# What one food item makes or breaks Thanksgiving for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 19, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291 "2013-11-19T20:18:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/61 "2013-11-20T20:28:59Z")
Mashed potatoes. That is all. I prefer chicken gravy, but turkey gravy is acceptable. Get out, beef gravy! ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/62 "2013-11-20T20:37:35Z")
Turkey soup the weekend after. This is 100% sincere. There is no other point to roasting a turkey. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/63 "2013-11-20T20:54:06Z")
For the first time in many years, I will be spending Thanksgiving in a house that appreciates oyster dressing. I am truly thankful. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/64 "2013-11-20T22:07:02Z")
We have also taken to always smoking our turkey. it tastes wonderful and makes amazing sandwiches ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/65 "2013-11-20T23:11:55Z")
I always make sure my wife doesn’t forget the Cranberry sauce for the turkey dinner. She forgot once about 30 years ago and I don’t want to relive that experience. It almost destroyed my marriage. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/66 "2013-11-20T23:19:50Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Are you talking about country ham? If so, we love that for breakfast and for sandwiches in our house over the holidays. Right now I’m looking for some smithfield ham. It’s not the company brand, it’s a kind of ham made in Smithfield, VA and by Virginia law can only be called Smithfield Ham if it’s made in a certain area. I may have to break down and buy a whole one and take it into work to share. We’re talking a hundred bucks a ham. I think I’ve found a source for some ham slices though. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/67 "2013-11-20T23:25:23Z")
Giblet gravy, stuffing and candied yams. I make my stuffing half cornbread and half white bread. My wife was from the south and my mom was from the north so I put them together and it tastes great. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/68 "2013-11-20T23:28:22Z")
Macaroni and cheese. And collard greens. Everything else is optional. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/69 "2013-11-21T00:16:49Z")
> [@Marion\_Wormer](#): > > Right now I’m looking for some smithfield ham. It’s not the company brand, it’s a kind of ham made in Smithfield, VA and by Virginia law can only be called Smithfield Ham if it’s made in a certain area. I may have to break down and buy a whole one and take it into work to share. > > We’re talking a hundred bucks a ham. I think I’ve found a source for some ham slices though. No, it’s not usually that much for an uncooked ham. Edwards hams are better than anything labeled Smithfield, and it’s what most old-school Virginians actually eat. But Gwaltney sells theirs under the Smithfield name, and it’s good. They just jack the price for anything with Smithfield stamped on it, and you’re getting seriously ripped off. Tennessee hams are fabulous, starting with Benton’s. Clifty Farms hams in Tennessee are also excellent, and extremely inexpensive. Some people consider Kentucky country hams as the best of the lot. They’re all a cinch to find online, and Fresh Market sells cooked deboned Edwards Hams in the butcher’s case. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/70 "2013-11-21T01:44:01Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > No, it’s not usually that much for an uncooked ham. Edwards hams are better than anything labeled Smithfield, and it’s what most old-school Virginians actually eat. But Gwaltney sells theirs under the Smithfield name, and it’s good. They just jack the price for anything with Smithfield stamped on it, and you’re getting seriously ripped off. > > Tennessee hams are fabulous, starting with Benton’s. Clifty Farms hams in Tennessee are also excellent, and extremely inexpensive. > > Some people consider Kentucky country hams as the best of the lot. > > They’re all a cinch to find online, and Fresh Market sells cooked deboned Edwards Hams in the butcher’s case. Thanks for the tips! PS, I just wanted to clear up that I wasn’t looking for Smithfield hams the brand that just got sold to china, but some of the (lowercase) smithfield hams that are made by several small companies. I’ll look up the Edwards ones this weekend! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/71 "2013-11-21T01:48:48Z")
Turkey and stuffing. Pretty much the only day of the year I have it so I look forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/72 "2013-11-21T02:43:34Z")
> [@Marion\_Wormer](#): > > Thanks for the tips! > > PS, I just wanted to clear up that I wasn’t looking for Smithfield hams the brand that just got sold to china, but some of the (lowercase) smithfield hams that are made by several small companies. I’ll look up the Edwards ones this weekend! Any ham sold with Smithfield on it will likely be a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, the company now owned by a Chinese company. Gwaltney is an example. They’re still quality hams, just way over marketed. Honestly, there aren’t many, bad country hams on the market. What part of the word are you in, if you don’t mind me asking. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/73 "2013-11-21T03:01:50Z")
I also need good cranberry sauce. It has to have whole berries–there better not be any of that canned jello shit on the table. And it has to be made with only three ingredients (cranberries, sugar, and water). The relish with the orange zest is unacceptable (although not quite as bad as the jelly). ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/74 "2013-11-21T04:10:02Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > Mashed Potato Casserole. Might be unknown outside of Wisconsin, I have no idea. > > Basically, it’s mashed potatoes with a metric ton of sour cream and cream cheese mixed in, then topped with even more cheese (cheddar, usually) and baked until your dairy-crammed potatoes are topped with melty cheesy dairy goodness. > > It has to be 12,000 calories per serving, but Thanksgiving is not the day to be counting. That sounds really, really good. I like the idea of adding chives, too. Cranberry sauce: Ocean Spray; one tin each of jellied and whole-berry sauce. Gravy: Doesn’t belong anywhere on my plate. Or even near my plate. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/75 "2013-11-21T04:44:54Z")
I like my mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and cinnamon and raisins and MARSHMALLOWS. Yes, MARSHMALLOWS! I will never forget the year my aunt made her sweet potato casserole with some sort of streusel topping. Everybody tasted it out of kindness, but it was never spoken of or brought again. I also like the canned cranberry sauce, natch. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/76 "2013-11-21T13:06:33Z")
Next day turkey sandwiches on rye are the whole reason for having Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving night is a bowl of dressing, shredded turkey, and gravy. With plenty of pepper. Nuke it into nirvana. Best served by the light of the open refrigerator door while being stared at by a cat. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/77 "2013-11-21T18:18:49Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > Next day turkey sandwiches on rye are the whole reason for having Thanksgiving. > > Thanksgiving night is a bowl of dressing, shredded turkey, and gravy. With plenty of pepper. Nuke it into nirvana. Best served by the light of the open refrigerator door while being stared at by a cat. That’s funny … mayo or mustard? ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/78 "2013-11-22T01:51:35Z")
Spanish rice cooked the way my grandmother did (which means [this](http://www.thelatinproductsblog.com/salsa/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/el-pato-yellow-tomato-sauce-7-oz-48__74767_zoom.jpg) is absolutely necessary) Ambrosia (the marshmallow/whipped cream stuff) Hot rolls Homemade pumpkin pie ---
**Author:** ![Werekoala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@Werekoala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Werekoala)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/79 "2013-11-22T02:12:11Z")
In descending order - Sage cornbread dressing (not stuffing) - grandma’s recipe Waldorf Salad Mashed potatoes (actual potatoes) with lots of butter Pea salad Turkey (white or dark, but mostly the skin - nom nom nom) Everything else is optional. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291/80 "2013-11-22T02:38:35Z")
We really need a Thanksgiving recipe thread. Back when I was new to the SDMB(I’m a 99er) we had recipe threads all the time. Fashions and fads have changedk but what do you all think?I have some great recipes. Chocolate pecan pie anyone? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-food-item-makes-or-breaks-thanksgiving-for-you/674291.md?page=5)