Our Thanksgiving Traditions, Memories & What We’re Truly Grateful For
The holidays aren’t just about the food — they’re about family, gratitude, cozy traditions, and slowing down long enough to breathe and be present. In this Life Unfiltered Thanksgiving Special, we’re opening up about what this season really means to us: the joy, the stress, the lessons, and the memories that shape who we are.
From our pre-Thanksgiving feast to our 24-lb turkey, Pride & Prejudice marathons, and family health scares that changed everything… this episode is full of the real-life moments that make the holidays sacred.
🍽️ Our Family Tradition: “Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner”
Before the big day even arrives, our family has a tradition we love — a full pre-Thanksgiving dinner a few weeks early.
It started in Alabama and followed us to Virginia: turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce… everything but the full spread.
This year we skipped it, but trust us — the nostalgia is strong. Even Papa asks, “When’s the pre-thanksgiving dinner?”
🦃 The Real Thanksgiving Feast
Every year our table looks something like this:
- Brined turkey (“Do NOT rinse off the brine!”)
- Gravy mixed with turkey stock
- Mashed potatoes
- Corn — always
- Stuffing (traditional + cornbread)
- Brown & serve rolls
- Crescent rolls (a childhood tradition!)
- Homemade and canned cranberry sauce (mixed together… chef’s kiss)
- A dreamy dessert lineup: pumpkin, pecan, chocolate cream, cherry pie & more
This year’s bird? A 24-pound turkey, which means: double the brine, double the leftovers, double the joy.
❤️ When Health Scares Change Everything
Last year, just before Thanksgiving, Papa suffered a brainstem ischemic stroke — one of the scariest experiences of our lives.
It shifted how we eat, how we celebrate, and how we prioritize health.
Goodbye processed foods. Hello intentional living.
But this year he’s here, healthier, and we’re beyond grateful.
🎥 Cozy Traditions: Movies, Football & a Special Guest
Thanksgiving at our house usually includes:
- BBC’s Pride & Prejudice marathon (“ALL six 45-minute episodes!”)
- Baltimore Ravens football
- Family packed into the living room
- And this year — a special guest: Scooty, Kashmir’s Mama’s boyfriend, joining us for dinner for the very first time.
It’s simple, warm, and exactly what this season should feel like.
🧀 Kashmir’s Famous 5-Cheese Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
Pasta & Base:
- 1 box elbow macaroni
- 6 tbsp butter
- ½ cup flour
- 5 ½ cups whole milk (warmed)
- 1 egg
Seasonings:
- 2 tsp ground mustard
- 2 tsp salt
- Fresh black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp Worcestershire
- 1 tsp Tabasco
Cheeses:
- 2 cups Havarti
- 1 cup Colby
- 1 cup Monterey Jack
- 2 cups mild cheddar
- 2 cups sharp cheddar
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Shred all cheeses. Combine mild + sharp cheddar; combine Colby + Monterey Jack.
- Reserve 1 cup cheddar and 1 cup Colby/Jack for topping.
- Cook pasta 3 minutes under box instructions; drain.
- Melt butter over medium heat.
- Mix flour with seasonings; whisk flour mixture into butter in batches.
- Slowly whisk in warm milk. Add Worcestershire + Tabasco.
- Temper the egg: whisk egg separately, add a small amount of hot mixture, then return to pot.
- Stir in cheeses until creamy.
- Add cooked pasta; mix well.
- Pour into a buttered baking dish.
- Top with reserved cheeses + breadcrumbs.
- Cover and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and bake 20 minutes more.
- Let rest 5 minutes. Enjoy!
Homemade Cranberry Sauce (The Scoop’s Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 pack fresh cranberries
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup sugar (add more if too tart for your family)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ cup of orange juice
Instructions
- Combine everything in a saucepan.
- Heat over medium until cranberries burst and sauce thickens.
- Cool and serve
🙏 Gratitude, Presence & What Really Matters
The food is amazing — but the heart of Thanksgiving is presence.
It’s slowing down, breathing, being grateful, loving your people, and remembering that life is short and precious.
We hope your Thanksgiving is full of warmth, comfort, joy, and way too much pie.
We’ll be back next week — but until then, eat well and hug your loved ones tight.
👉 Want to stay In the Know?
More Real Talk — No Filter 💬
Faith, family, and honest conversations about life’s biggest lessons.
Browse all Life Unfiltered →
Life Unfiltered — Love Languages, Valentine’s Day & Choosing Real Love
Prayer Power, Positive Thinking & Living With Intentional Faith
