Wednesday, Nov. 30 2011 3:31PM
Oysters a must have
Love it or hate it, Oyster Dressing is a must at my holiday table
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ReprintI have two words: Oyster Dressing.
Now, I realize I’ve lost 90 percent of my audience. The mere mention crinkles noses of really, all but three of us at family dinners. That’s why the delicious dish only makes an appearance at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I get it. Oysters look funny. To many, they are unfamiliar, alien little things. And, despite my sister’s protests, I am a believer that Oyster Dressing should not be up for leftovers. Yet, to me, my family’s Oyster Dressing is a must-have at the holidays.
It’s a simple recipe – really simple. It’s a Depression era recipe. It calls for canned oysters, Saltine crackers, butter, evaporated milk and a whole lotta love. I can remember watching my great-grandmother sitting at her kitchen table crushing the crackers in her hands as she made each layer in a casserole dish. And when I was little, it was a dish I could help with. What kid doesn’t want to help crush crackers with her little bare hands?
My sister, and fellow Oyster Dressing lover, usually makes up the dish now. She does a great job. If only she could live down the time she forgot to take the wicker basket off the casserole dish before putting it in the oven. My husband lovingly asks, “Didn’t this dish used to have a basket?” every time it’s put on the table. My husband is a hater. He tried Oyster Dressing once – when we were still dating – out of politeness, but never again has it touched his lips. My brother won’t even pass it for fear he might smell it. He watches in disgust as my sister and I chew with delight.
It’s their loss; and I will admit, it’s not going to win any culinary contests, but there is something about it being handed down for generations that make it essential to our table. This year, despite best intentions, it fell to the bottom of the list and didn’t get made. My husband and I ate round one of Thanksgiving at his parents’ house in Hermann, leaving only two Oyster Dressing lovers – Mom and my sister – to eat it. We had every intention of making it for round two – Attack of the Leftovers – but no one could quite muster the motivation. The haters, of course, rejoiced in its absence, but I missed it.
So, we will have it at Christmas. Maybe Mom and my sister and I can sneak it into a family dinner some Sunday night soon too. The haters don’t have to eat it – more for us anyway.
