I would bring a dessert (especially pie). In my family, we always end up having like 6 different types of pie, and it rules. Try something you make well, or that's non-traditional (ie not pumpkin or pecan).

As for the wine thing, in both my dad's and my mom's family we don't have wine with dinner, so it wouldn't work.. but I guess most people do? :confused:

Cannolis! Who can resist them? Get the mini ones, and get 2 dozen. People will be so impressed.

PS anyone else have lasagna at Thanksgiving in addition to turkey?
<----------italian girl here

Spiced Cider would be another "seasonal" idea. Especially if you have an apple orchard near that makes it homemade.

Tortellini! For Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Oh Drole... I think I love you! My inlaws are in Arkansas and a few years ago, dh's aunt had a huge Thanksgiving dinner for about 50 people on their huge ranch. I made a tortellini dish with rosemary potatoes, pan-seared chicken, and a homemade olive-oil based sauce. Now, I never measure out portions, and all of dh aunts and women relatives wrote down everything I did.

It was such a hit, and all the guys in his family (some of them big burly farm boys) had 2nd and 3rd helpings! DH's little 12 yo cousin said "I love you even more now" (he had a crush on me) and asked me next time I come visit to cook for him. So I made homemade manicotti (4 trays!) and meatballs, and had a "boys night" to watch football.

This is EXACTLY why I was hestitant about the bringing of food... the tradition and the whole... "upstaging the hostess" thing. I think I'm going to do some truffles as Vandal Squirell suggested and some flowers. Now... what to wear... hehe :D

Mulled, it's mulled, not spiced :P Take it from the girl surrounded by apple orchards :D

Now that's a tradition I can get behind. Tortellini is one of my comfort foods. I'm disgusting and buy chicken and prosciutto tortellini, load it up with alfredo and then shove a bunch of parm cheese on top. I will die of a heart attack by 25, watch this space!

OMG I LOVE CANNOLI.

My mom's side is Italian, and for Christmas we have Italian cold cuts (salami, capocollo, other stuff I can't pronounce.) It's kind of weird but whatever, its tradition.

ALFREDO SAUCE IS NOT ITALIAN. Well, not American alfredo anyway...

Sorry.. Pet Peeve :p

Is Italian Alfredo less creamy?

<---likes Alfredo sauce but likes olive oil or pesto sauce better

Shoot, I even had the wiki page up a minute ago. It's more buttery, less... well, everything else.. thickeners and cream and such. I prefer marinara or bolognese myself :D

I do believe I've had Italian Alfredo before then. I think I even thought it was strange or the chef messed it up because it wasn't as thick and creamy as the Alfredo I'm used to.

Oh yeah I like marinara too but only with angel hair pasta. What's bolognese?

<----I'm hungry so I'm asking food questions

Meat & Tomato sauce :)

I got to go to Italy with a group from my university and had excellent Italian food the entire trip.

Italian food in Italy. What a shocking concept.

Yeah yeah...we didn't eat a touristy places (nor did we break down and try to find a McDonalds) so :p