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Thanksgiving
day was one of
the most
memorable at
grandma's
house.
We planned for
at least 2
weeks for the
big day.
Everyone had
their special
recipes to fix
and a menu had
to be worked
out.
Grandma and
her three
daughters,
Fern, Peggy,
and Helen all
got together
and got
everything
settled.
The big day
was fast
approaching.
I
helped mom fix
her part of
the
meal. I
am so glad she
took the time
to teach me to
cook when I
was a
kid, and
as
Thanksgiving
Day approaches
now, I always
remember
cooking with
mom and how
much I learned
from a great
cook!
One
of my mom's
specialties
was chocolate
pie. Now
mom never used
instant
pudding.
She used the
homemade
chocolate
pudding, and
boiled it
thick.
She made the
most
delicious, and
beautiful pie
crusts I have
ever seen, or
put in my
mouth.
She would mix
the egg whites
and sugar and
make the
topping and
then put them
under the
broiler and
watch until
they were just
the right
shade of
brown. I
can taste
those pies
right
now! As
hard as I try,
I have never
been able to
make one that
tasted like
hers.
Grandma
made the
turkey.
I loved to
watch her get
that big bird
ready.
She washed it
and plucked
out any stray
feathers, and
removed the
giblets from
inside.
She buttered
and salted and
peppered the
bird and
wrapped it in
foil and into
the oven it
went. I
could never
figure out why
it took all
day to cook a
turkey when I
was a kid and
now it only
takes a few
hours.
Anyway,
grandma cooked
the giblets
and made
gravy.
Oh, my, I can
just taste it
now!
Aunt
Helen made the
dressing - and
was it ever
the
best.
She used
cornbread she
had saved for
a couple days
in the
fridge.
To this day I
don't know
what all she
put in there,
but it was
always the
same, always
tasted the
same, and
always
disappeared
from the
platter really
fast. It
was so good
with grandma's
gravy!
Aunt
Fern made
mashed
potatoes that
would just
melt in your
mouth. I
never tasted
any so good in
my life.
They were
always fluffy
and seasoned
just right,
and when you
would put
grandma's
gravy over
them, nothing
could be more
comforting!
She also
cooked green
beans.
Again, she had
that magic
seasoning
because they
tasted better
than any I had
ever eaten.
The
big day came
and the family
sat down at
the dining
room
table.
The table was
loaded with
food and we
were all
stuffed at the
end of the
day. We
packed up
leftovers and
said our
good-bys.
We would be
meeting again
soon for
Christmas!
© Ann Joyce November 17, 2008
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