Shirley (Raczkiewicz) Longwell THANKSGIVING foods

A Thanksgiving meal -- I am guessing it is about 1961. The man facing the camera is Anthony Jr (my uncle.) The two girls are his daughters Eileen and Yvonne and his wife has her back to the camera on the right. Sandy is the next on the left and her father John Dykstra is at the head of the table. I am not sure what he is holding up but I do know that even though all the adults could carve a turkey, he is the one who did it at family gatherings. On his right is my mother Shirley Longwell and my father Roy and I are tucked in next to her. I don't see my Aunt Lorraine (maybe taking the picture?) Or my grandparents? It is my grandparent's house. On the wall on the left would be their large wedding picture. In front of it I see a picture of my mother and one of me. To the right there was a large picture of "Uncle Joe."

Here is another meal but I am not sure if it is Thanksgiving. It would be from the early 1960s. I am not sure what the menu is or where they got the bibs! It is in my parent's house which they moved into in the early 1960s. Proudly displaying what looks like a peanut butter sandwich on white bread is Ron Raczkiewicz (my uncle.) To his left is his wife Pam. Next is my mother Shirley and then Lorraine Dykstra (my aunt.) I don't know who the other person is.

This year is again very different from our normal Thanksgiving celebration. Usually we celebrate this holiday at my parents’ house. The pandemic numbers are very high in our state right now. Groups getting together inside are discouraged. Therefore, while there will be meals and celebrations, the groups are smaller than they have been in previous years. I thought it would be fun to revisit the menu of meals in the past. Thanksgiving foods usually are a big, roasted turkey, sweet potatoes and mashed white potatoes, stuffing/dressing, vegetables such as cauliflower, green beans and brussel sprouts, cranberries or a cranberry sauce, pies such as pumpkin and pecan, a jello salad and Hawaiian bread rolls. Lately the turkeys have been turkey breasts which are easier to handle and please the crowd since only a few people like dark meat. Shirley’s recipe for mashed potatoes is especially well loved. ***** In 2010, this is what Shirley said about the meal: “I usually like a 16 pound turkey. It is really big but I can handle it. It fits in the roaster and is not as heavy. Years ago I would buy 18 pounders but that’s a big turkey. I’ll have mashed potatoes, turkey, dressing, cranberries, and sweet potatoes. I might make a JellO salad. I went to the store to get the vegetables. The cauliflower was $3.00 and I needed more than one broccoli. It is over a dollar a pound for green beans. Don’t get them too early otherwise they start getting brown. I will make a little more than half of a ten pound bag of potatoes. I’m probably peeling which your Dad used to do. Who’s mashing? Marissa wants to stay over to put the table cloth on and help set the table so she can help.” My Mom originally always made everything. Lately, all of us bring something, including grandson James McCarthy and his wife Betsy making the mashed potatoes. ***** Here is my Mom’s recipe for mashed potatoes: Potatoes (five pounds) Margarine (one stick) Sour cream (half cup) Milk (a little) ***** Peel five pounds of potatoes and cut into medium chunks and put in a large pan with approximately one teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, 30 minutes or less. Drain well so there is no water on the bottom. Use an old fashioned potato masher to mash. Put in the margarine and sour cream and continue to mash. Add a little milk to thin it as you go along. Put them in a crock pot to keep them warm.