As We Gather Together
Do you stand in line at the grocery beguiled by the food magazines and their lure of delectable Thanksgiving delights? I do–85 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes, 23 Holiday Potato Recipes. Then I see The 98 Best Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes, and 24 Make-Ahead T Day Recipes. Maybe I should take a peak at Thanksgiving Recipes Across the United States. The line at the grocery checkout is moving slowly so I grab a magazine with a busty bronzed turkey on the cover and leaf through the pages–Radicchio Salad with Pickled Grapes and Goat Cheese, Tandoori Carrots with Vadouvan Spice and Yogurt, Roasted Broccoli with Pickled Shallots and Peanuts. I raise my eyebrows and give up when I get to Slow-cooked Tuscan Kale.
I put my cans of cream of mushroom soup, green beans and french fried onions on the counter and when the clerk asks if I want paper or plastic, I shove my prosaic cans aside and blurt, “I’m going make something different for Thanksgiving this year.”
We usually go to my sister’s for Thanksgiving and I bring a ham, a can of the cranberry sauce that is a shimmering tube, and the ubiquitous casserole. My sister is a marvelous cook and her turkey is always glowing and moist, we all love her mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, and then she outdoes herself with her amazing pies and pastries. This year, I am going to surprise my loved ones with a side dish that is gourmet and bold and memorable.
My son likes to experiment in the kitchen so I asked him for ideas. He told me that whenever he has questions he turns to Ask Reddit. I had never used that site before. “Isn’t that for gamers and hackers?”
Tweet ThisThis is the year- I am going to be brave and expand my cooking horizons.
I took my son’s advice and I clicked on AskReddit. I looked at the home page and learned that on Reddit, people ask a general question and other people give their answers. I searched for Thanksgiving Recipes, and then inquired, What’s your family’s non-traditional tradition?
I couldn’t wait to read everyone’s great ideas. I liked this post:
—My family got sick of turkey and stuffing for Thanksgiving years ago. So instead we buy fresh lobster and tenderloin steak and cook surf and turf. I learned that steak, pizza and Chinese food A la Ralphie and his Christmas Story family are non-traditional choices.
But I wanted something a bit more piquant and pilgrimly. How about turkey potatoes? According to this Reddit poster: “Turkey potatoes are cooked by stuffing them inside the turkey before roasting. The turkey cooks, potatoes inside absorb the juices, and when the turkey is done, you serve the bird, and the potatoes as a side dish.” Interesting, but the turkey was my sister’s trophy dish.
Another commenter recommended branching out to other cultures.
“Our new tradition is to make Greek/Lebanese food for Thanksgiving, and Christmas is usually sushi or veggie lasagna. The Greek food is a feast: we make spanikopita, hummus, mujadarrah, lentil soup (shorbat adas), and buy nice feta cheese, pita bread, and baklava. None of us are Greek, we just like food and cooking.”
Finally, I found a recipe that my family might love. “We have a normal thanksgiving meal, turkey potatoes and what not but
I mean literally overhand throw one at you from multiple people. They always laugh.”
After all that, I am bringing the green bean casserole. Plus a basket of rolls to throw.
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