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Late to the party on this one, but here goes... about six years ago, my mom's new boyfriend came to our family Thanksgiving for the first time with his nine-year-old son. My family is fairly uptight, so this guy had everyone's eyebrows raised with his motorcycle-ridin', rock'n'rollin' ways. We're at the feast, the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are tolerating him, and our quietly formal Thanksgiving meal is proceeding, when all of a sudden during a lull in conversation the nine-year-old goes "Hey, Daddy, remember when I found cocaine on your dresser?" Completely out of the blue. Ensue awkward silence. The boyfriend finally musters a halfhearted, "I don't know what you're talking about, son," to which the kid responds, "Yes, you do! It was in a little baggie and you said it was Uncle Dave's." The boyfriend was speechless. The entire table cracked up, and someone changed the subject, but it was never forgotten.

That was not the last Thanksgiving we had with them, but unfortunately, nobody ever told any more drug stories.

still hoping for some cornbread/sausage stuffing

Ham in Coca Cola- yum! But if we're talking about winning a turkey, I'd have to vote on Cornbread-Sausage Stuffing with Apples... that would complement the bird perfectly.

God, do I miss living in Atlanta. I left barely two months ago and am already planning my return. Great post, bonus points for eliciting homesickness.

@PumpkinBear, I do the same thing... props.

Well, since I live in Philly, have no family to speak of, and tonight is the world series... I'll probably forgo an actual meal in favor of beer and gelato from Capogiro. Had a rough day, so my friends promised we could go for some dessert therapy after class tonight. And then, of course, we will watch the Phillies beat the Yankees... assuming my day doesn't want to go from rough to downright awful.

Dear New York,

You might have us in food, but we will rock you on the field. Get ready to cry into your prized pastrami sandwiches and perfect pizza and superior hot dogs.

Sincerely,

A Proud Philadelphian

I'd bookmarked this back in July and finally just made it. DELICIOUS. I did substitute AP flour for rice flour, and green onions for chives- but still. Amazing.

Sounds like a Pixar fish... Don't cook Nemo!

Just kidding. Sorry, wish I could help.

Whoops, the point of that whole comment above was that we deeply considered the pumpkin pies before deciding we just didn't want to go there. Ever. At all. And now the yummy homemade foodie-approved pumpkin product in my kitchen agrees with me.

Stracciatella soup. Drizzle a couple of gently beaten eggs mixed with Parm into simmering chicken broth, throw in pasta, beans, whatever else is on hand (I've even used matzo balls - you reading this, Mr. Schwartz?), garnish with pepper, nutmeg, whatever. Authenticity varies depending on the 'whatever's on hand' bit, but rumor has it that this quick and cheap meal is based on an Italian soup.

WHY did I leave Atlanta again? Varasano's, Fritti, and that beautiful pie... groan.

My mom insisted on our family sitting down to dinner together, every night that was humanly possible. Now that I'm on my own with a little it of perspective, I appreciate it. Dinners kept us communicating, even when my brother and I were surly teenagers and didn't have much to say. I'm also grateful because those meals primed me to become the food snob I am today. My mom wasn't much of a locavore, but everything was freshly prepared from scratch; no boxes or mixes were ever found in our household. I think one time she tried to serve us Hamburger Helper as a joke; we recoiled in horror and refused to eat. Henceforth, that meal was brought up as a reminder of what a good mom she was. When I have my own kids, I fully plan to continue the tradition by cooking good meals that we will enjoy as a family.

@redfish: HAHAHAH, love it.

How about pumpkin juice.... firewhiskey... and/or Hagrid's infamous rock cakes? I don't care what they serve, as long as elves are slaving away in the kitchen, making food magically appear on the tables.

I'll stop here before my nerdiness runs away with me