Hi Wally-
Good luck on you food interview. I think since Thanksgiving is upon us,
it is appropo to go there. In my neck of the woods (no matter what neck that
was at the time) it always meant lots of food, lots of family, lots of
music, and lots more food for days. My mom always cooked way to much and we
would have leftovers for days (a GOOD and bad thing). I cook my mothers
traditional meal with a few of my own inventions and adaptations. Mother
always had the following menu:
Turkey (Roasted)
Stuffing (cornbread and stale bread base)
Ham (Baked with the pineapple pinned to the sides)
Oyster Casserole (yes the same one I put in the Joni Cookbook)
Green Bean Casserole
Stewed Tomatoes (sometimes)
Cream Corn (sometimes)
Mashed Potatoes
Turkey Gravy (made with water added from the boiled potatoes for extra BAM)
Cranberries or Cranberry Sauce
Candied Yams
Creamed Onions
Bread
Heavenly Hash (Grapes and nuts marshmellows in a whipped cream sauce)
Pumpkin Pie (with FRESH whipped cream)
I make the same dinner now for my family and friends who don't have family
to go to for dinner. Sometimes I even have people I don't know over for the
same reason. It's awful for me to be alone on holidays and while I am no
replacement for anyones dear old mom, I think togetherness is so wonderful
around the holidays. My additions to the meal are as follows:
I usually fry a whole Turkey as well as the roasted one. This is done
outside in the yard in the same big old pot we use to boil crawfish in on a
gas flame. The bird (after being massaged with lemon and lime by me for a
good 45 minutes) is injected with seasoning (with a large syringe) My
seasoning scheme is a closly guarded secret.
Corn Casserole (instead of Creamed Corn)
Brussel Sprout Casserole (lots of garlic in this and cheese)
I hope this little corner of NorthAmericana (out of respect for Garcia
Marquez) is helpful to you.
Paz
P.S. If your mom (in the third world country of Florida) was a real man, she
would put a few jalapeno peppers in her Hush Puppies. Of course I have
another story about her trapesing around the french quarter in some High
Heeled Hush Puppies, but that's another story for another time. ;-}
P.S.S. While we are on Thanksgiving I would like to hear dome other peoples
dishes for Thanksgiving. I am feeling like a may need to add another dish to
this meal of mine and what better venue to get a recipe from. Lets hear what
you got jmdl???
