CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Football has always been a part of Thanksgiving for Jack Woolwine. He's retiring this year as football coach at Capital High School, and for all of his coaching years, he hoped he would have to lead a practice on Thanksgiving morning.
"If you have practice on Thanksgiving morning, you know you're in the finals, and that's a good thing," Woolwine explained. Unfortunately for Woolwine, his Cougars lost to George Washington in the first round of the playoffs, so he'll be home for the holiday this year.
Woolwine is one of the few men who can claim football as a job, making his wife's "football widow" status legit. For others, it's their offspring who bring football into play on Turkey Day.
Cheryl Crigger Morgan of Charleston got into the habit of doing the full-spread Thanksgiving fare when her family lived in New Jersey, a 10-hour drive north of the rest of the family. Her son's high school team traditionally played its sister school on Thanksgiving afternoon.
"Obviously, he couldn't suit up and travel to West Virginia for the turkey trimmings, so a cook was born!" Morgan said. "I start three days before and cook, bake and clean -- it's a complete production. Heaven forbid I vary what has become etched-in-stone recipes one iota, or trust me, I will hear about it!
"During the preparations on Thanksgiving morning, they are all scattered throughout the house in front of the television, watching either the parade or a football game, providing me with periodic updates and frequent requests for 'Mom! You've gotta see this!' At our house, Thanksgiving is not so much a 'man's holiday' as it just is a 'Mom Work Day.'
"But with two of the kids away at school, it's just a treat for me to cook all of their favorites and have them all home," Morgan said.
At Diana Sole Walko's house, the theme is all fun and no work.
"A 'man's holiday'? Own it as yours!" said Walko, owner of Motion Masters video and film company. "I book reservations for the feast at the Marriott -- and we all enjoy the day. Football included! And no one has to sit at the dreaded 'kids table'!"
A different sport brings the Kawash family together. When Janet and Michael Kawash were newly married, they spent Thanksgiving with her family in New York and Christmas in West Virginia, Michael's home.
"Being from Buffalo, N.Y., and from a family of hockey fans, plus now being married to a hockey fan, we started the tradition of going to an NHL game over the Thanksgiving holiday," Kawash, now of Charleston, said. "For Thanksgiving Day, I would help my mom with food preparations while my dad and Michael, and later our boys, would indeed watch football.
"Now that our boys are hockey fans, Thanksgiving is our hockey holiday and each Thanksgiving, we choose which NHL teams we want to see and go there for a mini vacation. We have found wonderful Thanksgiving buffets in the various cities we have been to."
Frank Addington Jr. is known for his archery exhibitions and his ability to shoot a baby aspirin out of the air with an arrow. It's no surprise that the Winfield resident's Thanksgiving involves hunting.
"Well, being an Addington, most of my Thanksgivings involve deer camp," Addington said. "In the early years we'd camp up on the Gauley River for the week of deer season and Thanksgiving would just be another meal. But on Sunday when we came out, we'd all gather at my grandmother's home in Cowen for a huge family-style meal."
Retiree Shirley Bullard Moore of Charleston spends every holiday volunteering at Hubbard Hospice House. "The kitchen staff prepares the food and we arrange seating, decorations, etc., and serve dinner to staff, visitors and patients," Moore said. "I prepare Thanksgiving dinner for my mother and stepfather at my house earlier in the week. My daughter lives in Nashville and rarely gets home for holidays. I'm an only child and have an only child and this works for my family."
A not-so-traditional dish of dumplings will ensure Maureen Runyon's family gets together at Thanksgiving. "My family has always gone to my mom's house for Thanksgiving. She would cook the turkey and her Grandmother Riggs' dumplings, and family members each brought another dish and desserts -- the usual fare.
"After so many grandchildren, my mom started stressing about the size of her small house and not enough room. My family being together at Thanksgiving is such a strong tradition, that I suggested we start rotating dinner among my siblings' homes. My mom thought it was a wonderful idea and a way to make sure her children continue the tradition long after she is gone -- hopefully a long time from now!"
Runyon and her sisters have learned to make the special dumplings, and the next generation is now starting to help and learn how to make them as well.
"They are the favorite thing," Runyon added. "On the occasion that someone has to miss dinner, Mom always saves some for the next time they visit."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Football has always been a part of Thanksgiving for Jack Woolwine. He's retiring this year as football coach at Capital High School, and for all of his coaching years, he hoped he would have to lead a practice on Thanksgiving morning.
"If you have practice on Thanksgiving morning, you know you're in the finals, and that's a good thing," Woolwine explained. Unfortunately for Woolwine, his Cougars lost to George Washington in the first round of the playoffs, so he'll be home for the holiday this year.
Woolwine is one of the few men who can claim football as a job, making his wife's "football widow" status legit. For others, it's their offspring who bring football into play on Turkey Day.
Cheryl Crigger Morgan of Charleston got into the habit of doing the full-spread Thanksgiving fare when her family lived in New Jersey, a 10-hour drive north of the rest of the family. Her son's high school team traditionally played its sister school on Thanksgiving afternoon.
"Obviously, he couldn't suit up and travel to West Virginia for the turkey trimmings, so a cook was born!" Morgan said. "I start three days before and cook, bake and clean -- it's a complete production. Heaven forbid I vary what has become etched-in-stone recipes one iota, or trust me, I will hear about it!
"During the preparations on Thanksgiving morning, they are all scattered throughout the house in front of the television, watching either the parade or a football game, providing me with periodic updates and frequent requests for 'Mom! You've gotta see this!' At our house, Thanksgiving is not so much a 'man's holiday' as it just is a 'Mom Work Day.'
"But with two of the kids away at school, it's just a treat for me to cook all of their favorites and have them all home," Morgan said.
At Diana Sole Walko's house, the theme is all fun and no work.
"A 'man's holiday'? Own it as yours!" said Walko, owner of Motion Masters video and film company. "I book reservations for the feast at the Marriott -- and we all enjoy the day. Football included! And no one has to sit at the dreaded 'kids table'!"
A different sport brings the Kawash family together. When Janet and Michael Kawash were newly married, they spent Thanksgiving with her family in New York and Christmas in West Virginia, Michael's home.
"Being from Buffalo, N.Y., and from a family of hockey fans, plus now being married to a hockey fan, we started the tradition of going to an NHL game over the Thanksgiving holiday," Kawash, now of Charleston, said. "For Thanksgiving Day, I would help my mom with food preparations while my dad and Michael, and later our boys, would indeed watch football.
"Now that our boys are hockey fans, Thanksgiving is our hockey holiday and each Thanksgiving, we choose which NHL teams we want to see and go there for a mini vacation. We have found wonderful Thanksgiving buffets in the various cities we have been to."
Frank Addington Jr. is known for his archery exhibitions and his ability to shoot a baby aspirin out of the air with an arrow. It's no surprise that the Winfield resident's Thanksgiving involves hunting.
"Well, being an Addington, most of my Thanksgivings involve deer camp," Addington said. "In the early years we'd camp up on the Gauley River for the week of deer season and Thanksgiving would just be another meal. But on Sunday when we came out, we'd all gather at my grandmother's home in Cowen for a huge family-style meal."
Retiree Shirley Bullard Moore of Charleston spends every holiday volunteering at Hubbard Hospice House. "The kitchen staff prepares the food and we arrange seating, decorations, etc., and serve dinner to staff, visitors and patients," Moore said. "I prepare Thanksgiving dinner for my mother and stepfather at my house earlier in the week. My daughter lives in Nashville and rarely gets home for holidays. I'm an only child and have an only child and this works for my family."
A not-so-traditional dish of dumplings will ensure Maureen Runyon's family gets together at Thanksgiving. "My family has always gone to my mom's house for Thanksgiving. She would cook the turkey and her Grandmother Riggs' dumplings, and family members each brought another dish and desserts -- the usual fare.
"After so many grandchildren, my mom started stressing about the size of her small house and not enough room. My family being together at Thanksgiving is such a strong tradition, that I suggested we start rotating dinner among my siblings' homes. My mom thought it was a wonderful idea and a way to make sure her children continue the tradition long after she is gone -- hopefully a long time from now!"
Runyon and her sisters have learned to make the special dumplings, and the next generation is now starting to help and learn how to make them as well.
"They are the favorite thing," Runyon added. "On the occasion that someone has to miss dinner, Mom always saves some for the next time they visit."
Dumplings are a family favorite
Maureen Runyon continues her family tradition of turkey and dumplings each year with this recipe. She said it is a recipe that has never been written down, but her mother, Peggy Wilson, uses a "ratio" when she makes the dish: For one cup of flour, she uses one egg and salt and pepper to taste.
"You must have 'tasters' readily available to sample them periodically to see if they are done. My older brother Steve is known for hanging around the kitchen while they cook," Runyon said. "Obviously the more you make, the longer they will need to cook, but Mom says that cooking enough for a family of four would probably need to cook about 45 minutes to an hour."
Runyon prefers broth made from a roasted turkey, but canned chicken broth is an acceptable substitute. Her mother uses giblets in the dumpling broth.
Dumplings
Serves 4.
2 cups flour
2 eggs
Chicken or turkey broth
Salt and pepper
MIX the flour, salt and pepper and add eggs and mix. Mixture will be coarse.
SLOWLY add broth until the dough is the texture of a pie crust. If it's too moist, it will be difficult to roll out.
FLOUR a surface and rolling pin. Roll a handful of the dough into a ball and roll in the flour to coat.
FLATTEN ball and roll out the dough in all directions until it is about 1/8-inch thick Use a knife to cut the dough into 1 1/2- to 2-inch strips.
HEAT a pot of broth to a rolling boil.
HOLD a strip of dough over the pot, cut the dough into 1-inch squares and drop into the pot. Stir after adding several strips to prevent sticking. Stir frequently.
ADD broth as needed as the mixture thickens.
SIMMER for about 45 minutes.
Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.
Post a comment