I’m heading home to WV for Thanksgiving this year. It’s rare that I go home–we usually spend the holiday with my husband’s family a mere 90 minutes away in SC. And I LOVE spending Thanksgiving with his family.
But somehow the food isn’t exactly what I grew up with. Oh, it’s delicious. Adding homemade macaroni and cheese to Thanksgiving is genius. But it’s not the same. And this year I’m looking forward to revisiting those delicious dishes from childhood.
Here’s what I think of as Thanksgiving dinner:
-Roast turkey
-Bread dressing–some in the turkey, some baked in a pan
-Green beans
-Mashed potatoes
-Yeast rolls
-Cranberry sauce
-Pumpkin pie with real whipped cream
Oh, there might be additions or variations, but that’s the core of Thanksgiving for me! So what’s your quintessential Thanksgiving dish? What can you hardly wait to taste come Thursday?
Meet Sarah
Those pastry leaves are brilliant! Don’t you have gravy? I’d need to add that to the list to make it perfect. And a champagne cocktail to start 🙂
Oh! Gravy! How could I forget? And a champagne cocktail, while not a childhood memory, sounds like a very good idea!
best of “Thanksgiving foods”
celery/onion stuffing/dressing
Aunt John’s pumpkin pie
Pat’s cranberry salad
my mom’s pecan pie
Unfortunately I have cooked less and less over the years and the last time I made any of those, they were less than great! But the memories will always remain. 🙂
Any time you want to revist those dishes–especially the dressing. Sigh.
The meal you list here is pretty much what I grew up with. My sister-in-law offered to bring macaroni and cheese this year and I looked at her with my mouth agape. Um, no. Sorry, that is NOT Thanksgiving. 🙂
I know! I felt sort of confused that first Thanksgiving with my in-laws.
Some advice, learned long ago, everytime Aunt Dorothy brought her molded lime jello with cottage cheese & chopped cabbage and carrot salad. “If it wiggles on the plate, don’t eat it.” Happy, happy!
Oh my. Cabbage AND cottage cheese. Wow. Sounds like good advice!
Thanksgiving isn’t Thabksgiving (or Christmas) without the pecan pie your Mom always baked for me. If we didn’t have either Thanksgiving or Christmas together, then I’d be drooling for one on my birthday in January! I’m so thrilled that I’ll get together with you and Thistle this year… be safe! And give Jim my special love!…. Aunt Pat
Yes! See you Saturday! Thistle is looking forward to her play date almost as much as you look forward to pecan pie.
Aw, have fun in West Virginia! The weather’s been lovely here. And my family always has turkey, with rolls and sauerkraut as a side (love a roll w/turkey and sauerkraut on it!). My hubby’s mom makes a stellar pecan pie (sometimes using walnuts instead of pecans). And on that foodie note, it’s time for LUNCH!
Hmmm. Sauerkraut. A little German in your genes?
My grandmother’s deviled eggs as an appetizer (no relish) and mashed potatoes (no thanks on the gravy). Enjoy!
I LOVE deviled eggs! We got those at Easter growing up. And yes, we sometimes used the dyed eggs that had been sitting out.