Thanksgiving Food

Thanksgiving is widely known for the food.

Sure, there is some attention paid to gratitude, spending time with family, and enjoying some extra sleep while you're out of school or work. If you're like my family was when we were growing up, it was also the time to break out the Christmas music and decorations.

But my favorite part of Thanksgiving has always been the food. As I've gotten older and new people have joined the family, I've been amazed by the variations of food that graced our dining room table.

When we were all younger and unable to really help in the kitchen, we had a pretty standard spread. Turkey, dressing, canned cranberry sauce, macaroni pie, sweet potato puff (a casserole-type dish), collard greens, challah, callaloo, and corn for my siblings (and Dad) who didn't like greens.

As I look back on it, Challah was a bit out of left field. I think it was in a Joy of Cooking cookbook, or maybe in the cookbook that came with the bread machine (anyone remember those?). But to this day I delight in making the braided bread myself, even when it's not a holiday.

Callaloo is an island dish from my mother's country of Trinidad and Tobago. Spinach, okra, coconut milk, smoked ham hock, ham seasoning, and a few other spices including something called "pepper sauce." I couldn't tell you what was in it, but I knew to only put a few drops in or else it would be unbearably spicy. Mixing it with my mother's macaroni pie was *chef's kiss.*

Then, of course, there were the desserts. Taken as a second meal of the day, of course, since one couldn't eat dessert directly after the dinner spread. There was a two-pie staple of sweet potato and creole. Creole is an oatmeal/coconut-based pie that most people I've talked to have never heard of.

Finally, we had Martinelli's apple cider and would toast each other over dessert.

Things have changed as the years moved on. My stepdad is a fan of cornish hens instead of a turkey. The dressing recipe is different. I added my own apple pie recipe to the mix.

As my siblings and I got older, we took over the Thanksgiving cooking. My stepdad still did the cornish hens and the dressing, but everything else was handled by the kids. I made the greens, callaloo, challah, and macaroni pie. My brother demonstrated (and still demonstrates) an aptitude for making sweet potato puff. The three of us would collaborate on the desserts.

The first Thanksgiving that I spent with my stepmom and Dad, we had baked chicken instead of turkey.

The second one I spent with them, we went to a restaurant with several members of her side of the family, and I had crab cakes.

Last year was one of my favorites; two of my younger siblings flew up from Mississippi to surprise my Dad, and our older sister joined in on the surprise. In addition, my boyfriend and his son joined us as well as one of my step sisters and her family. It was the best surprise I've ever pulled off, and I still smile to think about the surprise on my Daddy's face.

And the food!

My brother made his sweet potato puff. I made pies. My parents made turkey and veggies and mashed potatoes. My boyfriend made greens (and let me tell you, if my stepmom didn't like him already, those greens would have sealed the deal).

It was such a wonderful time, and it was spent around food.

This year is a whole new ballgame. It's my first holiday living with my boyfriend and his son, so we're balancing out our likes and wants. Our menu this year is turkey legs, dressing, macaroni and cheese, green beans, challah, and deviled eggs.

Deviled eggs is a new one for my holiday fare. I don't remember it being part of my family Thanksgiving, but many of my friends say it's a staple for them. I do love deviled eggs, so I'm happy to have them.

This will also be my first year making dressing. I'm a little nervous, but I'm hopeful that it will turn out alright.

While working out this menu, I'm also talking to my siblings and friends about their menus and sharing notes and suggestions. I love that, even though we're not celebrating under the same roof, we're still able to connect over food.

Whether cooking together, bringing dishes, sharing recipes, or sitting together at a table, I love the togetherness that holiday food brings.

Happy Thanksgiving!