to be jealous that Americans get Thanksgiving AND Christmas?

[FeuDeRussie]

Thanksgiving sounds really good. Like Christmas, but no presents to worry about (AFAIK?), just FOOD!

Are there any Americans around who can tell me what Thanksgiving is like? Do you prefer it to Christmas?

I have just read this article online.

Americans put marshmallows in potato casserole !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean... but but but... No. Words fail.

The 4th of July looks like loads of fun. Fairgrounds, firecrackers, warm weather, hot men . . . . . . . . completely alien concept to me, but sounds great!

I've heard of the marshamallow thing before, I thought it was an urban myth but apparently not! It's a Real Thing.

sweet potato casserole, bit different to white potato!

What? Why?

Sorry, that was about the marshmallows and potato thing.

Just...why?

Oi oi oi did someone mention candied yams?

I have been insane lately with cravings for food I didn't know I even liked at the time, even really quite disgusting things like canned tamales. Or johnny cakes from a packet mix. Ranch dressing. Succotash. Baked beans with slabs of pork fat in them . Kraft dinners, hamburger helper, corn dogs, cheese dogs. Why are my American genes asserting themselves in such an unhelpful way?

My daughter announced this morning that she is bringing an entire thanksgiving meal to my house tonight but not including any of the above.

An American I know said the marshmallow veggie thing is a more, ummm, rural American tradition. I think they must have a very sweet tooth as a nation.

Alameda, dont let her in..that's just an insult.

I've always wanted to try corn dogs.

Is a corn dog the same as a batter sausage except on a stick?

and they say us Brits have a sweet tooth squoosh...

Anyone found putting marshmallows in potato casserole should be strung up.

I think the batter is fluffier though...that's what I've taken it as anyway.

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm half Yank and we are doing Thanksgiving this weekend. Second time I have done it.

Can I pass my menu round so you can let me know if it is authentic enough

Capon ( I know, I know)
Sweet potato crumble
Sweetcorn
Corn bread (Silver Palate recipie)
Green bean and onion casserole (Martha Stewart recipe)
Cranberry sauce (Mum bringing)
Gravy (Jamie Os make ahead)

Pecan pie
Ice cream

Lots of american wine, beer and grape juice and cranberry juice for the drivers.

but in a really sweet batter, yes, but like a cake batter

they are disgusting and I never liked them really, see also: Creamed corn, creamed beef, mrs butterworths, squeaky beans, real refried beans, tostadas, oh god I'm so hungry and nostalgic. Why!

I was born here so I'm not homesick.

Marshmallows on sweet potatoes is another thing I associate with the South. There are a lot of regional variations on the side dishes though of course sometimes they get imported by family when they move. My mum is particularly fond of a corn casserole thing which I admit is lovely but I'd not go out of my way to make, myself. I do, however, always have to have candied yams. I don't do the marshmallows but they do involve pecans, orange juice, a bit of brown sugar and maple syrup.

I also make cornbread stuffing. Which is more Southern than the stuffing with sage and sausage my mum makes, but I like it and I find it easier than hers.

As for our Christmas and/or Thanksgiving being joyless... I think all I can say there is perhaps it's down to the family you celebrated with? Or it could just be that it's also a very personal thing, our mental image of what holidays should be like. We like what we grew up with. (hence horrible things like the aforementioned green bean casserole popping up every year- it's still made because grandma liked it or whatever and she might be gone but by god we need green bean casserole...) (omg I might have found the US equivalent of your obsession with having brussels sprouts but no one actually wanting to eat them!)

My v middle class family in New England have marshmallows on their sweet potato crumble. It's foul.

oh unfortunate xpost- ethel I'm in no way saying your green bean casserole is the same as the one I've quoted from earlier. I was referring to the standard one with a tin of soup and some French's onions on top- I suspect Martha's version will be quite naice.

Hello ethelb, let's start a half yank support group? Although my maternal grandfather and my dad were both American, then I married one so didn't help myself much.

ooh I'm surprised, I was the only one in the family (mum's side being v middle class New England as well) who wanted the yams with marshmallows. I'd only seen it down in Virginia, and when I lived in TX.

I like them but most don't, so I just leave them off..

A corn dog is cornbread batter on the hot dog, on a stick. Lush with mustard. I thought battered sausage was just the same batter as they do the fish in?

@greeneggs it looks like a small amount of bechemal, some crispy onions/shallots and can be done on the slow cooker. Is that about right?

it is an experiment

@alameda when are you doing your thanksgiving?

slight aside but: any dual uk/us citizens here with long lapsed US passport ever gone back to the states using an EU passport and visa?

tonight Ethel, I didn't know we were, my eldest daughter decided this morning

I don't know what she is making, with a bit of effort we could get to the commissary at a nearby base and fulfill all my cravings but I don't need the calories!

ethel yep sounds about right. :) The original was a thing that was (is still?) printed in every Good Housekeeping-type magazine every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was flogging both tinned soup (Campbells cream of something.. mushroom?) and tinned crispy onions (French's). It became a standard dish in the 60s, I think. I am sure a version made from scratch would be nice. It's tough to go wrong with a Martha recipe! I'll be making her hot spinach dip later on today..