(no subject)

[fan_eunice]

A random Thanksgiving type question, on account of this popped up as a point of contention during the holiday.

Do you eat your turkey with cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving? If so, which do you want on the table?

a) the jellied kind that retains the shape of the can
b) the fancier but still comes in a can with berries and stuff
c) homemade

Now, I know this makes me a culinary heathen...but, for me it's gotta be a. Gotta be. On any other day of the year I would balk at a can shaped jelly thing staring at me. But on Thanksgiving, I don't actually care which would taste better because TRADITION. It's just not T-day unless I can identify the ridges of the can in my cranberry sauce.

See also: sweet potato casserole MUST have marshmallows on it (and I already know some of you are grossed out by that, just know that I am judging you right back)

Alternately, what food traditions are must haves at your holiday table (any holiday at all if Thanksgiving is not applicable to you)?

Also, also. I made PIE. It was really good. No, really...please do not judge my pie by my cranberry sauce and marshmallow preferences. This was an objectively tasty pie.

Comments

[nonelvis]

The stuff in the can makes me laugh. (Sorry.) I'll eat it, because it still tastes good, but I'm definitely in the c) category. Usually I make a spiced cranberry sauce with star anise and cinnamon; this year, it was a new recipe from Cook's Illustrated that used fresh and crystallized ginger. It was pretty good, and the important thing is that there were plenty of leftovers for post-Thanksgiving stuffing/gravy/cranberry sauce meals.

The only food tradition we absolutely have to have at Thanksgiving is cornbread dressing, which my husband insists upon. I grew up with the bread dressing, but have long since switched loyalties to the cornbread kind; I make it using the Cook's technique of soaking it overnight in half-and-half and chicken broth (if I'm doing a non-vegetarian version), or soy milk and veggie broth if I'm having vegans over for the holiday. You get a super-moist dressing this way.

I also always feel a little weird if there isn't something pumpkiny for dessert. It doesn't have to be pumpkin pie (which I love); pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin brownies, etc., are fine, too. It's all good as long as there's pumpkin.

[fan_eunice]

It makes me laugh too, that's part of it's charm! That it makes that weird plopping sound as it comes out of the can and it's just ridiculous looking. BUT PERFECT.

Mmmmm, someday I would love to try your cranberry sauce, it sounds DELICIOUS. Just not on Thanksgiving. :D