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6 Reasons to Celebrate Thanksgiving At Disneyland

November 27, 2014 by Sona Charaipotra 2 Comments

It’s been just about a year since I confessed to being quite ambivalent about the idea of celebrating Thanksgiving at Disneyland — sans Masala Turkey and the boisterous Charaipotra and Bhambri clans.

This time last year, I was seven months pregnant, and hardly eager to lug a big watermelon belly around a theme park crowded with clans of too-tired kids and harried parents when I could be warm and cozy and comfy and well-fed at my Mom’s house. I thought I’d be wiped out after an hour or two, I wouldn’t be able to ride any of the roller coasters, that the crowds would drive me crazy, that there’d be no good eats in site.

And while I was right about having to skip the coasters, in the end, we all had an awesome time. Thanksgiving is actually a smart time to plan a Disney adventure. Here are five reasons why.

Beignets!
Beignets!
Sign of an authentic New Orleans Cafe du Monde experience.
Sign of an authentic New Orleans Cafe du Monde experience.

1. Beignets. If you’ve watched this video — or read about our fabulous (and childfree!) New Orleans adventure, you’ve begun to understand my passion for the fluffy, fried sugar goodness that is the beignet. A Southern-fried doughnut originating in the Big Easy, the beignet is real treat: airy dough, a rich chew, and clouds of powdered sugar. Man, I miss them. Like all the time. So who could blame the pregnant chick for saddling on up as soon as we spied the Jazz Kitchen, a hopping little joint on Disneyland Drive, in the open-air mall right outside the theme park. The place had the real deal: Cafe Du Monde beignets and old school chicory coffee. So of course we got a batch immediately, and then a couple more during our three-day Disney adventure. We also introduced the rest of the clan to the heavenly treats — and although no one was quite as enthralled as little ole pregnant me, they all enjoyed them nonetheless. NOTE: Also, Navdeep, please note that we must at some point return FOR THIS. Make it happen.

Not bad as far as crowds go.
Not bad as far as crowds go.

2. Crowd Control Before we got to Disneyland, I fretted about the crowds. I kind of hate them in any case. But I especially wasn’t loving the idea at seven-months pregnant. Surprisingly, Disneyland on Thanksgiving is not super crowded — because most people prefer to spend Thanksgiving shoveling food and watching football on a big screen. This, combined with the early extra hour perk we nabbed courtesy of our Disneyland resort hotel, meant that we hit the most treasured kids’ rides — like It’s A Small World, the Jungle Cruise and Alice’s Teacups — a couple of times before the park even opened, and then still managed to get in every ride the little ones wanted to try. We also got relatively easy and frequent access to the princesses — and that, it seems, was key for Kavya on this Disney adventure. She was thrilled to be able to see these living, breathing princesses sashaying around the park, stopping to pose for pictures and chat with the little ones. She met Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, Belle and countless others. She was thrilled.

It's Christmas!
It’s Christmas!

3. Christmas in November Have you ever seen it snow in November? I have. Leave it to Disneyland to make it happen. Because at Disneyland, Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving. Literally. (Haha, yes, Navdeep, literally!) In fact, we stayed at the lovely and uber-convenient Disneyland Paradise Pier Hotel, where Santa Claus himself made an appearance on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Christmas trees were all lit up, and the holiday spirit abounded — along with the snow that fluttered down in the early evening. Turns out it was tiny little flecks of sudsy soap. But it was super-fun and very exciting, especially for the Cali residents amongst us.

They go way back.
They go way back.

4. No Black Friday On Friday morning, after having our pictures taken with Santa Claus, we got to have brunch with Mickey, Minnie and the gang — and chow down on Mickey-shaped waffles, made-to-order omelets, sausages, roasted meats, tacos, ribs and all manner of desserts (albeit, no beignets). Plus, lots of fresh, hot vitally needed coffee — decaf for me, of course. This was an awesome experience — despite the LONG wait — because the kids got one last, solid dose of Disney before we hoped in our cars and headed back to Central Cali. We were stuffed and happy. And because we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves that morning, nary a thought of Black Friday madness crossed our minds. By the time we got home, in the early evening, we were all tuckered out and ready for a good weekend’s rest.

Giggle Monsters.
Giggle Monsters.

5. Gleeful Kids As I mentioned in my denying Disney post, in the end, this trip wasn’t about me or Navdeep or his parents or his sister. It was about the kids. And to them, Disney could not disappoint. They were at just the right age for the experience, and thrilled to be able to share it together. We got to the park at 7:30 in the morning, and Kavya wanted to absorb every little bit of it. She took a short nap on one of the benches during lunchtime, but insisted we stay till the very end, sticking around till 10 for the fun-filled Main Street parade (at which point she conked out on Navdeep’s shoulders). And by the end of that day, at seven months pregnant, I was ready to collapse. But it was worth every second.

Worst photo ever. But boy was the food good.
Worst photo ever. But boy was the food good.

6. Family Dinner After our long day at Disneyland, we pondered our Thanksgiving feast, fretting a bit about reservations — or lack thereof. But in the end, we found it. Tired and happy, all ten of us managed to settle in at the lovely Jazz Kitchen (yes, the aforementioned home of the beignet), where we managed to find a big ole table to spread out at, complete with tablecloths and silverware and a customizable Thanksgiving feast. I, of course, had to indulge in the fried chicken, with mac-n-cheese, greens and gravy. Navdeep, meanwhile, indulged in the Turducken — a boneless chicken breast stuffed inside a boneless duck, stuffed inside a boneless turkey, all served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes, turnip greens, and giblet gravy. He assures me it was delicious. It was a meal of rich, decadent food, lots of chatter and plenty of laughs (plus: cheesy garlic bread!). The best part of the whole thing? No clean up! Now that’s worth traveling for!

Shortlink: http://goo.gl/MleJwY

Any other reasons we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments!

Filed Under: California, Destinations, Family Travel, New Orleans, Travelogue, United States of America Tagged With: beignets, character breakfast, children, christmas, disney, disneyland, Family Travel, kids, Masala Turkey, Thanksgiving, traveling

The Best Masala Turkey Recipe (courtesy of Nani-ma)

November 22, 2014 by Navdeep 1 Comment

Masala Turkey is a Charaipotra tradition and it’s something we all look forward to every Thanksgiving. Sometimes the house is filled with cousins, friends, relatives, and sometimes it’s a small gathering of immediate family. One year, Sona made this for my family in California and it was a major hit. It’s super simple to make, and absolutely delicious. This year, Sona’s parents are leaving for India on Thanksgiving, so we did what anyone would do: we’re celebrating one week earlier.
Also check out the video underneath the recipe, taken on Kavya’s first taste of Thanksgiving Masala Turkey.

Print
The Best Masala Turkey Recipe (courtesy of Sona’s Mum)

Cook Time: 5 hours

Total Time: 5 hours

The Best Masala Turkey Recipe (courtesy of Sona’s Mum)

Ingredients

  • 20 LB TURKEY
  • 1 yogurt (16oz)
  • 2 Sour Cream Containers (16oz each)
  • Handful of green chillies
  • 1 Tablespoon turmeric
  • 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 Tablespoons minced ginger
  • 3 Tablespoons dhania-jeera powder (coriander and cumin seeds)
  • 3 Tablespoons Ajwain
  • 2 Tablespoons Chaat masala
  • To taste:
  • 1 T Salt
  • 4 Tablespoons Chilli powder (we tend to go a bit bonkers with this)

Instructions

  1. Tenderize turkey
  2. In a large bowl, mix yogurt and sour cream. Set aside.
  3. Grind green chillis in grinder. Add garlic and ginger. Grind to a paste.
  4. Add to yogurt mixture. Add all of the spices.
  5. Marinate turkey. Leave in the fridge overnight (make sure you have extra marinade for basting)
  6. Place turkey and finger potatoes in a baking dish. Coat with more marinade.
  7. Roast in oven at 465 Fahrenheit for 30-45 minutes
  8. Reduce heat to 350 Fahrenheit. Roast for 3-4 hours.
  9. Remove the turkey from the oven and cover with foil. Let it rest for 20 minutes..
  10. Slice the turkey and serve.
3.1
http://www.ishqinabackpack.com/the-best-masala-turkey-recipe-courtesy-of-nani-ma/
Recipe Courtesy ©IshqInABackpack. All Rights Reserved.

Filed Under: Asia, Destinations, Eat This Page, Family, India, United States of America Tagged With: Eat This Page, Food, Masala Turkey, recipe, Thanksgiving, turkey

It’s Thanksgiving — Time for Kavya’s First Taste of Masala Turkey

November 16, 2010 by Sona Charaipotra 2 Comments

As we count down the days to Thanksgiving, one thing looms large in my mind.

It will be crazy. It always is. Literally dozens of relatives descend upon my mom’s house for her signature masala turkey and my homemade macaroni and cheese, Indian-spiced green beans, and jalapeno mashed potatoes. Cousins, aunts, uncles, even Tarun mama can be counted on to show. We’re a loud, boisterous bunch.

So Thanksgiving, well, it’s just too much. Too many people, too many commitments, too much craziness.

But I’ve realized something. It’s okay. And I’m looking forward to it.

Thanksgiving

This time last year, I would have been freaking out about taking my little baby into the hot mess that is Thanksgiving at my parents’ house. But becoming a mom has really been a turning point for me. As much as I might whine about needing me time, there’s nothing like a little one to make you realize how important the little things are.

Motherhood has made me slow down and appreciate the little things. I’ve learned to count my blessings every day.

Before, I was so big picture, so driven. Now, I’ve learned the little things are just as important. Little things like morning cuddles, or the way Kavi grins just at me when I pick her up from daycare. Little things like that tiny first tooth. The glee she gets from trying to walk, grasping my hands with her little fingers. Her excitement about sharing a pumpkin muffin with mama.

Kavi’s the center of my world, but she’s also made me look up, take a look around, and learn to accept help, to be grateful for all those who are there for me. To realize how many people have always been there for me.

Family’s always been important to me, but having Kavi around has made me appreciate the other people in my life more, too. I may have had a crazy year, but I wouldn’t be doing what I am right now, pursuing my dream, if my husband didn’t say, “Go ahead. Take the time you need. It’s now or never.” Even if that means, three nights a week, he’s the one playing with and feeding and tucking Kavi into bed, as exhausted as he might be from a full day’s work. It’s my sister stepping up to babysit, to witness the unconditional bond she has with her niece. It’s grandma talking me down when my little one’s got a 104 fever. It’s even grandpa giving her an extra cookie when he knows mommy’s not looking, despite my warnings.

And for us, Thanksgiving is more than just turkey and pie. (And I’m not just talking about the stack of buttery naan next to the biscuits, or the crispy tikkis my dad makes out of the mashed potatoes). Our roots in this country are barely two generations deep, and despite all the recent economic strife, it still is the land of opportunity for my family. My parents came here nearly 30 years ago hoping to build a better life for their children. I imagine my life would look very different right now if they hadn’t made that decision — and so would Kavi’s.

After my parents came here, their brother and sisters followed, and now, when the family gathers, it’s easily 30 people breaking bread. It’s an opportunity for all of us to take a breather, share a moment, to really catch up and celebrate. There’s a lot of laughter, and admittedly, occasionally a lot of drama. So come Thanksgiving, I don’t doubt that Kavi will be passed from person to person, hovered over by her extended aunts and uncles (the youngest of whom is 4!), and fed cookies and other junk that would normally give me a heart attack.

It will be overwhelming. For her. For me. But I am looking forward to it. Because in the end, they’re all just showing how thankful they are to have her around, too.

So I can’t wait to see her taste turkey for the first time, to see her reaction to pumpkin pie. I can’t wait for her to hang with crazy, laughing, joking family. Because this is her family. She better get used to it. And one day, she, too, will learn to appreciate the chaos. And be thankful for it.

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Filed Under: New Jersey, New York, New York City Tagged With: Family Travel, Holidays, Kavya, Masala Turkey, Thanksgiving

Why, Allo There.

ishqphotoIn 2006, we started IshqInABackpack to document our lives as newly weds, starting with a cooking honeymoon in Mexico, followed by a six month adventure through India. Since then, we have gone from intrepid travelers, home owners, and now Mama and Papa to two little humans.

Now, we only go on all-inclusive tours to places that have McDonalds. Only kidding! Join our little family as we continue to slowly travel around the world one honeymoon at a time. And eat like maniacs.  Read our kahani

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To Get The Party Started

  • India Travelogue: Our Kahani 2007
  • Travelogue India: Deciding to Go 
  • India Travelogue: Ruminating on India’s Local and “Deluxe” Buses
  • India Travelogue: Busting Knees at Vaishno Devi
  • Sona’s Birthday Adventure in India!
  • Musings: Maybe Baby? In Response to That Ticking Clock
  • Instead of Traveling Around Greece, We Went On A Babymoon to an All Inclusive in the Dominican Republic. Same Thing, Really.
  • Kiboshing Greece: How Having Kids Changes Travel
  • Jet Lag is Stupid And Other Helpful Advice When Traveling With A Little Human
  • Hygiene Be Damned: Everybody Should Eat Street Food
  • Travelogue Hawaii: Deciding to Go

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