I don’t know that Thanksgiving in Texas is any different from Thanksgiving anywhere else in the U.S., but I’m guessing there are more similarities than there are differences. Family gatherings, sharing what you’re thankful for, watching parades, and cheering on your favorite football team are among the many joys I’ve experienced in my lifetime. And then there’s eating way too much of everything for several days until you actually start believing that tryptophan from the turkey is what makes you sleepy and not the fact that you’ve eaten more carbs, enjoyed copious amounts of desserts, and maybe even imbibed in a little more alcohol than you usually drink in a month.
Growing up in Texas, I’ve loved Thanksgiving. It’s always been my favorite holiday of the year. I’m sure it’s because we spent many a turkey day at my grandparents’ home near Troup, Texas. Grandma Barney was an amazing cook. Now I can say I don’t know that her Thanksgiving meals were any more special than any meal you were blessed to eat at her house, but for me, they stood out from the others. She was a simple southern cook and had a gift people still talk about, even though she passed away nearly 30 years ago.
During the holidays, you would find cornbread dressing made with cornbread from the corn my papa (pronounced pawpaw) grew, then had made into stone-ground cornmeal. The cornbread dressing always had cooked chicken in it, as I don’t ever recall her having a turkey, except when my uncle and his family came to visit and they deep fried one in the front yard. I could be wrong about that, but those are my memories.
Granda might have some ham on the table as another protein option or maybe even fried chicken. She made the best candied sweet potatoes, again likely from those my papa raised. You’d find chicken and rolled dumplings. I specify because we didn’t have those drop dumplings you see in other families. They’re okay but nothing like grandmas. I’m sure there were peas on the table, either purple hulls, black-eyed or cream peas. Didn’t matter which. They were all good. Copper penny carrots, greens, and squash casserole were there. Maybe deviled eggs, some type of corn, or macaroni and cheese would make an appearance. I honestly don’t remember if there was cranberry sauce on the table or not. I know it’s something I either make or buy the jellied kind from the can and slice it by the guide marks provided from the can’s shape.
The sweetest iced tea that she made over the stove with boiling water, tea bags, and an insane amount of sugar filled glasses topped to the rim with ice. There was no microwave or store-bought variety.
Desserts were incredible! Chocolate meringue pie, coconut cream pie, pecan pie, fried apricot pies, and banana pudding. You might find a hummingbird cake (no birds were harmed in its making), peach or blackberry cobbler, plus “salads” that could pass for desserts like cranberry fluff salad and Watergate salad, both made with heavy whipping cream and mini marshmallows.
I’ve been working on a How Big Is Texas Cookbook for a while now. I was blessed to receive a large number of recipes from my grandma’s side of the family, including many of her handwritten ones. It’s no wonder the desserts were so great. When I separated the recipes in categories, I found more desserts than any others. I found I could make an entire cookbook on sweets that would make a dentist want to show up at our family’s front doors and pass out business cards. I come from a long line of pies, cakes, cobbler, and homemade candy eaters with no apologies.
The other reason I loved Thanksgiving at my grandparent’s house was being able to sit down and listen to my papa tell the best tall tales in northeast Texas, maybe even in the entire Lone Star State. Papa was pretty unassuming. If you saw him in town, he’d likely be wearing khaki pants and a white, buttoned-down shirt. At home, he might change into a different shirt and pair it with Dickie’s blue or striped overalls. He smoked a pipe with Prince Albert tobacco or he enjoyed cheap cigars that he would smoke while he leaned back in his chair under the carport and started weaving his stories. No one could tell a story like him. I have no idea how much of his tales were true, or if any of them were, but I loved them just the same. He passed away nearly 20 years ago and people who knew him still talk about what a cut up he was.
After the big meal and walks with the cousins along the path papa cut out of their woods with a tractor, the card table would come out, partners would be chosen, and the loudest and most boisterous game of 42 south of the Red River would commence. Yes, there would be smack talk, but it was all in good fun.
As an aside, the game of 42 dominoes was invented by William A. Thomas and Walter Earl, ages 12 and 14 respectively, from Garner, Texas. According to a Fort Worth Star Telegram article from 1985, the boys were disciplined when they played cards, as they were considered sinful at the time. So, they took it upon themselves to invent a game like their beloved cards using dominoes. Their parents had no issue with domino playing and the rest, as they say, is history.
When we played with papa, he would address his grandchildren as “Miss or Mr.” followed by our first name. “Miss Diann, that was a good game or a nice move.” While all of us seem to have that competitive spirit, it didn’t matter who won or lost, we still had so much fun.
I never picked up the habit of calling people by Miss or Mr., followed by their first name, but I do say “Yes or thank you, ma’am or sir,” to people whether they are much older or far younger than me. And that’s a habit I hope to never break. I have had stares from many a teenager who bagged my groceries, when I said, “Thank you, sir,” or “I appreciate it, ma’am.” They don’t quite know how to take it.
Now once the domino playing, walking of the property, and final snacking was done, papa would invariably open the front door and talk about how stuffy it was getting in the house. Without being rude to any of us, we knew that was a sign that it was time for us to vacate the premises and head home. He was a firm believer that “fish and company smell after three days.” We never stayed that long but I do understand the sentiment, as that IS something I inherited from him.
I’m not one to host a lot of company, whether for the holidays or any other time of year. I can manage it over the holidays, if I need to, but I’m good with only my husband, our dogs, and me at home. I’ll still cook a feast that could feed a whole lot more than us, but we like the leftovers, so the food doesn’t go to waste. However, it does go to waist, if you know what I mean, and we get more naps than exercise over Thanksgiving and the ensuing long weekend. While others are up at 5am on Black Friday standing in line for the best discount on the newest technology item, we’re in our pajamas drinking a mug of coffee or hot cocoa, trying to figure out what I need to make with the leftover turkey or when I’ll be putting up the Christmas decorations.
Over the years, our holiday menu has changed slightly. We might have a few tamales or a different type of congealed salad at the table along with the turkey, cornbread dressing, a variety of sides, and desserts, mostly brown, but I still enjoy the memories of my grandparents this time of year. My cooking isn’t nearly up to par with my grandma, but I can make a pretty tasty plate of food, if I do say so myself. Or as my family has been known to tease, “This isn’t bad crap.” You had to be there to get the joke. Good thing I also inherited a sense of humor from my papa.
To hear more about my love for Thanksgiving, check out my How Big Is Texas Thanksgiving podcast at this link.
As I shared at the beginning of this post, I don’t know that Thanksgiving in Texas is any different from Thanksgiving anywhere else in the U.S., aside from a few food traditions, football affiliations, and the kinds of games played after the meal. I hope for all of you that it’s a wonderful time with family and friends and that you’re building fantastic memories you find yourself sharing some 40 years later.
Until next time from Texas…safe travels!