Eats
Panic in the Scullery: Thanksgiving Edition
This coming Thursday will be Thanksgiving here, my favorite national holiday.
For my family of origin in Omaha, the cliché of a fractious gathering where people get each other riled up over everything from politics to other people’s business—has never been true. Although we are as fractious as the next Dust Bowl dynasty, we have the sense not to spoil a feast with a fight. The worst that ever happened was my dad annoying my mom by leaving the table early to conk out in the recliner, absenting himself from bonhomie with his in-laws. The maternal feathers were well ruffled.
The best that ever happened was the year that Peter and I had just gotten engaged. Inspired by a scene in the movie Diner, he pretended to make me pass a quiz about Nebraska football to merit the privilege of being his wife.
My mother’s three younger brothers knew their nerdy niece had never paid attention to the Cornhuskers, and they were more than a little concerned about my chances. They paced around, whisper-cussing when I missed one, fist-pumping when I came out with a “Bob Devaney!” or “Johnny Rodgers!” They’re all gone now, husband and uncles, and I can hardly stand the beauty of that memory.
Rare photo of Frampton uncles together (at another, earlier wedding). P.S. I Passed the test. Gosh!
Recipe File
And now: the annual recitation of solid-gold Midwestern recipes I’ve been bragging on all these years. These are the versions we make today:
Dilly Casserole Bread (1960 Pillsbury Bake-Off winner! Super early adopter of 2024’s fashionable protein booster, secret cottage cheese! Make an extra loaf for toast on Friday.)
Smitten Kitchen’s Green Bean Casserole (Loosely interpreted according to my energy level; this year the frizzled onions came in a big bag from Costco—and they’re delicious.)
Scalloped Corn aka Corn Soufflé (A particular favorite of the little kid contingent.)
Basic Bread Stuffing (For vegetarians, use vegetable Better Than Bouillon to make the broth, and bake it in a separate dish. Make enough to ensure leftovers to reheat in a waffle iron—that is a must.)
I hope something wonderful happens at all our Thanksgiving tables this year, even if it’s just that the old man hangs out for a few minutes longer. If somebody gets engaged: glory in that moment with everything you’ve got.
Happy almost-Thanksgiving to all who are starting to gear up their preparations. Remember that you can peel the potatoes in advance if you keep them covered in cold water in the fridge!
Thank you for this. It’s beautiful. Such fun memories. Having them makes me realize this is another thing to be thankful for. Enjoy the day!
Reminds me of when we used to play Trivial Pursuit with my then in-laws. My now ex-husband would insist I be given a sports question if I reached the center of the game board. For years afterwards I was able to rile him up simply by saying “Sandy Koufax.”
Wendy, I know less than nothing about sports, but, a zillion years ago I won Trivial Pursuit with my answer of Sandy Koufax —and the only reason I knew that name was because in 1960-something my brother had a Sandy Koufax bobble-head figurine. I savor that triumph to this day (as apparently you do too!) Things to be thankful for.
Rooniek, that is awesome!
Wishing you a blessed Sandy Koufax, Wendy!
Hello from Omaha! I’m a transplanted Californian – but I’ve been in Omaha for in excess of 40 years. You have something to cheer about this year – a bowl game for those Huskers after going on 8 years now (which if you living in Nebraska has been an eternity!). Happy Thanksgiving from Omaha!
Happy Thanksgiving from Lincoln. GBR. What a wait. I’m 75 and have listened/watched and we had season tickets for many years. Used to listen to as small child. I was afraid it might not happen before my death!
Good times. Happy Thanksgiving! ♥️
The “nuance” scene from Diner! Great idea for a post-prandial screening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ius9w8ZhX4
Oh my gosh, I haven’t made Dilly Casserole Bread in years! It is good. I started making it when I was in graduate school which was 40 + a bit years ago. I may have to put some cottage cheese on the grocery list soon. I’ve already started the rye bread that I will make on Thanksgiving.
Thanks, Kay, for this great post (and recipes), and Happy Thanksgiving to you and Ann and the MDK staff for all that you do throughout the year. I’m in Maine, and I love knowing that MDK is thriving in Nashville.
Officially devastated in the best way. Oooof. Thank you.
Reading your article was a lovely way to start my day. Your memories of uncles and the gathering of family touched my heart and started me remembering my own Thanksgivings of the past.
Love this so much.
Although this year will be a very quiet Thanksgiving, I revel in memories of Thanksgiving past. Back in 1983, I had just graduated college and was living in East Hampton in a lovely house with three lovely roommates–Kenny, Jimmy, and Ray. We lived very much like a family and were a bit stunned when we realized we weren’t going to be spending Thanksgiving together. So the Sunday before, the boys got the house together and I cooked a turkey with all the trimmings and we invited some friends over (I think we had 10 of us all together) and we celebrated the day.
Our early Thanksgiving with our friends went on for years. We borrowed tables and chairs from the VFW, friends families loaned us plates and glasses, and the last year we did it, we had somewhere around 85 people throughout the day. We were young and carefree and it was always a great day.
I’m pretty sure we invented Friendsgiving on that spontaneous Sunday so many years ago.
I will henceforth think of you as the discoverer of Friendsgiving. It’s canon!
Reminds me of when a bunch of grad students too poor to go back home for the holiday got together and invited all the “onlies’ we could find for a potluck (with turkey). We called it “orphan Thanksgiving.” It lasted for years.
Lynn I love this! After our Friendsgiving parties, I moved home to Westchester and hosted Thanksgiving for my family for decades. And for everyone I knew who had no where else to go. I called it Lost Boys and Girls Thanksgiving. I think an open door is the best thing you can have on your table.
That dill bread was a staple at my grandmother’s house. She more often made it in summer. Thanksgiving was refrigerator rolls, which I will be baking tomorrow. With egg wash and sesame or poppy seeds, they’re like bite sized challahs.
Well, THIS got my attention! Some really special recipes here, they all look and sound like unique variations to my table, particularly that bread. I can easily see making savory Dilly bread year round.
Writing my shopping list now… Stop and Stop? I’m on my way, save me a cart.
The honest reason I don’t make Dilly Bread year round is that I love how excited people are to get it at Thanksgiving and Christmas time.
This may not reflect well on me!
Kay,
You always make my day! May your thanksgiving be a joyful celebration! I’m so grateful for MDK!
PS, love the recipes!
Growing up in Detroit, my large Polish family embraced Thanksgiving with joy and gusto. There were prayers, jokes, silliness, and laughter. We were financially modest and so the abundance of food was glorious. My mother was a wonderful cook and had a willing group of helpers. Thank you, Kay, for bringing my sweet memories to mind.
Ah, yes- dilly bread. I haven’t thought of that in years. Thanks for the memories, Kay!
What a sweet memory! And those tuxes! The other day some true Midwesterners at the horse barn were discussing dilly bread and SHOCKED that I didn’t know what it was and had never eaten. Texted recipes followed, but maybe I’ll go with yours.
It’s so good Mary Lou!
My very tall father (6’5″) was also a recliner guy, along with his brother. If no recliner was available, he would simply stretch out on the floor, hands linked behind his head, and elbows out, and he could be snoring away within minutes. My husband’s family was all about the football, so that’s a part of the tradition at our house now. A new gathering is happening this year – parts of my family of origin, with my brother’s wife’s entire family, plus a nephew from my husband’s side, and my son’s girlfriend (fear not – she has met many of us already – so there will be no pressure!). I’m ridiculously excited about it all.
Mine was *only* 6’4” but thank you so much for reminding me about the floor-sleeping position of his younger days. Out cold with his hands behind his head!
Yum! Thank you!
I may be purchasing a waffle iron on Black Friday!
I just want to put in a word of support and comfort to those reading these wonderful comments for whom childhood Thanksgiving memories are not so great. Or maybe even awful. I wish you a happy and loving day with friends, or a peaceful, serene day if you prefer to just ignore the holiday altogether. I am thinking of you, and sending loving thoughts.
May you walk in beauty.
Thank you
Loved the memories! A few here also, we started as two and now have 13 who will be in person and 5 elsewhere this year. Blessed to have a very full fridge and all my family still here, including a new 7 month old little one! Happy Thanksgiving to all MDK thankful for finding you both 20 years ago! Eat too much, calories don’t count on holidays! xx
Holidays are embedded with memories.
As I age, I understand the bit of melancholy my mother had during holidays, missing people, remembering.
Now I do it.
Happy Turkey Day. I do still watch the B’way numbers from the beginning of the parade, now while I prep. And I’ll never be able to carve a turkey the way my father did.
Funny but the memory that pops into my head is watching my dad relishing using the electric knife on the giant turkey. He swore by it and it was never used any other time of the year that I can recall.
The dilly bread is a keeper, thanks for reminding me of the recipe. Happy Thanksgiving all, especially the whole crew at MDK, I’m very thankful for you guys!
Thank you, Kay, for sharing your family memories. It brought tears to my eyes.
“Special Corn” (which is scalloped corn, if you’re fancy) is a must at our family table! Saltines all the way!
Crab Orchard, Nebraska’s finest. I hope that’s a reference to crabapples. Here’s to continuing to making beautiful memories, Kay. I lift my glass to you and yours from 114th and Pacific on Thursday!
Oh my, Basic Bread Stuffing! This is where mine started, at my mom’s elbow in the early 1960’s. Over the years, my brother and I (Mama died unexpectedly in 1971) have morphed it to include sliced mushrooms and cubed apple – and a ton of Bell’s Seasoning. And yes, we still call it stuffing even though we determined years ago we preferred it casserole style. Oh, and because of the casserole, we usually adda couple beaten eggs with the last of the stock.
BTW, you can totally make it ahead and freeze it. I often make enough at Thanksgiving for Christmas and stash it. In my family, the turkey-with-all-the-trimmings-contingent overrules anyone who suggests something else for Christmas dinner.
“…have the sense not to spoil a feast with a fight”. Amen to that!
Why do I feel like I always have to make it on Thanksgiving morning? Freezing it is brilliant. Stuffing forever!
Thank you…I needed cheering up. Hubby is being a jerk since we’re hosting again and he’s tired of it. Thanksgiving version of the grinch. I hope he doesn’t ruin it anymore than he already has.
Maybe say to hubby, in the kindest possible voice, that his complaining is making it very difficult for you to put him on your list of things you’re thankful for. Then sit him in a corner with a beer or something to keep him occupied and out of the way. Hang in there! ❤️
This is some holiday realness to which I think most of us can relate!
Thank you. Reading this has me finally looking forward to prepping this feast among family.
Colts’ Test. Classic cinema.
When I had a family, Crested Butte ski resort was offering free skiing if you rented a place to stay. My daughter was 8 and my son was 4 and my husband brought his books. My son took to skiing and my daughter was not happy and my husband actually rented skis and I had a great Thanksgiving. I never heard the end of that break from tradition
This does bring back many fond memories of Thanksgivings past, although there is no mention of pie! In our family, it seemed to be a requirement to have more pies than people. There was a double bed near the kitchen that was used to hold the pies until dessert.
We always have pie but I made the decision in recent years that as good as a homemade pie is, a pie from Breads bakery is even better and I just assign someone to bring a few!
Your comment brought back a memory from even longer ago of all my mom’s foil-wrapped pies waiting for their big moment on top of the washing machine and dryer in the basement.
Love the memories, the uncle photos and the recipes. (I plan to try making the Scalloped Corn / Souffle!) Happy Thanksgiving week, MDK fam. <3
Jen! You met the last uncle! And I did find a photo of him from that day, he was kind of photobombing us in front of the quilt museum.
Oh my goodness! dilly bread. I used to absolutely love this bread. Can’t wait to make. My kids have never tasted. Thanks so much for this blast from the past! My mouth is watering!
Love you Kay. Thanks for sharing these memories and these recipes. Wishing you and all you hold dear a fabulous holiday with good food, good conversation, and good knitting!❤️
Not a regular but this came up in my algorithm and it’s just what I needed to read today, thanks.
Love this! ❤
For me the highlight of today’s post is the idea of putting leftover stuffing in the waffle iron! Is this a thing and I’ve missed it because I’m just too old? And the pictures of the uncles is a close second.
I only learned about the waffle iron trick in the last few years, over the pandemic I think. It makes breakfast on Friday super fun and I no longer am the only one eating leftover stuffing. It’s a hot commodity now!
Here’s a gift link to a 2015 newsletter from the NY Times’s Sam Sifton mentioning stuffing waffles (no recipe needed, you just put the stuffing in the waffle iron and go), plus a bunch of other ideas for Thanksgiving leftovers, plus Sam Sifton’s marvelous writing: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/27/dining/thanksgiving-leftovers.html
November is for gingerbread and December is for dille bread! My grandmother always made a cake tin of gingerbread in November (honestly, must have been more than one cake tin because she always had gingerbread) and loaves and loaves of dille bread in December. Neither ever featured at the Thanksgiving table though….
I have fond memories of getting to her house before school started for a cup of hot cocoa and either a slice of gingerbread with whipped cream or a piece of toast dille bread with butter, depending on the month.
I think those two things are special because they came out once a year.