Happy Thanksgiving Day to all you fine readers! I pray you are thankful and full.
I found these pictures from Thanksgiving 2006, but they are exactly what we are also partaking of today… in 2008. In fact, as far back as I can remember… and that’s about 38 or 39 years…. we’ve relished the first three: Stove Top Stuffing, Mom’s Pumpkin Pie and Turkey. The homemade buns were added to the spread circa 1993.
Now I’ve had gourmet stuffing with wild rice and bits of apple, celery and wild mushrooms. I’ve had cornbread stuffing with almonds and cinnamon. But none illicit memories of “home” like, as we affectionately call mom’s stuffing, Stove Top Trailer Trash Stuffing. It’s predictable. It’s constant. It’s yummy… and it sings “Welcome home” to me every Thanksgiving Day.
Mom’s homemade pumpkin pie is also the bomb. We have tried deviations through the years with pumpkin cream cheese rolls and pumpkin cheesecake. But are they on the menu the following year? Nada. It’s the old, familiar pie that returns and is welcomed with glee and with Cool Whip.
Nothing smells as good as a home where the turkey is roasting in the oven. And when that little red dealie pops out, sweet mercy, IT’S TIME! I’ve read suggestions and ideas and recipes to improve Thanksgiving Day turkeys, but like the pumpkin pie and Stove Top, we keep going back to the ol’ turkey in a pan. My favorite sure-fire turkey cooking idea was the popcorn stuffing. It’s the easiest recipe to tell when the bird is done because when the popcorn blows open the door of the oven … it’s ready. (Don’t try this at home.)
Here we have the newest addition to the Nikander Thanksgiving menu… Coral’s Buns… which have been renamed and are now known as Linda’s Buns. I learned to make these from two dear friends in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Coral and Marilyn. The buns are sweet and soft and melt in your mouth and sop up gravy like nobodies business. I made them yesterday and my brother happened to stop by as they were in the oven and the aroma assaulted him at the door. About five minutes after he went home, the phone rang. He said, “Julie made her homemade soup and we were wondering if you wanted to come for dinner and bring your buns.” How can you refuse an offer like that?
Keep the family Thanksgiving traditions strong in your home and may God bless us each and every one.
Tags: family traditions, homemade buns, pumpkin pie, Stove Top, stuffing, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, traditions, turkey
My Sister's Jar 
November 27, 2008 at 12:06 pm |
Our stuffing isn’t quite as trashy as Linda says because, unbeknown to her I do slip in chopped celery, onions and yes, even mushrooms Love that STOVETOP! I’m so thankful two of our families are here — we miss you Christy and the gang. Love to all!
November 27, 2008 at 5:01 pm |
That would look yummy, if I wasn’t stuffed to the gills already…
Shhh! We use Stove Top too…two boxes aren’t going to be enough for next year.
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you and your “demented” family of homeschooled children have a blessed year. :)
November 27, 2008 at 7:44 pm |
Happy Thanksgiving Linda! That is so funny you posted the Stove Top. I was feeling a bit guilty today as I cheated and used two boxes of Stove top for our dinner. :) I did add a bit of my own pizzaz to it, but it tasted just fine. I think we had 5 pumpkin pies brought to our house today. We are in pumpkin heaven. I even got my dad to go outside when the rain broke for a spell to help string up lights with me. Nothing like recruiting your family to help outside. Now we are ready for Christmas. Have a blessed weekend. We love you, The Stephensons.
November 28, 2008 at 10:16 am |
I am Linda’s sister who doesn’t live in Phoenix, and we go to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving and he is a chef. Needless to say, he is not a Stovetop kind of a guy, but there is always a little bowl there for me! He knows I need my white trash stuffing!!!
November 28, 2008 at 10:49 am |
Have any of you stove top dressing lovers ever tasted some honest-to-goodness, home made ingredient dressing with oysters added? Now that’s to die for. (There’s always a second bowl of conventional dressing without oysters for those “picky” ones.) I’ll have to brag a little about our pie selection also. Two pumpkin pies, one sweet potato pie, and one “home made” mince meat pie using elk for the meat. I’m still full. The “middle” of the meal was bodacious also.
November 29, 2008 at 9:42 am |
Ooooh! Wish I was with Grumps and Gram AND/OR LaVonna’s for the pie selection! Well, in three more days when I feel like eating again.
I have not had oyster stuffing, but I would like it, I’m sure.
Christy, you are truly the spoiled youngest child…. for the rest of your life. I’m glad someone up there is taking care of you.