On Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:57:22 -0500, Bob Muncie >
wrote:

>Tara wrote:
>> Ask what you can bring. If you aren't asked to bring anything,
>> think about:
>>
>> something for breakfast -- special coffee, maple syrup, stone ground
>> grits, hot chocolate
>>
>> something that would work for movie/football nibbles, a relish tray,
>> or sides for turkey sandwiches -- olives, roasted red peppers, dried
>> fruit, pimento cheese, good crackers, interesting pickles (cucumber,
>> veggie, onions, garlic), cheese straws, cheese, celery, popcorn and
>> seasonings, nuts, hummus, edamame
>>
>> Tara
>
>My standby is a bottle of wine. But to be honest, even when I bring a
>bottle, I still feel antsy if I am not helping with the work before and
>after on a dinner.
>
Folks don't want your help or you'd have known long before just before
dinner. People typically make arrangements for who will help with
what long before the day of the affair, and they don't appreciate
others crowding up their kitchen and especially not with anyone who
will want to make suggestions. I for one don't permit anyone in my
kitchen before during or after... Thanksgiving dinner is about as
simple as dinners get, I have every detail taken care of since before
anyone arrives. I also don't want anyone bringing any dishes, they
won't get served, in fact I won't permit them through my front door,
leave it in your car to rot. If someone wants to bring a host gift
booze/wine is fine, flowers are always acceptible too. But I don't
serve my host gift to guests (that would be very rude to serve
someone's gift, especially not to those who brought nothing), I'll
imbibe at my leisure.