America's Old Time Thanksgiving Desserts

This was an interesting story on NPR about some various Thanksgiving desserts and how they came about. It was interesting to see about the mince meat having real meat in it. This is how my grandma makes hers (with beef) and I got in an argument with a friend once about whether or not it has meat in it. She said the 'meat' is actually the nuts. Glad to see I'm vindicated!  Oh, and the plum pudding looks vile. The 1970s were not a good time.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120458751&sc=fb&cc=fp

It was interesting to see about the mince meat having real meat in it. This is how my grandma makes hers (with beef) and I got in an argument with a friend once about whether or not it has meat in it...

My grandma used to make hers with meat in it, and in fact, I think that is the origins of mincemeat - both here and there.  I would never eat her mincemeat pies because I thought that was disgusting.  So when I moved here, and would get offered mincemeat pie at Christmas time - I was all 'no thank you!'...until someone (probably DH) explained to me it doesn't really have meat in it. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mincemeat

I've never eaten my grandma's mincemeat either for the exact same reasons. Apparently it's pretty good though because people would come from far and wide for a jar of it! I don't eat the pies here because, even though I know they don't have meat in them, it's the rest of the stuff in there that doesn't appeal to me!

Oh yeah I like the ones here - especially the extra boozy ones!

The 1970s were not a good time.

Yes they were!  That's my childhood you're talkin' 'bout!

I remember telling Steve about all the interesting jello concoctions that would be on my family's traditional Midwestern Thanksgiving table...orange jello with grated carrots and pineapple chunks, lime jello with pears and grated longhorn cheese on top, and god knows what else!  He was just like  ..."your people are really strange"  (and that was good eatin'!  )

I used to love the three layer Jello... anyone remember that one?

I loved 3 layer jello with coolwhip and canned fruit cocktail in it

Being an adventurous cook and eater I actually once did make a small mincemeat pie and added some beef.  Want to know something?  You couldn't really taste it.  The flavors of the other stuff were so strong that it kind of overpowered any "meat".  

You just have to think that back then (before the 1970's of course!) meat had to be preserved someway and that was either via drying or salting or peppering or well sugaring.  

I knew that about mince meat too! And that's why, as much as I love it, I'm always nervous when eating someone else's! Meat ... shudder!

I loved the food of the '70s, but our family was more about Julia Child than Jello. It was all coq au vin and souffles. Very '70s with lots of creamy stuff! Mmmmmm!  

I loved 3 layer jello with coolwhip and canned fruit cocktail in it

I think I saw a German type product at Kroger that resembles it... I think I will go buy it.  I loved how it was all one color and then would separate into the three layers.  

Thankfully my family wasn't too keen on the jello salads. I think the most I can do is jello with fruit cocktail in it. The ones with carrots and stuff were just gross!

I used to love the three layer Jello... anyone remember that one?

Yes!  And one layer would always have milk in it to give it that oddly opaque look.  My grandmother's specialty.

And, if we're discussing 70's cuisine, let's not forget the fondue!!

And, if we're discussing 70's cuisine, let's not forget the fondue!!

I have never had a Jello salad (and never will), but I don't think I'll ever love anything nearly as much as a fondue!

I go through fondue phases...I think I need to start one again soon!

Jello and veggies do not mix. Jello Marshmallow Salad - jello with celery, cabbage, carrots, pimientos, green and yellow peppers, other stuff, some whipped cream and baby marshmellows. Sister's fav. Boaking!

Our school cafeteria used to do a jello and some weird white creamy shite. And they always seem to do the jello to where it appeared to be melting rather than being nice and firm. And that was the day the liked to do a spinach that was brewed and boiled until in was one yucky pile of green slimy goo.

It took 46 years before I ate my first mince pie. And well I'm hooked. Just like Mrs R, I find the extra boozy ones are ace.