# Thanksgiving ain't Thanksgiving without... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 20, 2007, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173 "2007-11-20T12:10:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/41 "2007-11-20T21:19:27Z")
1. My father pretending that he doesn’t recognize the good china and demanding to know when my mother bought new dishes. 2. My mother’s tray of deviled eggs, which will contain a few empty egg halves because twenty years ago her children didn’t like egg yellows. 3. The cranberry sauce being forgotten in the fridge until the meal is half over. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/42 "2007-11-20T22:10:28Z")
**KneadtoKnow** beat me to **Planes, Trains and Automobiles** , so I’ll add **A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving**. One of these years, I’m going to serve toast, pretzel sticks, popcorn and jelly beans as appetizers. “Little birdie…” ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/43 "2007-11-20T22:42:17Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] … munching on slices of Polish sausage while waiting for dinner to get done. … youngest sis offering eveyone $5 to drink the pitcher of gravy. … massive Care packages of leftovers sent home with everyone. … pie. [/QUOTE] **FairyChatMom** , I don’t remember when it was that you moved to SoMD but if you haven’t already, you have got to at least try the Stuffed Ham. If you don’t know anyone that makes it - and well - you can get some from these places: St. Mary’s Landing Restaurant in Charlotte Hall - their Stuffed Ham is better if you let it sit in the fridge at least overnight, and be sure to ask for extra stuffing. McKays Grocery - I haven’t had theirs in a long time, but I find it to be pretty mild and the ham fattier. Still pretty good though. Mattingly’s Grocery - I haven’t had their in a while either, but IIRC it tends to be spicier than the others. Which is fantastic. I think the best way to eat stuffed ham is either on Martin’s Potato Bread (the dinner rolls) - or on a plate with gravy covered turkey. Yum, I can’t wait. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/44 "2007-11-20T22:51:03Z")
Way back in the '50s, my mother used to roast the turkey in a large paper bag. This caused the entire house to be filled with a haze that smelled like roasting turkey. Without that haze, it ain’t Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/45 "2007-11-20T22:54:32Z")
**grayhairedmomma** , I regret to inform you that Mattingly’s no longer exists. But there’s a new McKay’s in Leonardtown. And we haven’t tried the stuffed ham yet, but I’ve been tempted - dare I haul some to Harford county to Mom’s table?? Maybe I’ll dash down to L-town tomorrow and see if I can get some. Thanks for the idea! ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/46 "2007-11-20T22:55:18Z")
Oyster stuffing, Dad’s famous white gravy, Dad’s famous rolls (both of which EVERY SINGLE YEAR he claims didn’t turn out very will, but they’re always tremendous!), Lima beans. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/47 "2007-11-20T22:55:21Z")
Sitting around with all my over-50 relatives, talking about all the medications we’re on. And watching the next generation beginning to look middle-aged. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/48 "2007-11-20T23:51:03Z")
[QUOTE=Philster] In an Italian household, it ain’t Thanksgiving without: [/QUOTE] Thanks for reminding me that I married well! In an Italian household, life revolves around food. When we’re not eating, we’re thinking about the next time we’re gonna eat 🙂 Thanksgiving ain’t Thanksgiving without endless piles of mashed potatoes, which you can slather in gravy and corn and butter, and eat in abundance. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/49 "2007-11-20T23:54:24Z")
[QUOTE=Philster] In an Italian household, it ain’t Thanksgiving without: antipasta and Italian meats and cheeses (Round 1) escarole soup (Round 2) lasagna or gnocchi (Round 3) Round 4: turkey ham roast beef white potatoes sweet potatoes stuffing yams cranberry sauce etc Round 5, Dessert: Italian butter cookies biscotti pumpkin pie blueberry pie apple pie ice cream chocolates And…AND…mixed nuts and nutcrackers, with a bunch of leftover Brazil nuts no one eats. [/QUOTE] My SIL is Italian. I am eternally grateful. We also like pie. DH and I prefer to argue over the merits of pumpkin pie vrs. sweet potato while eating both. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/50 "2007-11-21T00:04:53Z")
Turkey, candied yams (marshmallowed or otherwise), whole berry cranberry sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/51 "2007-11-21T00:27:38Z")
[QUOTE=Xema] Principally, pumpkin. [/QUOTE] Yes. More pie, please! I like pie. Can you tell? ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/52 "2007-11-21T00:48:30Z")
At the table, while I hold a basket of rolls, I say to my dad, “Wanna roll?” And he says, “No, I’d rather walk!” Dad Humor. No Thanksgiving is complete without it. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/53 "2007-11-21T16:02:26Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] Stuffed celery! Walnuts, Miracle Whip, Velveeta, minced onion, pulverized in the food processer and stuffed into fresh celery. Num num num [/QUOTE] Now you’re talking! Miracle Whip AND Velveeta! Find a recipe that also includes Slim Jims and you have hit the holy Trifecta! ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/54 "2007-11-21T16:19:05Z")
My MIL’s chicken and stuffing casserole. I’m going to make it for Xmas dinner this year as daHubby requested it for then instead of Turkey Day. If I can find the directions to make her apple cake, I’m doing that. It’s also not Thanksgiving without our cat dancing happily in front of the oven, purring and meowing to remind me to give her some turkey and stuffing too. ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/55 "2007-11-21T16:55:03Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] **grayhairedmomma** , I regret to inform you that Mattingly’s no longer exists. But there’s a new McKay’s in Leonardtown. And we haven’t tried the stuffed ham yet, but I’ve been tempted - dare I haul some to Harford county to Mom’s table?? Maybe I’ll dash down to L-town tomorrow and see if I can get some. Thanks for the idea! [/QUOTE] Yes, I remembered on the way home last night the Mattingly’s had closed. That’s a such a shame. It was such a time warp to go into that store. Just FYI - if you decide to get some ham make certain to ask for extra stuffing. It would be best to rewrap the package very tightly in saran wrap and let it sit undisturbed until it’s time to serve. When the ham is freshly cooked the flavoring from the stuffing hasn’t really had time to permeate the ham and it isn’t as flavorful. This is why you need the extra stuffing. Also, I think the ham tastes best at room temperature or very slightly chilled. Anyway, I hope you try some and like it. Happy Thanksgiving! ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/56 "2007-11-21T17:06:25Z")
Holy suffering polecats! Why, oh why don’t we have thanksgiving in the UK? Bugger ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/57 "2007-11-21T17:08:02Z")
Cool beans Cowboy football. … and mince meat pie. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/58 "2007-11-21T18:17:48Z")
**Chowder** - One of my British Buffy friends does Thanksgiving every year and invites the load of British Bronzers (Buffy internet group) . They have all the American traditional foods. Start a trend - you can throw your own Thanksgiving. StG ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/59 "2007-11-21T18:52:33Z")
I was trying to think of something specifically Thanksgiving, but it turns out that there’s nothing we eat on T-Day that we don’t turn around and eat again a month later on Christmas. I’m thinking specifically of can-shaped cranberry sauce, stuffed zucchini casserole, and Mom’s Traditional English Steamed Carrot Pudding (always brought…seldom actually eaten.) And pie. Mom loves to bake pies. I love to eat pies. Everybody else in the family is ambivalent on pie…more for me. (One specific T-Day tradition – making fun of the Macy\*s parade, and the poor people who are standing on the sidewalk wondering why the parade stopped…because somebody’s lip-synching from a float for the benefit of the TV audience.) ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173/60 "2007-11-21T23:17:19Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] 1. A murder of cats wearing pipe cleaner antlers and old cabbage patch doll clothes begging for roast bird [/QUOTE] If that happens this year, you MUST get & post pictures – and not just because that’s the rule. Sounds funny as hell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-aint-thanksgiving-without/427173.md?page=4)