While the talented team for Duke Homes, Inc., in Bargersville confirms they're most thankful this November for health, family (through blood relatives as well as those created by marriage or friendships), houses full of grandchildren and watching God’s life-changing work, they also indicate gratitude for "not having to worry about being without or not having enough." That sentiment extends to food they grow and sell through Aberdeen Farms Farm Market inside the Aberdeen community in Center Grove and food on their own tables.
Greenwood City Lifestyle surveyed the Duke team about their favorite fare for Thanksgiving feasts, and their authentic responses are fun to peruse for comparisons.
Eighty percent of the team consume appetizers before the main Turkey Day meal.
Most favorite, beforehand appetizers include charcuterie/grazing boards; cream cheese smothered in cocktail sauce and eaten with crackers; cheeseballs/crackers; shrimp with cocktail sauce; fruit trays; layered taco dip; barbecue little smokies; deviled eggs; olives ("they're their own food group in our family"); and an early start on dessert, "to make sure we don't get too full later."
Sixty percent choose turkey for their meat, while 10 percent select ham; 30 percent serve both meats.
A total of 70% bake or roast their turkey, however 10% smoke theirs, 10% deep fry it and 10% grill their holiday bird. One cited smoking turkey one year as "a polarizing event."
Regarding the age-old debate of whether to call the main side dish stuffing or dressing, it was a 70/30% split for the dressing reference, with a firm vote for oyster dressing. One astute respondent noted it shouldn't be called stuffing unless it's cooked inside the turkey cavity. Another suggested the best stuffing is made with sausage, water chestnuts and cream of mushroom soup.
This group enjoys cranberry options in a variety of evenly divided ways: 30% cranberry pepper jelly; 20% cranberry relish; and 10% jellied from the can (an inherited tradition), as well as fresh cranberries soaked overnight in sparkling cider and rolled in sugar. However, 30% indicate they pass on having any cranberries.
Mashed potatoes commanded the top spot among enjoyed side dishes, especially those mashed with cream and lots of butter! Of course, green bean casseroles and baked corn dishes also are popular. One family cooks green beans in a crock pot with ham. About a third also serve sweet potatoes in some form.
Other sides are mac and cheese, roasted Brussel sprouts and fresh or homemade bread rolls.
Sixty percent are gravy lovers, while 20% bypass it. Several stated "gravy on everything because it isn't Thanksgiving without gravy." One shared with a grin: "Depends on which side of the family is cooking and how dry the food is."
Pumpkin, sugar cream, pecan and Oreo pies are top desserts, with a special "orange cranberry layer cake with orange zest butter cream, buckeyes, and my dad's homemade peanut butter fudge."
Among the best surprise dishes ever tried for this traditional meal were lobster, White Castle dressing, chicken noodle casserole, pheasant and goose.
One clearly agreed-to point among this team was: 'Yep to leftovers!'
Favorite Memories:
“My grandfather was really into photography. Every year after Thanksgiving, our extended family watched that year's slideshow of pics he’d taken.”
“When we finally got to bring our twin girls home from NICU and Thanksgiving was our first event as a full family.”