Our Favorite Family Traditions

Family is an important thing around here at Western Chief!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's a great time to reflect on traditions and all of the things we're grateful for. We chatted with some of our favorite Western Chief collaborators to learn about the fun activities they partake in with their families year after year. Read all about it below!

Hannah from @muddyoakhenhouse

western chief thanksgiving family traditions

"Its hard to believe it is already time to give Thanks!!

Our family starts each Thanksgiving day with Pumpkin pancakes, maple syrup,  bacon and orange juice. It's a tradition we started several years ago to have time just for us before a busy day of driving and eating.

For Thanksgiving dinner, we take a small drive to my parents house to meet up with them and my siblings and their families. It is usually a very traditional dinner...turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and deviled eggs. And rolls!

I make pumpkin pie from scratch before we head over and my brother typically brings chocolate pie and pecan pie. Needless to say, we roll away stuffed and thankful for time well spent with family. A tradition many aren't able to have."

 

Chelsey from @chelseywesterlund

western chief thanksgiving family traditions

"Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday celebrated in our family. It’s the perfect pause button that we need to stop the businesses just for a moment and look around at what we’re truly grateful for.

Personally, I hold Thanksgiving near to me. We have a very large family that is difficult to get everyone together, but Thanksgiving is a never failing holiday with all of our loved ones near.

Although the holiday traditions have changed throughout the years, building bigger families and getting older, one thing remains the same, family. Family is always there and we will always get together, relax and appreciate each other. You can always count on leaving with a full tummy and an even fuller heart."

 

Annette from @azurefarm

 western chief thanksgiving family traditions

"Thanksgiving is a special time of year for me and I love doing some family traditions with our little Ava. My two favorites are doing a "Give Thanks Wall" and also singing a song together at the dinner table on Thanksgiving day.

For the wall you can have family members write down things they are thankful for the weeks leading up to thanksgiving. I like to order kraft paper leaves and hang them by little hooks on string on a prominent wall in the home. You can also attach the leaves to your fridge, etc.

On Thanksgiving you can look back together with your family and see all you have been grateful for this year. When we sit down to eat on Thanksgiving it has been our tradition to sing a song together before the meal. It's a song that includes a blessing for the meal and it's a special time to hold hands, sing, and give thanks as a family!"

Photo by @jessicaellephotography_

 

Abby from @thegatewayfarm

western chief thanksgiving family traditions

"Our Thanksgiving family tradition starts in the spring. As farmers we plant the seeds in spring for our harvest in the fall. We raise pasture raised turkeys for our family and our local community - this brings so much honor and feelings of gratefulness each year come harvest time. Being able to raise and grow majority of the food served on our table is something we hope our children will continue.

The maple syrup handcrafted on our farm is used in many of the desserts prepared, all made together with the help of our children. Our traditions are simple, traditional, and much more about the time spent together and appreciating the work that goes into the bounty when we sit down as a family to celebrate.  

We brine our turkey before roasting. My children already know the neck of the bird is used in a big ol' pot to enhance the flavor of the gravy that will be made later on. They each partake in peeling potatoes from the garden for their favorite side dish. They know the butternut squash is tough to cut and they leave that for mommy.

The green bean casserole is made a little bit differently than the recipe calls for because we use frozen garden beans instead of canned ones. Homemade rolls they know takes a long time (mostly waiting around) but kneading their little hands in the dough is one of their favorite things.

Maple Pumpkin Pie and Maple Oatmeal Pie being two of the favorite desserts includes the handcrafted maple syrup they helped us make in the spring. Above all, the time spent together prepping and baking is unmatched and will always be our favorite part of Thanksgiving."

Maple Pumpkin Pie

  • pastry for 10-inch single-crust pie, 25 cm
  • 1-3/4 cups pumpkin purée
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 can Carnation Regular or 2% Evaporated Milk
  • 1/2 cup maple Syrup

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). On floured surface, roll out pastry to 1/8-inch (3 mm) thickness. 

Fit pastry into 10-inch (25 cm) pie plate; press into bottom and up sides of plate. Trim overhang and flute edges. 

Whisk together pumpkin purée, sugar, eggs, flour, spices and salt in large bowl until smooth and well combined; gradually whisk in evaporated milk and maple syrup. Fill pie shell with evaporated milk mixture. Bake in bottom third of oven for 60 to 70 minutes or until set. Let cool completely on rack.

We loved hearing all of the wonderful and very special traditions from all of these Western Chief families. Now we're also feeling pretty hungry and ready to try Abby's maple pumpkin pie recipe! 😄 

Do you have a favorite family recipe? What's your special family tradition? We'd love to hear from you! Share with us @westernchief 

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