we share together.