Tell Us Now: What's Your Family's Unique Thanksgiving Dish?

cracked ^ | 11/20/2020 | Shea

[mylife]

If you celebrate Thanksgiving, you probably do it through consuming food. We asked Cracked readers on Facebook, "What Thanksgiving dish is a tradition in your family but might be considered weird to others?" Some responses sounded delicious, others ... not so much. But regardless, we were amazed at how many things Americans can make with some Cool Whip and Jello.

[wardaddy]

I eat grits like u do

Some use butter and preserves

[wardaddy]

She is lovely

You WILL see her again

[mylife]

Deano was mad as a hornet! I had offended his southern honor in a southern place LOL

[newfreep]

Thanks.

As I like to say, my little girls did a good job raising me.

[Huaynero]

the following is a basic Peruvian style stuffing. It’s basically the stuffing we’ve served at Thanksgiving and Christmas for 39-years. ?!
A meal in itself, a spoonful or two makes me forget the turkey. Great with turkey and cranberry sauce on a sandwich.
Cooks, tweak it to suit. I wouldn’t taste the difference so have at it.
Buan Provecho!

Turkey Stuffing
Relleno de Pavo

1 lb. lean hamburger or meatloaf mix
2 stalks celery - chopped
2 onions - chopped
1 green pepper – chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 apples – peeled & chopped
1 cup mixed raisins, chopped prunes or dried cherries
4 garlic cloves - crushed
1 tsp. ground achiote
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 cup sliced Peruvian Botija purple or black Kalamata olives
3-4 sprigs of oregano, thyme or parsley.
salt and pepper to suit
1 loaf of white bread – cubed

Brown ground beef or meatloaf mix. Drain excess grease.
Add chopped vegetables, fruits, nuts and spices to browned meat.
Cube bread and add to mixture.
Adjust seasonings to suit
By hand, thoroughly combine ingredients
Maintain moisture in stuffing by adding vegetable or chicken stock to suit.
Per your method, stuff and cook turkey.
Place prepared stuffing in a suitable bowl and serve.

**************************
Foe what it’s worth, a note about Peruvian style cooking; potatoes and rice - double starchies - is typical in many recipes. It works so adjust to suit.

A tasty meal easily prepared with leftover turkey and canned corn. Serve with sliced Yukon gold potatoes and rice. Depending on taste, a mix of canned creamed corn and corn kernels may be used. Either way, coarsely chop the corn in a blender or food processor.
A variation of this dish may be prepared by omitting the turkey. Cube and process 2-3 green zucchini or Pepian squash. Follow the remaining cooking process. Serve with rice and potatoes. May also be served separately with grilled meat as desired.

Creamed Corn with Pulled Turkey
Pepian de Pavo

2 lbs. leftover pulled turkey
4 large ears of sweet corn - 16 oz. of frozen corn or canned equivalent
1 small red onion - chopped
2-3 Tbsp. Ají Amarillo paste - Peruvian Yellow Hot Pepper
3 cloves minced garlic
3 cups turkey stock
½ cup butter
1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro,
Salt, pepper and cumin to suit.

Shell the corn and coarsely chop using a mixer or food processor, blend with ½ cup of broth.
In a saucepan melt the butter and gently brown the garlic.
Add the Aji paste and onion. Cook for five minutes.
Add the chopped cilantro and broth. Season to suit with salt, cumin and pepper.
When it reaches a boil, add the blended corn and stir until the mixture thickens.
Stir in pulled turkey.
Serve turkey-corn mixture over white rice with boiled, thick-sliced Yukon Gold potatoes. Arrange sliced boiled egg and purple Peruvian or Kalamata olives on the side.

Yield: 8 servings

If using sliced turkey, warm slices and arrange on serving plate and top with sauce. A more formal version of Pepián may be prepared using sliced boneless turkey or chicken breast filets instead of leftover turkey. Prepare filets as desired, slice and serve topped with sauce and accompaniments.

[Auntie Mame]

Oh my. 28. You must have been very busy. I can see you changing diapers with one hand and grabbing the 4-yr-old with the other. She was stunning. And I didn’t realize it the first time I saw her picture, but she was one of those natural platinum blondes, wasn’t she? Did your daughters inherit her hair?

As far as what you said to another freeper, being haunted because you weren’t there when she passed, trust me on this. People go when the circumstances are to their liking. If you weren’t there, she didn’t want you there. For some reason, she didn’t want you to see her go. My dear mother was the same. My amazingly wonderful husband just the opposite.

[TexasTransplant]

Pulled Taffy (we pulled taffy in the garage the evening of Thanksgiving and Christmas day)

[mylife]

Really? Saltwater taffy?

[newfreep]

Although my wife fell into a coma enroute to the hospital, she spent five days in the hospital and I was there every day including the very end at 5am.

I still vividly recall her last gasp of breath...and then a calm "letting go" if that makes sense. I do wish we could have had a moment to say our good byes.

As a kid growing up in a family of 4 boys and no sisters, it was quite an adventure raising two girls. I certainly did the diaper thing and always felt like I should be in 3 places at the same time.

To use a quote from "Risky Business"...."Time of my life"

The girls did inherent their mother's blond hair...

[SamAdams76]

For years, we would add 18 raw eggs to our stuffing mix. Yes, a dozen and half eggs. Then we'd stuff the turkey. (I'm talking 20-25 lb turkey.)

After the turkey was cooked, the stuffing would slide out of the cavity all in one piece and we'd slice it with a knife. Topped with gravy, it was delicious.

[SamAdams76]

Growing up in the 1970s, jello with shredded vegetables like lettuce, celery, carrots and whatnot was a thing at Thanksgiving. It was touted as a "healthy' side dish. And yeah, it was usually an unmarried aunt that brought it.

I almost want to throw up just thinking about it today!

[nicollo]

Grandma’s creamed pearl onions, baked, browned, cream straight from the cow.

[mylife]

LOL!!!

[mylife]

Mayo on the side LOL

[mylife]

I love onions.

[TheWriterTX]

That sounds delicious!

[Auntie Mame]

Thanks for the corn pudding recipe. Can’t get much simpler than that and except for the slice of bread, I’ve got everything in stock, I’ll borrow the bread from a neighbor. Looks so good I’m going to test it out before Thanksgiving. ; - )

[Auntie Mame]

Now THAT is great.

[Auntie Mame]

Bread recipe. Yes, please.

[rlmorel]

I’ll bet...he should’a armed the guard better!