Cooking for Friends
“When I was in the Air Force in the early Nineties, I became friends with a family from my home state of Michigan. I babysat their daughter often and would go to hockey games in Salt Lake City with the dad. I spent a lot of time at their house, and they basically accepted me as one of the family.
“Thanksgiving rolled around, and I asked when dinner would be. They gave me a blank ‘Where are we going?’ stare. So I told them I’d make the whole thing if they bought the groceries.
“I’d never made a Thanksgiving feast. When the day arrived, I began early in the morning, making the pumpkin pies from the recipes that I called my mom for. I started with the bird, stuffed full of homemade stuffing. I peeled the potatoes, candied the yams, and made a delicious old family recipe, Apple Salad.
“I told everyone dinner would be on the table at halftime of the Lions game. Sure enough, the carved bird hit the table, perfectly golden brown, smelling and looking delicious. We feasted well and were done before the start of the fourth quarter!
“I’ve since moved back to Michigan and have my own family, but I’ve stayed in touch with that little bit of my past. Since then, my friend’s wife has cooked Thanksgiving dinner every year, and they still fondly recall the year I introduced them to a home-cooked turkey dinner.
“This Apple Salad is a recipe handed down from my grandmother to my dad to me. It’s simple but tasty.”
Apple Salad
1 can crushed pineapple
2 egg yolks, beaten
3/4 cup sugar
1 (heaping) tablespoon cornstarch
4 apples, cut into small cubes (use any sweet variety you like)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Drain the pineapple and reserve the fruit. Pour the juice into a saucepan and add the beaten egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Bring to a boil over low to medium heat, stirring frequently to avoid scorching. Cook until thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool at least to room temperature.
Place the apples, walnuts, and pineapple into a bowl. Pour the cooled pineapple sauce over the mixture and toss until evenly coated. Serve and enjoy!
