Thanksgiving 2025 Recap
Thanksgiving always ends up being one of my favorite weekends of the year – a mix of good food, family, and that cozy fall feeling that makes you want to slow down and soak it all in. This year felt extra special and meaningful after a whirlwind few weeks leading up to the holiday.
I’m especially thankful that we were all able to gather for dinner this year. My dad had spent nearly a week in the hospital, and having him back home and feeling better in time for Thanksgiving felt like such a blessing. There’s nothing like seeing someone you love in the hospital to remind you just how precious health and family really are.
Sunday morning started off with the first snowfall of the season here in Calgary. Even though I knew it was coming, I still wasn’t thrilled to wake up to snow-covered grass and trees. Thankfully, it didn’t stick to the roads – a small mercy for October driving! Still, there’s something kind of magical about that first dusting of snow, especially when you can watch it from indoors with a warm drink in hand.
Since I had spent so much time at the hospital earlier in the week, I hadn’t been able to do my usual pre-holiday grocery run. I headed out Sunday morning to pick up my grocery order and was relieved to see that everything I needed was in stock. It made getting dinner together so much easier.
I started cooking around 2 p.m. The first thing to go into the oven was a turkey roll with stuffing – a little shortcut I was very thankful for this year. A local grocery store was selling them ready to bake, and my boyfriend had picked one up earlier in the week for us. It was stuffed with “campfire pork stuffing,” which sounded too good to pass up. Cleanup was a breeze since I lined the roasting pan with foil. I’ll never say no to an easy cleanup on a big cooking day like Thanksgiving!
Alongside the turkey roll, we made scalloped potatoes, Stovetop stuffing (at my dad’s request – he insisted on having two types of stuffing), buns, jellied cranberry sauce (my favorite), and a fresh salad to balance it all out.
The turkey roll turned out so well – flavorful, juicy, and perfectly cooked in just 75 minutes. While the stuffing inside wasn’t my favorite, the turkey itself totally made up for it. And of course, no Thanksgiving is complete without leftovers! I’ve already been dreaming about turkey sandwiches on sourdough bread with mayo and a pinch of salt. Honestly, that might be the best part of Thanksgiving.
Looking back on this weekend, I’m just really grateful – for family, good food, and simple moments that make life feel full. After a stressful few weeks, it felt so good to slow down, share a meal, and appreciate being together. Here’s to another Thanksgiving full of love, laughter, and maybe just a little less snow next time.
If you’d like to take a little trip down memory lane, you can read my past Thanksgiving recaps here:
