By Guest Writer: Nancy Spiegelhoff
“Mom, your stuffing is always the greatest. I can’t wait ’til Thanksgiving.” That was the traditional holiday compliment from my children…until one year…and I blame it on my mother, the jokester. She told me she had a cooking hint that would stretch my turkey stuffing beyond belief. My gullible and frugal nature were both well known to her.
“Add one generous cup of popcorn kernels (uncooked) to the stuffing ingredients. Mix well. As the stuffing bakes inside the turkey, the popcorn will explode and increase in volume many times over. A new and delicious popcorn flavored stuffing will result.”
“Sounds like a creative adventure for the turkey and for my family,” thought I. So, I mixed well.
The oven was ready and soon the delicious aroma of holiday turkey and stuffing tantalized everyone’s nostrils. I checked the big bird and its innards, many times looking for that great expansion. Time after anxious time, I found only rock-hard pellets of popcorn kernels. They were buried everywhere within the moist stuffing, and the turkey was already a beautiful golden brown. They would crack every crown, bend braces, and dislodge every filling in my hungry teenagers’ mouths.
On the verge of tears, I began to pick them out one by one. The challenge became ridiculous. Then, it hit me! Popcorn will only explode at a very high temperature, and turkey bakes at a very low 325°. These kernels were barely warm.
Mom had her laugh!
We went without stuffing that year. Somehow, there was still plenty of everything. Many warm and wonderful Thanksgiving meals have been shared with my children since that devastating experience.
Now, these adult children still say, “Mom your stuffing is the greatest. I can hardly wait to taste it.” They have never been told about the popcorn experience gone wrong, though they will learn some fine Thanksgiving holiday, if I choose to tell them.
My mother is about to celebrate her first Thanksgiving in Heaven…Do you suppose they asked her to make the stuffing?
