In a recent Talk of the South newsletter, we asked readers, “What’s the one Thanksgiving dish you just can’t abide?” Here are a few of the many responses:
Parsnips. My grandmother would boil them and they stunk up the whole house. —Elizabeth O.
Dry dressing. My throat closes up just thinking about it. —Lisa S.
Don’t get me wrong, I love oysters: raw, steamed, baked, and fried. I also adore cornbread dressing. Just please don’t combine them for me. —Van H.
I really dislike giblet gravy. I make it for everyone else, but I would rather have a smooth turkey gravy. —Margaret C.
I never eat or prepare stuffing. To me, it is just a big mush of soggy bread with salt and a bit of celery. —Donna H.
Overcooked limp asparagus. —David C.
Sugar pickle deviled eggs. No. Use dill pickles. —Denise S.
It’s probably blasphemous, but I hate mashed potatoes served at Thanksgiving. It’s an insult to the dressing! Once a year, someone works her magic by re-creating her grandmother’s cornbread dressing only to find it sitting right next to run-of-the-mill mashed potatoes. —Rachel C.
The carrot-raisin salad. A former mother-in-law always made it for me. I really do not care for carrot-raisin salad. She also called me Naomi. My name is Henriette. —Henriette H.
Sorry, but I just can’t do candied sweet potatoes with marshmallows. I just can’t. –Shannon B.
A warm shrimp tree…enough said. —Terena C.
Sweet potato casserole. Too sweet, gooey, and coma-inducing. —Mickey B.
That vile light-greenish ambrosia-like lime gelatin and pre-made whipped topping concoction with canned fruit cocktail and those tiny marshmallows will never grace my salad plate. —Sarah W.
I have never met a green bean casserole that I liked. —Donna E.
I love traditions, especially those of Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I will indulge in a bite of pumpkin pie even though I really don’t care for it. —Lynn W.
Anything with giblets in it (gravy, dressing, etc.). Even as an adult, the liver-like taste and texture still makes me gag. —Lisa G.
Can’t think of one. Love them all. Thank goodness liver and onions isn’t traditional. —Sally M.
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