Today I’m grateful for orange salad and Polly’s potatoes.

11.22.2023

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I’m in charge of potatoes and a fruit salad for Thanksgiving at my aunt and uncle's house tomorrow, so I spent this afternoon grocery shopping and prepping for tomorrow’s festivities. I decided to make my family’s famous orange salad and my grandma’s holiday potato dish.

The orange salad was a no brainer. It is a staple at family functions – both on my mom’s side of the family as well as my dad’s. It’s my mom’s recipe and has been made for holidays, graduations, showers, and countless family functions. It’s easy and delicious and is always a crowd pleaser. Plus, it’s one of Aunt Pat’s favorites, so hopefully she’ll be excited to see it on the dinner table tomorrow night.

I really debated, though, on what kind of potatoes to make. As I weighed the mashed vs. scalloped vs. cheesy potato options in my mind, I was reminded of a potato dish my grandma, Polly, used to make. She served it at many holidays and big family dinners that she and Grampy hosted. I haven’t had these potatoes in well over 15 years, but I can still see Polly’s white Corningware casserole dish with a blue pattern on the side, full of perfectly whipped potatoes sprinkled with just enough paprika to add some color. I can’t remember exactly what they tasted like, but I know I loved them. So, I got the recipe from my mom and decided that these were the potatoes I’d make this year. I’ve got them partially prepped so I can cook them tomorrow, and I hope they are as good as I remember them to be.

As I shopped and cooked today, I couldn’t help but reflect on the many family meals these dishes have been served at and how excited I am for another such function tomorrow. I like to try new recipes, but this year nostalgia trumped adventure for me, so orange salad and Polly’s potatoes it is! I’m not nearly the cook that my mom is or my grandma was, but I’m giving it my best shot.

I’m grateful for memories of holidays and special meals of the past, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to create new memories tomorrow and at many occasions in the future. But mostly, I’m grateful for the family and the love and the traditions that tie them all together.