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The Great Debate


 

Yesterday was…something. I’d like to thank the 757 people who read yesterday’s post and now I hope all of you will do something to be a force for good in defending pubic education.

Today I need a break from the intensity, to turn my attention elsewhere for a bit. So I’ve decided to take on a new controversy, one that reaches beyond the boundaries of Howard County. It’s local, it’s regional, it’s national, and probably exists anywhere in the world that Americans get together for Thanksgiving. That’s right, I’m talking about stuffing. Or dressing. 

Today on Village Green/Town²: stuffing vs dressing. 

In looking for a restaurant meal we could bring home for the upcoming holiday, I was startled to see how many of the menus included corn bread dressing. I’ve eaten it, and it’s good enough in its own way, but I grew up on stuffing, that is, bread stuffing with herbs, etc. In most cases, when it comes to holiday meals, we want what have we grown up with.  Not stuffing-related, but with similar intent:



We ended up choosing Atwater’s in Catonsville because of their variety of the accompanying side dishes, one of them being the favored bread stuffing.

How about you? Bread stuffing? Corn bread dressing? Baked in the bird, or in a separate casserole dish? I feel certain that there’s as much or more highly charged opinion on this as I’ve seen on that perennial  Halloween item: candy corn. Or perhaps you’d like to take a stand with a benign but probably unpopular opinion such as wild rice stuffing or (horrors!) no stuffing at all.

In closing I’d like to recommend this piece in the Sun by John-John Williams IV:

The Black Thanksgiving ‘trinity’: These are soul foods Maryland chefs say make the holiday history

Williams interviews Black chefs from around the area about traditional Thanksgiving foods. I found it fascinating. Some years back I wrote about how not everyone’s Thanksgiving table looks the same. This piece by Williams gave me an opportunity to learn more about Thanksgiving foods and traditions that are different than mine.

One thing that’s the same: having enough food for leftovers is key. I like that. 

Please chime in on the great stuffing vs dressing debate! Add your comments here.


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