What Does The Thanksgiving Meal Mean To You?

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Today, we asked our Facebook fans to share with us what’s their favorite Thanksgiving dish, and why. The results were so emotional, so moving, that we just had to share them here. They beautifully highlight the fact that Thanksgiving recipes are not just about nourishment, but about loved ones and cherished family memories. Here are some of the best responses we received:

  • Green bean casserole is my favorite. It is just so warm and comforting. It is my must have dish with the winter holidays. – Amber Campbell
  • Homemade Au Gratin potatoes w/ Leeks! It reminds my of my Grandmother. – Meg Tucker
  • My favorite Thanksgiving dish is this wonderful cranberry coffee cake my mom makes. We used to dump a can of congealed cranberry on a plate because cranberries at Thanksgiving was just a tradition and nobody wanted to knock a slice off the old can shaped cranberries, so when I said why don’t we just forgo the tradition of serving and not eating the cranberries this year she decided to kick it up a notch and make something yummy with them instead. They definitely get eaten now! – Angelique Drummond
  • My Mom’s Broccoli Casserole! She has made it every holiday for as long as I can remember & it’s just a comforting food to me! – Angie Newsome
  • The stuffing has always been my favorite….it’s an old family recipe that I’ve never had stuffed in anyone else’s turkey…it’s made with cracker crumbs instead of bread crumbs or cornmeal…..i just love it! it always brings me back to my childhood. – Louise Baloun
  • Lemon meringue pie is my favorite. not made much the rest of the year, it was my grandpa’s favorite. – Lydia Banther
  • The turkey because my husband cooks it perfectly, nice and moist! – Katie Bourret
  • My Mothers stuffing! It’s just a bread stuffing nothing fancy but the tastes brings me back to my childhood Thanksgivings being around the table as a child when my Dad and my oldest sister were still with us. – Donna Armeli
  • Oyster dressing…my Grandmother makes it with love and only on Thanksgiving! – Michele Cupp
  • My great grandmas yeast rolls. They are so good and a family tradition. She passed 8 1/2 years ago and we still make them. – Amy Klinebough
  • Sweet potatoes – Mom makes them like nobody else. They’re just locally grown sweet potatoes, butter, a little salt, and brown sugar. Very simple, & so delicious. Then she tops them with a mix of nuts and yummy stuff that makes this amazing crispy crust on the top. They are, by far, the most delicious part of thanksgiving dinner. – Michele Malone
  • Sweet potato casserole. One of my favorite dishes my mom makes — it always makes me miss home.. but it’s great to be back and brings back so many memories. – Rachael Garfinkle
  • My favorite Thanksgiving dish is my grandmother’s homemade chicken and noodles. She makes the noodles by hand and they are SO much tastier than store-bought noodles! They are very simple to make too- beat 4 eggs together with 2 T water. In a separate large bowl, mix 3 c. flour, 1 t salt, and 1/2 t baking powder. Stir in the eggs and mix until a soft dough forms. Roll out the dough into a very thin layer on a floured surface. Cut into strips and let them dry before cooking. My grandma has been bringing this dish to Thanksgiving dinner ever since I was a young child… yum! – Stacey Amstutz
  • Stuffing, because it is something that my Mom made and I would always help her make it when I was a child. I still follow her recipe, and it has turned into my family’s favorite dish. – Tina Brown
  • Stuffing, because it is a family recipe that has been handed down through generations. It’s delicious! – Dayna Kidle

What’s YOUR favorite Thanksgiving dish and what memories does it bring back? We’d love to know.