Romir Swar Week 8: Turkey Turkey
Thanksgiving—the second holiday that comes up if you were to Google “What is America’s Holiday?" (I did this btw).
The holiday that’s really just a filler between Halloween and Christmas, or at least that’s what I thought growing up.
Thanksgiving has transformed into so much more for me, and has invited me to be self-reflective for all that I am grateful for, but more so, to try and have this conscious gratitude everyday—not just on the special day.
But I’m not here to bore you about all that I am grateful for; instead, we are going to walk through America’s favorite Thanksgiving sides and desserts.
What are the best Thanksgiving foods?
Well I mean obviously a crispy, gold crusted, decadent macaroni and cheese has to take the top slot. That first bite into the chewy sharp-cheddar crust is simply unprecedented, and 34% of Americans have it listed as their favorite side.
Arguably though, those Yukon golden mashed potatoes—with a flake of both sea salt and grated parmesan—pose a competitive fight. They’re light, fluffy, and complement any main dish well. Potatoes are so loved that the average American has 124 lbs of potatoes per YEAR. ISN’T THAT INSANE?
Moving past the Lebron & MJ of Thanksgiving sides, there are a couple superstars it’d be a shame to not mention.
The first being rolls: I’d say they’re the Tim Duncan of Thanksgiving sides; they stick to the basics, and don’t try to do anything too fancy. Regardless, they are delicious and enhance a plate.
What follows is Sweet Potato Casserole; the exact opposite of rolls. It’s confusing, and to be honest, I don’t think America knows if this is a side, or a dessert. Corn on the cob remains a personal favorite, and I do think the “It’s corn!” kid had an extremely positive factor in the love of corn. Similarly, cornbread is definitely worth writing about, as cornbread is one of those sides which can truly define a meal; if you don’t understand or relate, you simply haven’t had a good cornbread yet. The final side I think deserving of being named is stuffing. What even is stuffing? Is it even necessary? I don’t think so; in my opinion, it’s one of those sides that gets included for the hype and value the name possesses, rather than because of its taste or flavor.
Overall, I think the debate for the best side is extremely nuanced, and there are multiple ways to go. With that being said, I do believe that when you eat these sides—which are forever attributed to Thanksgiving—you should reflect on all around you, and be grateful, practicing what Thanksgiving truly means year round.
Honestly, I’ve never actually celebrated Thanksgiving properly and most of my friends have been very Thanksgiving-oriented, so your dedication to this holiday is something rather new to me. Thanksgiving tends to be overlooked by my family since my sister’s birthday falls in that week as well, and since all of our relatives live overseas.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really enlightening post because the last vaguely proper Thanksgiving dinner I had was when I was around 10. I wasn’t aware that macaroni and cheese was considered a Thanksgiving dinner staple! I also like how you carried over the message of Thanksgiving to our lives past the holiday times, leaving a message about gratefulness. The connection you draw between how people should reflect on what they should be thankful for while they eat these foods that are deeply connected to the holiday celebrating people’s fortune.
Romir, I really appreciate how invested you are in all the topics you write about. It is refreshing to see a positive blog amidst all the more negative blogs in our cohort. I have to say, the majority of these foods are not ones I have tried as my family tends to eat the farthest from American cuisine on Thanksgiving (our main dish this year was a sushi bake). However, I do agree with you that macaroni and cheese is a staple that must be spoken about. It is really interesting to see all the statistics you integrated into your blog post; it is truly unbelievable that the average American eats up to 124 lbs of potatoes every year. I also have to admit that I am someone who has never had good cornbread. It is interesting to me how our country has turned a more or less negative event into one that spreads kindness and joy. While it is important to recognize the history of Thanksgiving, I think it is a holiday that has morphed into being solely for good. It is a time to remember what we have going for us, whether that be the people around us or opportunities we are faced with. Thank you for sharing your take on this holiday that is so rooted in our nation.
ReplyDeleteRomir, I always look forward to reading your blog every week. I always think that you have such interesting takes on the topics and your sense of humor radiates out of every post. I can believe that thanksgiving is the second holiday to come up when googled ( I thought it would have been lower on the list). Honestly though I love thanksgiving. My family always has a huge family gathering for thanksgiving and I think it is so much more fun than halloween. Although sweet potato casserole is the opposite of a dinner roll it is one of my favorite dishes at thanksgiving. I do have to disagree with a couple points though. First, mac and cheese is not as great as everyone says it is, and second, stuffing is amazing ( you just haven’t had the right one yet). Controversial choices aside, I agree that thanksgiving should be a time spent reflecting on the things you are grateful for, especially because it is before christmas where I think some people get stuck on the materialistic side of the holiday. Anyways, I hope you have a great winter break!
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