Albaugh’s Mac and Cheese

When it comes to Thanksgiving foods, what’s better than mac and cheese? For years, Mr. Albaugh has relied on a famous mac and cheese recipe. “Basically, this was the first real meal that I learned to actually cook that wasn’t out of a box and took actual effort. It was really nice to feel like I could actually make something somewhat fancy, and try and impress people with macaroni not from a box,” Mr. Albaugh said. 

Ingredients (for 12 people):

1 stick of unsalted butter 

6 slices of white bread teared up into ¼ to ½ inch pieces 

5 ½ cups milk 

½ cup all-purpose flour 

2 teaspoons kosher salt 

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon black pepper 

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 

4 ½ cups sharp white cheddar 

2 cups Gruyere or 11/4 cups grated pecorino Romano 

1 lb elbow macaroni 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, 
2. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish (and set aside), 
3. Put bread pieces in a medium bowl. 
4. In a small saucepan with medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter and once melted, pour it into the bread bowl and mix. 
5. Heat the milk in a medium saucepan with medium heat. 
6. Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat and once it begins to bubble, add flour. Cook and stir for one minute. 
7. Slowly pour the hot milk into the flour-butter mixture and whisk until the flour-butter mixture is bubbly and thick.
8.  Remove pan from heat and stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup pecorino. Set the cheese sauce aside. 
9. Fill a large saucepan with water and bring it to a boil. Add macaroni, and cook for 2-3 minutes less than suggested, so that the outside is cooked and the inside is undone. 
10. Drain the macaroni well, rinsing it under cold running water. 
11. Stir macaroni into the cheese sauce, and pour mixture into prepared casserole dish. 
12. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and add the breadcrumbs, and bake for about 30 minutes until it is brown on top.
13.  Cool for 5 minutes, and serve! 

Arts and Crafts

Along with Thanksgiving comes lots of fall arts and crafts! 

How to make a hand turkey: 

1. Get a brown piece of paper.
2. Trace your hand on the paper.
3. Draw a dot for the eye on the thumb. 
4. Draw a gizzard and a beak on the bottom of the thumb.
5. Draw the feathers on your fingers.
6. Shade it in with some festive colors! 

How to make a paper bag turkey: 

1. Get a brown paper bag.
2.  Get red and orange construction paper and googly eyes.
3. Cut out feathers from construction paper and glue them behind the bag. 
4. Glue the googly eyes on the front of the bag and draw a smiley face. 

How to create a Tree of Thanks: 

1. Gather different colors of construction paper (make sure you have a brown piece!).
2. Using the brown, draw and then cut out a tree trunk and glue it on to a different piece of colored construction paper.
3. Draw and cut out leaves on different pieces of colored paper
4. Write some things you are thankful for on the leaves, then glue them on to the top of the tree.

Thanksgiving Movies

Whether it be among the avid football watching or the constant viewing of the Macy’s parade- the family bonding time around the tv remains integral to the Thanksgiving Day experience of millions of families across the US. So if you are struggling for something to watch and laugh at with your family while processing your Thanksgiving dinner food baby, then look no further than these three iconic Thanksgiving films.  

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (1987)

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” remains a timeless classic and especially enjoyable around the holiday season. This movie reinvented the buddy road-trip comedy subgenre, through the dynamic of the no-nonsense businessman Neal Page (Steve Martin) and the talkative and charismatic Del Griffith (John Candy). The pair attempts to get home in time for their respective Thanksgiving dinners but is stopped at almost every point along the way due to one impossible condition or another. Page and Candy’s dynamic is relatable and fresh in this heartwarming adventure to overcome the insanity that is holiday travel. 

“National Lampoon’s Thanksgiving Family Reunion” (2003)

On the topic of insanity, “National Lampoon’s Thanksgiving Family Reunion” offers a new meaning to the phrase “my family is crazy”. Upon learning of the existence of his estranged relatives living in Idaho, Mitch Snider (Judge Renold) decides that he and his family will go spend Thanksgiving with his new, free-spirited family. Things soon go from bad to worse as the different ideals of the family begin to clash in hilarious hijinx. The movie provides the classic feelings of stress and levity that comes when the entire family comes together. 

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (1973)

No Thanksgiving movie list could be complete without including the  Charlie Brown Thanksgiving classic. A movie that has inspired countless pseudo-traditions throughout the country. Such as the ever wonderful concept of “Friendsgiving” in a wholesome example of how you can share the love and bonds that Thanksgiving represents with the friends you hold closest. No matter what the season, or the holiday, Charlie Brown never fails to disappoint and entertain.