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THERE’S MORE THAN FOOD AT THIS TABLE
by Phyllis Jenkins
Driving up I-20 from Texas to Louisiana, we always found the traffic heavy during this time of year. Families joined us on the highway, traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday. The closer we got to Shreveport, the more my mouth watered. I was already hearing the hot grease pop as the catfish fried in the skillet, smelling the turnip greens cooked to perfection, and the cornbread, golden and ready to devour. This is the meal my precious mom prepared year after year on the day before Thanksgiving.
As my family and I finally arrived, the aroma from the kitchen drew us in the moment we opened the door. MaDear and Daddy greeted us with ear-to-ear smiles. I can still hear Daddy say, “Heyyyyyy, come on in.” MaDear would follow with, “The food is hot and ready to eat.” We grabbed our luggage, dumped it in our rooms, washed up, and headed to the kitchen. Over the next few days, the quiet house filled with laughter, conversation, and lots of hugs.
After our welcome-home meal, my mom and I, along with anyone else who wanted to help, prepared the real meal the next day: Thanksgiving. My favorite dish to help make was my mom’s cornbread dressing. It was moist and seasoned just right. We cooked into the wee hours to get everything perfect for the next day. The aroma of the Thanksgiving meal always drew Daddy to the kitchen just in time to be our taste tester.
Thanksgiving Day! Daddy was still a kid at heart. He joyfully watched the Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our meal was served around noon. Daddy carved the turkey, then took his seat at the head of the table. The family followed suit. We prayed and thanked God for family and the great meal before us. What a wonderful time of fellowship.
As a child and then a young adult, I looked forward to Thanksgiving as a time to gather with family, eat, rest, watch the Dallas Cowboys win (stop laughing), eat some more, and, yes, rest again.
This Thanksgiving is different for me. It’s my first without my mother and my first without either of my parents. Two chairs at the table are empty. I’ve struggled with this a lot, but while I still love and miss my parents dearly, I’m remembering what that gathering meant. Their traditions, stories, recipes, faith, and the lessons they instilled in me will be passed down from generation to generation.
From My Mother’s Kitchen to Yours
My mom, whom I lovingly called MaDear, was short in stature but had a big heart. She was not ashamed to proclaim, “My cornbread dressing is the best in the world.” She believed it, and so did we.
Margaret Byrd’s Cornbread Dressing Recipe Serves 6-8 people
Ingredients:
Fresh Turkey wings (package of two)
2- packages of Cornbread mix (preferably Martha White’s white cornbread mix)
2 frozen packages of onion, green pepper, and celery mix
2-Swanson chicken broth (two 32 oz. Cartons)
2- Stove Top Stuffing mix (Turkey or Chicken flavor)
Lemon pepper seasoning
Cranberry Sauce (optional)
Cooking Instructions:
Place the fresh turkey wings in a pot of hot water. Bring to a boil and let cook until done.
Cook the cornbread following the directions on the package.
In a skillet, sauté the frozen onion, green pepper, and celery mix packages until done.
Stir in chicken broth. Turn the burner off and let it cool.
In a large mixing bowl, crumble the cooked cornbread.
Add the stuffing mix, one box at a time. You may only want to use one and a half boxes.
Stir in the onion, green pepper, and celery.
Stir in 2 cups of the broth from the freshly cooked turkey.
Add lemon pepper and black pepper to taste.
Stir the mixture until well blended. Pour the mixture into a large, ungreased baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until it’s thickened (but not dry). The best part about this cornbread dressing is that it’s moist.
Serve with cranberry sauce or turkey gravy. Enjoy!
If MaDear could walk into my kitchen this Thanksgiving, she would ask, “Did you cook my famous dressing?”
Whose love and traditions still have a place at your Thanksgiving table? What traditions are you passing to the next generation?
Because there’s always more than food at the family table.
