Thanksgiving has always been near and dear to my heart. Today, three generations of our family can gather in the kitchen, but when I cook, I often think about a fourth: my late grandmother. So much of what I create in the kitchen carries a little piece of her with it.
That’s the thing about Thanksgiving. The table changes over the years. People we once gathered with are no longer there, and their absence can feel especially pronounced during the holidays. I’ve said goodbye to many people I loved, as has my husband. Sometimes those memories bring tears, and sometimes they make me smile.
Either way, I transfer that love into the Thanksgiving meal.
For years, my daughters didn’t quite understand why we made the same dishes or spent so much time preparing them. But as they’ve gotten older, I’ve watched those traditions become their memories, too.
One year, I got distracted by everyone in the kitchen and burned the marshmallows on the sweet potatoes. Yes, even the chef burns things. We laughed about it then, and now it’s one of my daughters’ favorite Thanksgiving stories—and sweet potatoes are still one of their favorite dishes.
I love that. Of all the meals I’ve prepared, they remember the burned marshmallows.
It’s also a reminder of something I’ve had to learn myself: Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
There were years when I took on too much and spent so much time worrying about the meal that I didn’t enjoy the holiday. These days, I prepare ahead, share the work, and give myself permission to ask for help. If everything can’t be made from scratch, that’s OK. There are wonderful local businesses that can prepare a turkey, ham, or side dish and give you back a little time with the people around your table.
Because ultimately, that time is what matters.
Even my mom’s cranberry relish—the recipe we’re sharing with you—is wonderfully uncomplicated and made mostly from canned ingredients. I usually gravitate toward organic and local ingredients, but I don’t intend to reinvent this one. I want it the way my mom makes it, because sometimes keeping a tradition matters more than improving it.
Someday, my daughters may prepare these dishes for their own families. Maybe they’ll make my mom’s cranberry relish. Maybe they’ll burn the marshmallows.
I hope they do.
Because the best traditions aren’t really about getting everything right. They’re about remembering the people who came before us, enjoying those who are with us now, and passing a little of that love on to whoever comes next.
MarissaFiskCatering.com | @modernmomchef
Mom's Famous Cranberry Relish
Cooking Thanksgiving dinner together has become a special tradition in our family, and everyone has a dish they look forward to each year. One of our favorites is my mom’s cranberry relish. It’s simple, delicious, and has earned a permanent place on our Thanksgiving table. We serve it chilled alongside the traditional meal, but it’s also delicious spooned over a wheel of Brie, wrapped in phyllo dough, and baked for an easy holiday appetizer.
Ingredients
- 2 (14-ounce) cans of whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1 (20-ounce) can of crushed pineapple, drained
- Chopped walnuts, measured to your heart’s desire (or about 2 tablespoons)
Directions
Combine the cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple, and walnuts in a bowl and stir until well mixed. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve chilled.
Try it out, snap a pic, and tag @modernmomchef.
Have a healthy, happy Thanksgiving!
“For years, my daughters didn’t quite understand why we made the same dishes. But as they’ve gotten older, those traditions have become their memories, too.”
“The best traditions aren’t about getting everything right. They’re about remembering those who came before us and enjoying those who are with us now.”