EGG BOWL MENU:
1. Garlic Shrimp and Grits
2. Baked Ham with Bourbon Glaze
3. Aunt Kat's Creamy Eggnog
4. Balsamic-Browned Butter Asparagus
My wife's grandparents always spend the entire month of November on
the beach at Ft. Walton, Florida, and by the time Thanksgiving rolls
around, they are eager to entertain. So every year we pack up and head
to the beach for a little fun in the sun and some good cooking.
Jenifer’s grandmother, a mother of four boys, has always been
one for tradition, so it is no surprise what is served at these
gatherings. We have baked ham, cheese grits, and steamed asparagus--among other dishes,
but the coup de grace is the boiled custard. A
gallon may last 30 minutes, unless some sneaky brother-in-law gets to it
first, then it’s every spoon for itself. You can learn a lot about
relatives when the pitcher of custard gets low.
Not only do we enjoy the gorgeous beaches, family togetherness and a
fabulous feast, that long weekend in November has for many years been
the time when our family completely falls apart. Only one thing could
break those ties that bind: Southern college football. Our family’s
rivalry is the Thanksgiving match-up between the Ole Miss Rebels and the
Mississippi State Bulldogs: The Egg Bowl. Half of us Rebels, the other
half Bulldogs. And believe me, things get ugly. One year Granddad actually got us
rowdy Rebels a separate condo where we could watch the game (and
celebrate). That's right, he kicked us out. Needless to say, my wife's
Grandmother had to-go cups for the boiled custard; we may have left,
but we took some goodies with us.
After the annual game--and the subsequent crying respective to who's won or lost--we converge on the kitchen
and the delicious meal Grandmother has prepared. When the ham comes out
of the oven and the smells permeate every room in the beach house,
thoughts of mundane real-world things fade like fog at sunrise. Then we
have no trouble refocusing and remembering what’s really important:
family. Whether sitting at the table or standing around in the
kitchen, we celebrate our loves and losses and the providence that led
us all to Ft. Walton. And we don’t talk football. Getting kicked out
once is plenty, thank you.
NOTE: No one in John's family would allow him to give up the family
boiled custard recipe, so we've included one of our favorite egg nog recipes (Aunt Kat's Creamy Eggnog)
for your family holiday celebration.
