Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday is the day for our Roundtable feature. This Thursday is Thanksgiving. As such, we thought we would do a special Roundtable this week: What is your favorite food on the Thanksgiving menu?
Joining us this week is Pirates Prospects photographer David Hague.
JOHN DREKER: Green Bean Casserole
My favorite Thanksgiving dish has changed in the last few years. I was always big on stuffing, and my family always made two different kinds for Thanksgiving. Part of the reason it was the star of my Thanksgiving plate is that we barely ever had stuffing any other time of the year, so it was a real treat that day, and I always filled up on it. It took me way too long into adulthood to figure out that I could just make stuffing any time I wanted, and it wasn’t even time consuming. Of course I’m talking about Stove Top stuffing, not the homemade holiday stuff, but that was still a game changer for me.
My cousin made green bean casserole just a few years ago, which was the first time I had it, and it was amazing. I call them string beans by the way, not green beans, but I’m going with the traditional terminology here according to Google, who didn’t even ask me if I meant “green bean”, and just changed it for me. I was at my mother’s house for dinner on the Thanksgiving after my cousin made green bean casserole for the first time. My mom made a lot of stuff that day, but she did not make green bean casserole. I’m not going to say that day was ruined, but I was definitely daydreaming of green bean casserole that day. I believe I mentioned it a few times until someone suggested that I could have made it if I wanted it so bad. The following Thanksgiving, which was 2020, I made sure to ask ahead for it. Today will be the third Thanksgiving in a row in which I’ll be filling up on green bean casserole, while giving intimidating looks to anyone else who I think took too much of it. In my mind, it’s definitely an 80 grade Thanksgiving item.
DAVID HAGUE: Green Bean Casserole
My favorite Thanksgiving food is the classic: Green bean casserole and specifically my mom’s. There is something about the creaminess of the mushroom soup and the crunchiness of the French’s onions that is just amazing. The fried onions on top are clearly the MVP of the casserole, if they are too soft the dish is just not the same.
ETHAN HULLIHEN: Leftover Turkey Sandwich
As I started to contemplate this very important question, I came to the realization that maybe Thanksgiving isn’t my favorite meal of the year. Sure, I enjoy it, but there’s nothing that stands out.
Turkey? It has to be dark meat, but I prefer a good roast (Christmas Ham included). Mashed potatoes? Always homemade with gravy, and while I considered them, I wouldn’t call them my favorite. Sweet potatoes? I put them on my plate every year to reassess my feelings on them, but I’m always disappointed. Stuffing (must be my mom’s, out of the bird and baked in balls), green bean casserole, rolls—they all make the plate, but they aren’t the stars.
So, I think the best answer I can give is the leftovers that night and the days to come. We buy the good rolls special (plain bread won’t do), some banana peppers, mayo, and salt—if I’m being honest, that may be what I look forward to the most every year.
WILBUR MILLER: Leftover Hash
I’m afraid my favorite is more of a post-Thanksgiving food, and not a very imaginative one. I like to make a hash out of all the leftover turkey, stuffing, and gravy. It typically lasts me a week or so. The leftover hash, to me, is really the point of cooking the turkey.
A few times, though, I’ve gotten a little more ambitious and cooked a couple Indian dishes, generally a dry chicken curry and a two-meat vindaloo. I guess that’s being kinda contrary.
ANTHONY MURPHY: Breakfast Casserole
I have to go off brand with my decision, as most traditional Thanksgiving food is ‘meh’ to me. So I went with what I usually start the day off with, and that’s my Mom’s breakfast casserole. I make a lot of stops on Thanksgiving, with the first usually being to my Mom’s for an early morning breakfast. I’m a big breakfast food guy, so any holiday I can get eggs, potatoes, bacon, cheese and sausage all mashed up together in a casserole, that’s a win for me.
Honorable mention to deviled eggs and then dessert (apple or cherry pie), if I have to go with a traditional choice.
RYAN PALENCER: Stuffing
While in all actuality, I am equal opportunity and love all Thanksgiving food evenly, my favorite is stuffing for nostalgic reasons. We would always have it at my grandmothers apartment, which are times I cherish since she’s gone. It is also a nice vessel to mix with other fantastic late November options.
TIM WILLIAMS: Corn Casserole
I almost went with just “pie” in general as my pick. We live in a cake society, where it’s common to have cake year-round. It’s not that you can’t have pie, year-round, but this is the holiday where pie stands out over cake. As it should.
My pick is my favorite side, corn casserole. My favorite way to make this is a crockpot corn cassrole recipe that I’ve been making for almost a decade now, after finding that recipe. Every Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving over the years has left me with zero leftovers, and I’m always disappointed. I’ve gotten to the point where I make a crockpot for myself for the week.
As for leftover ideas, I throw leftover stuffing in a Belgian waffle maker, then put turkey and other leftovers on top of the stuffing waffle. It’s one of the top four poultry-and-waffles variations I’ve ever made, and I’m resorting to that this year when the corn casserole runs out.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Check back at noon for our normally scheduled, baseball-themed Roundtable.
Highlight of the Day
The Pirates added left-handed pitcher Inmer Lobo in exchange for Hoy Park. Here is a look at Lobo, who is currently 18-years-old, from three years ago.
Pirates Prospects Daily
**Hoy Park was designated for assignment yesterday, to make room on the 40-man roster for new first baseman Lewin Diaz. The Pirates traded Park to the Red Sox on Wednesday for left-handed pitcher Inmer Lobo.
**Wednesday is our opinion day on the site. Wilbur Miller had a column looking at potential breakout candidates for Bradenton in 2023. I looked at the lack of winning experience among the current Pirates’ roster.
**Diego Castillo continues to stay hot in winter ball. John Dreker has your latest Pirates winter league updates.
**Missed yesterday? I wrote about how the Pirates continue to focus on the first base position after the addition of Lewin Diaz.
Song of the Day
Pirates Prospects Weekly
After Kevin Newman was traded, the Pirates were left with zero players who have experienced winning in Pittsburgh, and very few players who have experienced winning anywhere else. It’s not that Newman sticking around would have helped this issue — he spent six weeks on an 82-win team and profiled as a backup for the 2023 roster. I wrote this after the deal, even though the lack of winning experience would have been insufficient even with Newman on the roster.
Williams: The Pirates Lack Essential Experience Needed to Contend
Wilbur Miller has been looking at the lower levels in preparation for the 2023 season. This week he looks at players who could be breakout candidates for the Pirates’ Single-A affiliate next year.
Roundtable will hit the site at noon, looking at bounce back candidates for 2023.
Pirates Discussion
Weekly Pirates Discussion: Where the 40-Man Roster Stands After Rule 5
