That Nasty-Ass Thanksgiving Banquet
I was watching the so-called "Food Network Live" event this morning, only to find out that it wasn't "live" but had been pre-taped the day before. The special is usually entertaining to watch because it's one of the few times you get to see some of these food experts interacting in the same room in real time. This year's main four were especially
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As for foods, well, some tables come out differently I suppose.
roasted turkey--check. My parents did this, I still do. I manage to get mine looking like a Norman Rockwell bird but still have it edible (by turkey eaters I mean).
stuffing or "dressing"--check. In later years at my parents' home they would make a potato stuffing. I'll be making potato dressing for this year's dinner with in-laws.
gravy--never had it as a kid, rarely as an adult. We took our turkey drippings straight.
cranberry sauce--check. Mom made hers from whole cranberries instead of buying one of the ubiquitous cans of quivering cranberry jelly, and she added less sugar than the recipe called for. I didn't eat it due to texture issues, but people who like cranberries like her sauce.
string bean casserole--never had it any time of the year. Never eaten the thing. I like green beans if they don't have excessive strings. And do have a little butter and salt.
mashed potatoes--Not quite. We had baked potatoes more often than mashed. And turkey drippings to put on them (yum...)
sweet potato casserole--again, Not quite. Baked sweet potatoes.
dinner rolls--oddly, no.
pumpkin pie--yes as a kid, and I never ate it.
Our Thanksgivukkah menu includes roast turkey, potato-mushroom dressing (yes, I know, I wouldn't serve you such), potato latkes, roasted carrots, sauteed green beans, cranberry sauce along Mom's lines, salad with homemade vinaigrette, and some dessert things I'm not making. I might make some chocolate mousse to add to the dessert list and keep it just for adults and older kids, as it would have booze.
My own thought on Thanksgiving? People should eat what they like. Giving thanks is not just supposed to be a stale tradition. I just happen to like fresh, not-overdone, not-hormoned-or-chem-laden brined turkey. And thankfully, this time of year I have plenty of options.
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