I used to adopt "orphans" for Thanksgiving also, back when it was just me and my two boys. Now Mr Carol's entire family gathers at his sister's house, but "orphans" are still welcomed! A few years back some foodie friends and I decided to do a Twisted Thanksgiving dinner. Each traditional dish must be prepared in a non-traditional way. Example, instead of roast turkey, we had sweet and sour turkey meatballs over rice. Instead of cranberry sauce, we had cranberry Margaritas. Instead of green bean casserole, we had deep fried green beans. Instead of corn on the cob, we found candy corn candles for the table. You get the idea. It's quite a bit of fun each year seeing who comes up with the most twisted idea! And the cranberry margaritas have become a staple of the event!