As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Over the last few years, debates on whether or not you should experiment on Thanksgiving have been taking over. Every year, it’s something new, and to be honest…I’m sick of seeing the experimentation. Why are we choosing the one day where food plays an important part to “try something new.”
Out of all the days of the year to experiment, why choose Thanksgiving? Those who want to experiment with dishes have 364 other days (sometimes 365, depending on whether it is leap year). I understand wanting to try something new and different, but maybe let’s choose a different time of year to do that. Why are you choosing now?
For me, it’s not even the fact that you want to experiment; it’s the fact that nine times out of ten, in my experience, the experiment did not turn out well and from what I’ve seen on social media, it didn’t turn out well for others too.
Another issue that I’ve seen is that the main people who like to try new things are the ones who can actually cook and whose dishes are known for being good. I don’t if this is just something that we do in my family, but we all have that one designated person to cook a specific dish. For example, every year, the same person cooks Mac n Cheese, which is my mom and it’s always been like this. The same person cooks the mac n cheese, the same person cooks the potato salad, the same person cooks the collard greens, etc. And it’s always been like this, with the exception that we may go over to someone else’s house, which even then, they have a designated person for a specific dish.
One thing that I’ve started noticing with these experiments is that people are stingy. As if they almost know that their food will not be good. I’ve seen people make two batches of one dish, one dish being made the usual way, while the other being made with something slightly different—maybe a different type of seasoning or maybe a different method. What would happen is that they would taste it before serving and if the experimental one is bad then they’ll serve that one and keep the normal and good one for themselves.
It’s funny, though, because people can always taste something different, which is due to the fact that that person has been making that dish so long that the eater is accustomed to a certain flavor and when they don’t taste that flavor, it is noticeable even in the slightest.
In the end, stop treating Thanksgiving or any holiday that requires food to be served to your family like an experiment. It’s not. You don’t need an independent and dependent variable. What’s next? Do you want to add a thesis and hypothesis as well? It’s a holiday break. Let’s take a break from school and work and a permanent break from experimenting for the holidays.
As someone who comes from a mixed cultural background, thanksgiving for me has always been a tough time. Growing up in a foreign country with a foreign palate has made me despise the food that shows up on the table during the holiday. I don’t enjoy the taste of almost all classic Thanksgiving food because it is not something I am accustomed to, no matter how hard my southern mother tries to make me enjoy it.
So this year, my Turkish family and friends decided to experiment with new and beloved dishes, from the classic American Thanksgiving food to staples of Turkish dinners.
For our main course, we cooked both tomato and classic herb chicken instead of Turkey. This change was well enjoyed. The side dishes consisted of Mac and Cheese, Pecan Pie and stuffing, all-American staples, and kisir, a Turkish staple. Finally, our dessert consisted of Apple Pie, banana pudding, and Revani, another Turkish staple.
This Thanksgiving was probably the first time I felt every dish was enjoyable, although almost half of the dishes did not adhere to the traditional Thanksgiving food.
Thanksgiving is a time of celebration and gratitude between families and friends; therefore, individuals should be able to express themselves through food, and the primary focus should be on thanking those around you for their presence in your life.
The food I ate was different. However, I was happy, and that’s all that mattered. If you want to change the dishes or the recipes to the dishes you enjoy to make them more enjoyable, go ahead. The most important thing is that you have tried something new, and it’s even better if the dish works out.
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