Coca Cola, ice cream, cookies, pies, cakes and candies were probably around before you were born.

Thank you, Bonny, I knew I had that right.....:)

We had none of those things at dinners when I was a kid except for pumpkin pie.
For some reason, you are determined to paint a grim picture of holiday reminiscences.
Have at it. I'm done with this thread.

You are right, Polar Bear. It was fun hearing everyone's food reminiscences. Maybe somewhere down the line another person will start a similar thread and we can enjoy it while it lasts.

I wasn't sure if I finished talking about the pies, cookies, brownies, cakes, cobblers my grandmother made. If we wanted ice cream all the cousins had to take their turn cranking the ice cream maker.:smiley: We didn't want candybars. No room for them.

Can any of you recall a meal your mom, dad or other relative or friend made that you could describe as almost a religious experience? As an example my mother made pasta premavera (sp) she made each layer of vegetables separately. She insisted the pasta be al-dente. And she would trust no one to bring the cream to the required temperature but her. She carefully arranged each vegetable pored her cream sauce systematically over the very large platter and then and only then topped it all with cherry tomatoes cooked as she termed just enough . We would all applaud her as one of us carried her creation to the table.

Food reminiscences are important because it gets everyone ready for the really BIG Thanksgiving dinner. I just think some caution is in order being that 2/3 of people are overweight and many are suffering from diabetes, cancer, heart disease etc..

One day is NOT going to kill someone or cause them to develop Diabetes or gain a lot of weight.

My favorite meals in memory are connected to so many good and almost holy events.

The smell of onions cooking, the sound of the sear of meat, the laughter of children, the door opening and letting in cold and the sound of footsteps,..Daddy's home. The meal is a wonderful thing to remember.

I have wonderful memories (seriously) of sneaking unwanted peas and lima beans under the table to Joe the beagle. I was really good at it. Then one day I gave him a whole beet, which he hacked up on the carpet, and all hell broke loose.

Now that's funny. LOL.

So true Gracie. One memory of my career I'll never forget is of a diabetic patient I had followed for years. He was doing exceptionally well with his control, but was worried. His 50th wedding anniversary was fast approaching and the plans included a big wedding cake and the expectation he and his wife would replay sharing the first piece as they had done all those years ago. He was concerned that it would foul up his control. We both laughed when I told him it would be better to wait until his next 50th anniversary. EAT THE CAKE! And enjoy the anniversary.

Amen

Well said. Many of my most treasured memories, in the past and present, revolve around special occasions involving friends, family, and wonderful food.

I remember making the stuffing for my mom's 24 pound turkey at Thanksgiving at 5:00 in the morning. We'd stuff the turkey and put it in the oven at 6:00 am and cook it until 2:00 in the afternoon. That was way back in the overcook everything. But I must say, it was never dry.
While it was cooking we'd all gather around the TV and watch the Macy parade. Then we'd watch the Christmas movies. I would chop cabbage for cole slaw with the little metal hand chopper while watching the parade and my dad would be making the pumpkin pies. My mom, brother and sister would be doing all the other stuff, peeling potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc.
By 3:00 everything was already !
What a wonderful day of delicious fattening food and over stuffing ourselves. Then about 8:00 at night, we'd be pulling it all out of the fridge and feasting again !! Loved it !

Now that's is what makes life worth living.