C: Must Denigrate!


I feel very much like I am in a countdown to Thanksgiving. It is Sunday evening, and I have three full days of work at the office ahead of me. But the turkey is in the fridge, thawing, and the ham is down at MIL's because my refrigerator is bursting at the seams. There is an undercurrent of bustle that is surpassed only by that before Christmas...soon on the heels of this bustle! No wonder I'm exhausted by New Year's.

This year my mother will spend Wednesday night with me, as will my niece Ellie and any other nieces who want to join in. We will spend Wednesday evening baking pies and getting everything ready for the "real" cooking on Thursday morning.

We will, of course have pumpkin pie (obligatory)and Ellie and I have a new dessert recipe to try out--may be reporting to you all on that outcome. Though I like that whole-berry-orange fancy cranberry sauce, my entire family insists on the jellied sauce as well.

My mother's specialty is cornbread dressing to go with the turkey. Ummmmm. She makes the best. Cornbread plus some canned biscuits, chicken broth, celery and onions and seasonings (salt, pepper, sage)and an egg or two.

We make a huge pan, because this stuff is absolutely divine left over. In fact, I think the best part of Thanksgiving may be the leftovers. This dressing is so good that my brother has been known to slice it cold out of the fridge and put it between two slices of bread for a "dressing sandwich!"

And this year we will, once again, hear from Mom how the dressing is not quite right. Nevermind that it is the best stuff you could ever hope to find. Invariably, one of us will say, "Mom, this dressing is soooo good!" She will reply something like, "Why, thank you! But I do believe it is a bit dry this year." Other excuses we have heard: "Too much sage." "Too salty," "Not enough sage." The question this year is not "Will she denigrate?" Rather, it is "What reason will she give this year for proclaiming her dressing not quite up to snuff?"

My Aunt Nita does the same thing. "Aunt Nita, these are the best chicken and dumplings!" Aunt Nita: "I think the dumplings may be too 'doughy,' don't you?"

These two women are wonderful cooks and, surely, they know it! But their comments are not quite false modesty. I don't really sense any manipulation in them. I've thought about it and decided it's manners, pure and simple. I think it is the Southern way, as these two sisters are decidedly Southern Belles. One must slightly denigrate one's accomplishments...

But, denigrated or not, be assured that my household will have some of the best cornbread dressing in the land, for it is being made by the master! I can only hope the same blessing finds its way to you!

Happy Thanksgiving! We all have much to be thankful for. C.

Comments

Sumandebray said…
Good Fun ahead.. wish you all the very best. I believe that this is the tiem for family reunion in your part of our world.
Happy holidays!
Anonymous said…
Wishing you a Wonderful, Happy Thanksgiving!
Kat_RN said…
Sounds like my Mom. Is there something about their generation that says they should not take compliments? My Mom was also an excellent cook. Enjoy your holiday and thanks for sharing.
Kat
Zuzana said…
Sounds like an absolutely lovely crowd, with such common remarks I am so used to hear from my own mom.;)
Thanksgiving is a lovely celebration that I miss dearly, it was a joy being part of it for those years I lived in NC.
Sounds like yours will be wonderful; with great food and great compnay.;)
Enjoy the precious time with your love ones.;)
xo
Zuzana
Vickie said…
My mom and yours must be sisters. Mom's a great cook, too, but like any true Southern Belle, as you so eloquently put it....

However, I beg to differ - MY mother's cornbread dressing is the best! ;o) Have a great one!
Oh it all sounds so good! Have a happy Thanksgiving! blessings,Kathleen
Anonymous said…
Hey C You know that you will have the best dinner there is .Nothing like having family around.
That makes all holidays special.
You relax and enjoy ,because you deserve it.
Build you a fire in the fireplace.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Joolz said…
Happy Thanksgiving C & V and families!

I am thankful that our weather has cooled off and that I am having my family at our house for Christmas this year. About 25 adults and 10 children for lunch then 'hangers-on' for Christmas dinner (or tea as we call it). We do cold lunch which is easier as everyone can bring a salad and dessert - takes the pressure off me! I will do a blog about our Christmas in summer soon.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving feast!

Cheers - Joolz
Leslie said…
Sounds like your Thanksgiving week will be busy and blessed with family and friends. I look forward to my mom's traditional dinner. (I'm bringing the obligatory pumpkin pies :) We also have the exact same food made the exact same way every year. We just have to.
Melissa said…
V & C,

May you and your families have a very blessed Thanksgiving.

Love Melissa
Linda Hibner said…
A true "Southern" Thanksgiving--what could be better than that?! I absolutely love cornbread dressing and,like your brother, enjoy it cold or hot. Now, I've never had sliced dressing between slices of bread, but I just know it has to be good. Family, food and fellowship go together to make one very special day. May you and yours know the Lord's best blessings.
Linda
KathyB. said…
Well you know, good cooks can always taste more room for improvement, so maybe they really do think it could be just a bit better.

Your week is sounding like my week. I have no idea why I am blogging and commenting, there is so much to get done so I can share a BIG meal with all my family. Reason enough to give thanks, hey?

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
It IS a southern way....or maybe just a mannerly way. It always feels like when we say "Thank You" for compliments we're saying we agree with the statement! Why is that? I'll bet the food will be wonderful. Have a LOVELY and BLESSED day!
Bella Weddings said…
Thanks for following myrubyslipperslife.
Love Love Love reading your blog & now I'm heading over to Immigrant Daughter. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with the people you love.
I'll drop by after the weekend...
fondly,
Vickie
www.yourbellawedding.blogspot.com
&
www.myrubyslipperslife.blogspot.com
Anonymous said…
Ahh, if only we could go back to those times when children were taught and adults were admired for being modest about their achievements. It's so charming, and gentile. I fear that modesty and self-deprecation are quickly disappearing -- our loss.

I hope her dressing was the BEST EVER! :)
Mama said…
I hope your Thanksgiving celebration was glorious!
Iron Needles said…
Hope your weekend was great! My sister and I have given you an award. Hop over to one or the other and check out the accolades.
Jody Blue said…
Gotta love a humble heart!

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