My southern family has its own tradition. We always had a family dinner where we mixed things up year by year. One year mom made a tangerine chicken with a cheesecloth topping to catch a tangerine and butter glaze, probably from Gourmet.
It was delicious. Our Southern family has 65 for dinner and sets up tables throughout Nanny’s house. Years ago I was so afraid of them and asking whether I would be accepted. My MIL questioned me, FIL told Jim after two hours in the car, “When are you gonna ask her, son?”
Then I had the Nanny interview an she told me he wanted my husband-to-be to have a job where he’d get a gold watch after 50 years. Sadly, I told her those jobs no longer exist. She passed me anyway.
We’ll go to Thanksgiving as always, only missed a year because of Black Friday and Jim’s work. I was so afraid of the array of food put out and the hierarchy of women from Nanny on down. Forget it, the men were all watching the Aggies battle the Texans or napping.
I started before we married with the spiced nuts. Then I added boursin. These were not for the buffet but for pre-and post-supper at the kitchen table. Then I taught the girls how to make boursin.
Then I introduced the stalwart spinach ball after we married, and gave it to Jim’s uncle’s new bride. After that, I knew these Southerners loved sweets so wanted to bring some of my own family into the mix. Mincemeat tarts were a hit. So was berry trifle.
Last year I made a spinach-cauliflower gratin because we now have a few vegetarians and one is Val the Vet who took our our Zoe’s hips ten years ago. It was a hit. I’m thinking of adding a corn pudding this year but here’s the thing.
My MIL has a wonderful kitchen and we work well together in it but adding dishes to the three-day marathon may be too much.
I now have to do the nuts (in advance from home), boursin, spinach balls, mincemeat tarts (I bring mincemeat from home), spinach-cauliflower gratin. and now a corn pudding? I think we can handle it.
After all, M has potato rolls by the dozen and brings gallons of iced tea and an Italian Cream Cake. People steal the potato rolls to take home, they’re so good.
Yes, we can do it. Thanks for being the best big sister I never had. And thanks to Nanny for hosting all of us every year. Thanks to all the ladies for your culinary efforts and to A and kids for prepping and serving and cleaning up. Then re-heating, serving and cleaning up. Thank the trash guys for picking up all those bags from a 65-person Thanksgiving. I give thanks before, after and during the day. Dee
Cooking with Dee 