This will be the first year my boyfriend and I make a full Thanksgiving dinner together and I wanted to reach out to my grandma for a little guidance. Not that I don’t know how to cook (and my boyfriend does too) but I just wanted a little motherly touch. Well, I enjoyed my phone call so much and grandma’s Thanksgiving tips, that I just needed to share with you all. So sit back, relax, and start reading this delightful dialect. Enjoy!
How to make Sausage Stuffing (Conversation 1)
“Okay, grandma go.” -Me
“First go to the store and buy Pepperidge Herb cubed stuffings mix it’s in a bag. Then get two cups of chicken stock, two stalks of celery, one large onion, and chop it all the way same as the celery and a roll of Parks Orginal sausage. Pork sausage in a roll.” -Grandma
“Okay got it. What’s next?” -Me
“Take five tablespoons of butter in a pot and melt it. Then you add chopped onion and celery till it’s soft. Once it’s soft, take two cups of chicken stock and boil it.” -Grandma
“Grandma, what is chicken stock? Is it the blood of chicken?” -Me
“What? No. It’s animal bones and meat made into stock.” -Grandma
“Ok. Go on.” -Me
“Take the pot off the heat after it boils and add the sausage. Oh, I forgot to tell you this you have to cut the sausage into little pieces before you cook it. Rip it up into little pieces okay and add the stuffing mix to it. Then you put it in a greased casserole dish and put it in the oven.” -Grandma
“What is a casserole dish? Wait, I’m just going to Google it.” -Me
“Okay, it’s a dish. You gotta…oh, you are going to Google it. Ok. Just make sure it’s a casserole dish though, grease it in the oven for about thirty minutes at 350 degrees. If you need any help, the directions are on the stuffing bag.” -Grandma
“Wait, the directions are on the bag? Why didn’t you just tell me that, to begin with Grandma.” -Me
END
How to Make a Turkey (Conversation 2)
“Put the turkey out to thaw five days before if you bought a frozen one. Did you get it frozen?” -Grandma
“Wait, you want me to put the turkey on the counter for five days before we cook it? Urgh, even the Butterball?” -Me
“No in the refrigerator keeps it in there to thaw out (laughing) and get a 10-pound one for the two of you. That should be good. Then when you are ready to take out all the guts and rinse the inside with water, salt, and pepper.” -Grandma
“Doesn’t our uncle keep the guts?” -Me
“Yes, not my cup of tea but maybe you want them I don’t know.” -Grandma
“Nah, I’m good.” -Me
“Take some apple or an orange in quarters sliced and put inside the turkey. Make sure to pin the skin by the legs, neck, and wings.” -Grandma
“I bought a little kit with the pins and rope.” -Me
“Oh, perfect sweetie great! Next, you get some marsala wine and oh the bay leaves put a slit in the turkey breast and add the leaves in.” -Grandma
“Grandma, do they sell boxed marsala wine?” -Me
“I have no idea. I’ve never seen a box of wine before.” -Grandma
“Get it all in there. Then shove it in the oven but make sure you read the bird directions. They are all on the outside label. Following it according to the pounds. Every thirty minutes base it. Put aluminum foil on it for the first hour.” -Grandma
“Thanks, Grandma! Okay, finally the gravy?” -Me
END
How to Make Gravy (Conversation 3)
“Do you have corn starch?” -Grandma
“Yes, I do.” -Me
“Take the cornstarch and around two tablespoons and turkey drippings. Add salt, pepper and I think whisk it. You can read the gravy on how to make it on the corn starch box.” -Grandma
END
In addition to those dishes listed above, I told my grandmother I was planning on making some rolls in the oven, celery sticks with cream cheese and chives, a veggie dish that was TDB, yams with brown sugar (or marshmallow) and we are going to crack open a can of cranberry sauce to complete our Thanksgiving meal. I love my grandma and these precious conversations. Happy holidays everyone.
With Love,
Lex Paige
