One of our newly added Thanksgiving traditions this year is similar in purpose to the Leaves of Thanks that I mentioned yesterday. Gratitude rolls just put a fun “foodie” twist to expressing our gratefulness in a unique and creative way. My girls and I gave this a dry run tonight and they were SO excited to do the demonstrating. I share below that this can be done for your Thanksgiving dinner, but why save this for only special occasions? We enjoyed doing it today “Just because.” I could also see doing this on a birthday and have everyone write something they love about the birthday person or really any celebration. 
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Grateful Rolls – This simple tradition is a fun way for your family to express what they are grateful for during your Thanksgiving dinner. As guests arrive have each person write a few things that they are grateful for on small sheets of paper. We always make our special “butter horn” rolls each Thanksgiving, but purchasing one or more packages of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls/comparable product would be just fine. Place the papers on the dough wedges, roll them up into the crescent shape and follow the baking directions. When the rolls are served, pass them around and enjoy the moment as each guest tears into their hot roll and reads what someone else at the table is grateful for. Then have everyone try to guess who wrote what.
Lessons learned: Since my daughters did the rolling, they wrapped them so tightly and made them only bite size. Using more dough is a good thing.
If children are helping, they will be so excited to take the rolls out of the oven before it’s time. If you do this, the dough will stick a bit to the paper, as witnessed above. They’re still edible and readable, but just a lesson learned.
Enjoy this fun new tradition. We certainly did – it works for us. If you are looking for new traditions to add to your holidays, stay tuned over the next month as I add more and more unique traditions for your friend and family time.
Posted at: A Soft Place to Land
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This is an awesome idea! I am definitely borrowing it for our Thanksgiving this year!
Toni
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What an awesome idea. Love it and I’m going to use it. Thanks for sharing
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What a great idea. We make homemade crescent rolls every year and this would be a great addition to the lineup!
Christi @ A Southern Life
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Marvelous idea!! I’m so excited to try it!
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Jen, I love this idea! I think my boys would love it, too! Thank you so much!
So, the paper/ pen don’t get into the rolls? Did you use pencil/ pen or anything special? I’m sure I’d take a big bite or someone’s “health” if I wasn’t paying attention… which I’m usually not if I’m eating rolls! ha!
Love the idea and I’m excited to link up this week!
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Jens Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
You’d definitely want to break open the rolls and take out the paper.
You could designate one bread basket at the “grateful” rolls, so that you’d only have to be careful with those. 
We just used a regular ball point pen and it worked fine. I think my youngest used a pencil, and it didn’t bleed at all into the dough.
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Love this idea! I’m with Toni, definately stealing it this year!
Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
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Love it Jen! What a great idea. I can’t wait to do this with my kiddos. It will be a perfect family project. Thanks!
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What a neat idea! Very clever and fun!
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great idea! Going to try this!
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What a neat idea! I would love to incorporate this into our Thanksgiving.
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what a great idea Jen!!
I’m having a Love the Pie party if you have a pie recipe come link it up!! (there are prizes too)
~TidyMom
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What a wonderful idea!
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I LOVE those rolls!
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Beautiful idea and a sweet teaching moment!
Robin
All Things Heart and HOme
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I’m new and didn’t know how to put what my recipe is by my name. I hope you will forgive me. I will read more today on the proper way to do it. I love your thankful note idea. I will try to make those for Thanksgiving. Doylene
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Jen, what a great idea!! I love this!
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I love this idea! I am going to suggest we try this at our Thanksgiving this year. It seems like a fun way to bring the real spirit of Thanksgiving into the holiday. Thanks!
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One word comes to mind (ok, 2…): FUN! And Fortune Cookie, Pilgrim style.
Will definitely see these in my kitchen. Thanks for hosting after your busy week.
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What a fun idea! Love this.
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What an awesome idea! My girls will love it. I think I am going to incorporate this in my Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks so much!!
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This is such a sweet idea! I bet everyone has a lot of fun with this as well!
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What a sweet tradition! Love it!
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what a great idea!
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I love it! My boys will love it, too. I’m making these rolls this weekend!
Thank you!
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