# What's MANDATORY for you to have on Thanksgiving (foodwise)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405 "2015-11-24T04:03:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/21 "2015-11-24T16:31:14Z")
Nothing ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/22 "2015-11-24T16:32:58Z")
Green bean casserole ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/23 "2015-11-24T17:31:40Z")
Thanksgiving for me is just an excuse to wallow in homemade turkey gravy. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/24 "2015-11-24T17:53:10Z")
Silver Palate mashed potatoes: [Silver Palate mashed potatoes - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=672924) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/25 "2015-11-24T18:13:14Z")
I prefer the appetizers to anything in the main meal, honestly. My sister-in-law makes a fantastic spicy melted cheese dip that is awesome and should be illegal. I also am disappointed if there are not deviled eggs. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/26 "2015-11-24T18:18:55Z")
The only thing I desire is mashed potatoes, in obscene quantities. Everything else is optional. ---
**Author:** ![DeepLiquid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deepliquid/32/14893_2.png) [@DeepLiquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepLiquid)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/27 "2015-11-24T18:22:23Z")
Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie. Last year we went to a chef friends house, the food was all amazing, artistic, and complex, but it in no way resembled Thanksgiving dinner, it was so disappointing! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/28 "2015-11-24T18:38:34Z")
White meat turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cole slaw (that last is a family thing). We were a non-green bean casserole family, but I’m gonna make some this year. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/29 "2015-11-24T18:58:17Z")
Although we eat turkey year-round, it is a must for TGiving, along with stuffing and cranberries. ---
**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/30 "2015-11-24T18:58:39Z")
Turkey, _cornbread_ stuffing, and fresh cooked cranberry sauce where you still see berries! No cranberry Jello please. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/31 "2015-11-24T18:59:12Z")
Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, black olives, cranberry sauce from a can, rolls, pumpkin pie, whipped cream. And that’s what we’re having. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/32 "2015-11-24T19:48:53Z")
Approximately 62.83185, in about a dozen different varieties. Pumpkin pie? Apple? Yeah, sure, those are included. As are cherry, and raspberry, and lemon meringue, and cheesecake, and chocolate cream, and pecan, and peach, and strawberry rhubarb, and coconut cream, and… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/33 "2015-11-24T20:04:57Z")
Turkey, mash, giblet gravy, sausage stuffing (yes, IN the goddamn bird), homemade cranberry relish made with walnuts, orange, cinnamon and cognac, and a bottle each of California Pinot Noir and a good Riesling or Gewurtztraminer. Followed by coffee or sherry or both. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/34 "2015-11-24T20:53:42Z")
Sausage dressing, turkey and gravy. I only take a small scoop of everything else to say I tried it. I like mashed potatoes but I can have them any time. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/35 "2015-11-24T21:27:51Z")
Its all about the gravy - that is the top of the pyramid. - Turkey is needed to produce drippings to make gravy - Potatoes are needed to hold gravy - Sausage Fennel Stuffing is amazing with gravy on top - Homemade rolls are designed to mop-up gravy. The next day, however, is all about pumpkin pie with coffee, followed by a turkey sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/36 "2015-11-24T21:40:13Z")
For those of you saying “green bean casserole”, are you all using the same recipe? As far as I know, there is a recipe on the side of a can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup. I had an aunt who used to bring GBC, and she always made a big deal about how much time she spent on it, how much work it was, etc. For years, it was a family joke, and I never knew anyone else actually considered it a Turkey Day tradition (although I did know people ate it). When she passed, GBC was officially retired and no one has asked to resurrect it. So for those of you that partake in GBC, does the Campbell’s Soup recipe ring any bells, or is there something else going on? ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/37 "2015-11-24T21:46:52Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > For those of you saying “green bean casserole”, are you all using the same recipe? > > As far as I know, there is a recipe on the side of a can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup. > > I had an aunt who used to bring GBC, and she always made a big deal about how much time she spent on it, how much work it was, etc. For years, it was a family joke, and I never knew anyone else actually considered it a Turkey Day tradition (although I did know people ate it). When she passed, GBC was officially retired and no one has asked to resurrect it. > > So for those of you that partake in GBC, does the Campbell’s Soup recipe ring any bells, or is there something else going on? I have no issue with the Campbell’s can, but I make Alton Brown’s: > **[Cook - Alton Brown](https://altonbrown.com/cook/)** > > Cook like Alton Brown with this curated collection of the Food Network cook's myriad recipes from Good Eats and beyond. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/38 "2015-11-24T22:11:38Z")
Turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Don’t really care about anything else, but cranberries would be a close runner-up, along with pumpkin pie. I did not grow up with green bean casserole, so that can easily be skipped (and I don’t like it, anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/39 "2015-11-24T22:21:30Z")
Besides the obvious, like turkey and mashed potatoes, I always make my own sweet potatoes. I just can’t stand the kind with brown sugar and marshmallows my family always makes. I usually just cut mine into chunks, coat with coconut oil, salt and pepper, and roast them for awhile in the oven. Sweet potatoes are so good when you don’t cover them in sugar. They’re already sweet for Pete’s sake! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405/40 "2015-11-24T22:47:06Z")
The only thing mandatory is pumpkin pie. I am spending the day by myself and am unlikely to eat any of the usual menu items, but the dessert will remain a Must. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-mandatory-for-you-to-have-on-thanksgiving-foodwise/738405.md?page=3)