We sure miss mom and dad, especially during the holidays. Holidays are for families to be together. Those were the times when mom showed her love for her family by cooking up the best food. She cooked Thanksgiving all by herself when we were growing up and when we were adults too, then we started going to my cousin, Brenda’s house for Thanksgiving several years ago when her parents were both still here too. Sadly, they are all 4 gone now and those Thanksgiving memories are etched sweetly in our minds. But, mom left behind some really good recipes that are buried in my blog archives, so today, I’m sharing some of them with you again. Some of our very favorite family recipes that we’ve had during Thanksgivings of years’ past. In case you might be looking for new ideas, I hope you get some inspiration for your upcoming Thanksgiving holiday too. Sometimes it’s good to change things up, so these might be similar to what you cook or maybe it’s something new. These are just a few of the faves that we’ve had over the years.
Around the Thanksgiving table at Renee and Bruce’s old house. They have hosted many Thanksgiving meals before we started going to my cousin, Brenda’s, house.
One of our earlier family Thanksgivings, before Lauren had babies and before I was married to Mark, at my cousin’s house. Mom and dad sure looked good then, Thanksgiving 2011.
I never made a cookbook of mom’s recipes, but I do have plenty here on the blog. Mom was a Southern cook to the core and this is her version of Southern Chicken & Cornbread Dressing. She made her dressing with chunks of chicken inside and I thought it was the best. I’m not the biggest fan of dressing, but mom’s was delicious. I’ll add the post with the recipes, so you can just click over if you want to get the whole recipe. The cornbread recipe is in there too.
Mom’s precious hands!
Southern Cornbread Chicken & Dressing
Aunt Fannie’s restaurant was a popular restaurant in metro Atlanta many years ago and a lady in our church had this recipe of Aunt Fannie’s Squash Casserole from that famed restaurant and we’ve been making it ever since. It’s very simple with not a lot of ingredients, but we all like it a lot.
Aunt Fannie’s Squash Casserole
Sweet potato casserole is another favorite and my mom used a recipe from the church cookbook of her home church in Florida, Pleasant Grove, and this is my late Aunt Mary’s recipe, but the same one that mom used. We love it! It has the traditional Southern brown sugar and pecan topping which is my fave.
Sweet Potato Souffle
I made these Balsamic Roasted Green Beans one time for Thanksgiving and remember they were good. Dad didn’t care for them because they were too fancy for his taste, but I like green beans when they are jazzed up.
Balsamic Roasted Green Beans
This is a really good side salad with color and texture and a perfect side for Thanksgiving.
Mandarin Orange Tossed Salad
This Pistachio cake was a family favorite in our family for years and it’s a good one for the holidays too. With the green color, it adds a little extra for Christmas or Thanksgiving. Trust me, they will love it!
Mom always found the best cake recipes to try for my dad’s sweet tooth and we all got to enjoy her creations. I’m not the baker she is, but I sure do miss her kitchen and those cakes!
Pistachio Coconut Cake
This cranberry congealed salad is one that mom found years ago and it’s become one of our family favorites. In fact, I’m taking it to my cousin’s house this year as I usually do. Everyone loves it! I’ll just add the recipe below, since this came out of an old, old post I did while still in Birmingham. I’m going to do a separate post this year with better pictures of this and a printable recipe, but here you go.
Cranberry Congealed Salad
I hope you enjoy seeing these family recipes again and that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year! It’s all about spending time with family and friends and being grateful for our many blessings!
America lost a part of itself, with your parents gone.
Did your father have a special prayer for the Thanksgiving table?
Hope your healing is solid and with no pain.
Hi, Tara, it wasn’t a special Thanksgiving prayer, but all of his prayers were so good! I’m doing really well, just need to take it slow for awhile.
Rhoda,
I sure do miss posts about your mom and dad. They were special.
Pam
What a lovely tribute to your parents! I loved your comment about your mom’s precious hands. I feel the same way–those hands were so warm and created meals with such love. I lost my mom 2 years ago–she was 98 and had a full life, but her absence still hurts at the holidays. Have a blessed Thanksgiving, Rhoda!
Oh, I know how you miss them! Mine, too. All of those recipes look so good and I’ll be trying them. Both my Mother and Mother-in-Law were good “plain ol’ cooks” and we’ve enjoyed many good meals with them. Thank you for sharing photos of your sweet family. Keep up the therapy and that hip will be in great shape soon. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
What lovely and precious memories you have to treasure in your heart. I am in my late 60’s and can relate to what you shared with my own losses and memories. Thank you for this lovely post and recipes.
All looks delicious. Food brings out good memories. Thanks for sharing.
I loved seeing these pictures again. I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving time with your family.
Sure miss hearing about your precious Mom and Dad who were so precious to you — and to us! Thanks for sharing the recipes with us. I am going to make some of these recipes for our Christmas dinner. Take care and don’t be doing to much while your hip is healing! Praying all will go well and that you will soon be feeling great. Have a blessed week!
Precious memories, the holidays aren’t the same without our loved ones. But, don’t you know they are having the best time ever celebrating holidays in heaven! Thank you for sharing the recipes!