Back By Popular Demand

Updated on Friday, November 26, 2010 at 8:47PM by Stash

I've already gotten a dozen requests for my mom's sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving--which is the best food compliments out there.  It's nice knowing that my family's tradition is now tradition in other households.  For me, this annual side is more important than the bird with it's sweet, smooth texture and crunchy pecan topping.  As it comes out of the oven molten lava hot, I usually burn my tongue, but that's just part of the tradition.

The original 'Southern' version per se had twice as much sugar--which makes sense since that is the same demographic that puts marshmallows on top of the already-sweet tuber.  If you're into a marshmallow topping, don't feel bad about others judging you.  If it tastes good, who cares?

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The Thanksgiving Post, Finally [Part 3 - Dessert]

I don't bake.  I use ovens, but never for dessert.  As such, I'm not going over the recipes for these.  If my mom ever gets an e-mail address I'll gladly point you her way.  I would like to note, that for the lipid of the dough, we used an egg yolk instead of crisco or butter or whatever else people are using these days.  In the past we also tried the vodka dough, but liked this one by far the best.

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The Thanksgiving Post, Finally [Part 2 - Sides]

Ok so here's the deal- Diana Ross sucks without The Supremes.  I mean you look at her these days and she is in dire need of support.  Single acts get old fast.  How much straight turkey can you eat?  I don't think very much.  We have to remember to give credit to the sides, because chances are that is really where it all began.

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The Thanksgiving Post, Finally [Part 1 - Turkey and Gravy]

Thanksgiving was only two weeks ago- this post series isn't that late.  Better late than never because most of these dishes get reused for Christmas anyway.  Minus cleanup, Thanksgiving is arguably the greatest holiday in the universe.  I don't know any other time when excessive indulgence is condoned.

Historical data shows that one of the few traditions in place is that we have never prepared a turkey the same way twice.  It isn't due to our strive for perfection or that the year's past was so terrible- but we never write anything down.  Word on the street is that there was a recipe this year, but the document was long lost by the time we sat down to eat.  The poor thing didn't even last a day.

This Thanksgiving began like all the others- my Dad getting a 15+ pound turkey compliments of Springbrook's Turkey Shoot, some goofy golf event.  The twist this year, is that that very turkey was given to Loaves and Fishes.  A more suitable nine pound turkey was promptly purchased.

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Thinking Out Loud

The last meal game is a common activity among prestigious chefs and completely unknown people, such as myself.  It's a very difficult game for me- my stomach has moods.  He may be in one of those 'rip apart a duck moods' or perhaps in a light Japanese meal mood.  There is no accurate forecasting.  Thinking about it keeps me up late at night.  However, when I am asked, my deer in the headlights response is New Orleans BBQ salmon and my mom's cocoa mocha cheesecake.  It's been my birthday meal for years.

Isn't the grandest meal of the year Thanksgiving?  Many label it as their favorite holiday for good reason.  Until now, I've never thought of Thanksgiving being a suitable last meal.  It is of course, an ultimate meal- which is the task I've been given to create:

Submit your wild annual traditions, your most sought-after turkey alternative, or, if you don’t celebrate the holiday, any ultimate night of eating you’ve always wanted to experience and share with the world!

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