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.
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!
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.
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.
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!