Thanksgiving tradition, dep't: BlatherWatch’s Strawberry Turkey Marshmellow Jello Pretzel Salad Pie ... Now with Popcorn!

We're liberals and we love tradition! We like to call ourselves  neo-traditionalistas.

Late Seattle pundit Emmet Watson, (1918-2001) always published his Thompson Turkey recipe this time of year; NPR's Susan Stamberg offers her mother-in-law's cranberry relish. Hillary Clinton touts the Chocolate Chip Cookies she famously doesn't make; Slade Gorton has his Warm Crab Dip; the Bush Family their Zuni Stew.

These are beloved family traditions and the Bla'm Fam has one of it's own- which we're presenting by acclamation for the 5th year. We created it with a nod to the dubious genre of "family holiday favorites." As with all such recipes- it's the sentiment, not the flavor (or good taste!) that endears it.

 

 

(photo: proto neo-traditionalista, Emmett Watson)

 

There's no "right" way to make this favorite- it's made truly from the "left" -overs found in any lefty holiday pantry. This year we've kicked it up a notch with the people's favorite: popcorn!

BlatherWatch’s Strawberry Turkey Marshmellow Jello Pretzel Salad Pie... with popcorn!!

3 tbsp. sugar
2 c. crushed pretzels
1/4 c. melted butter
1/2 c. powdered sugar
10 oz. cooked leftover turkey
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
8 oz. carton Cool Whip
2 c. miniature marshmallows
1 c. popcorn popped

6 oz. pkg. strawberry Jello
2 1/2 c. boiling water

Mix together sugar, melted butter and crushed pretzel sticks. Press into 9 x 13 pan and bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Set aside to cool. Soften cream cheese; add powdered sugar and cream well. Fold in dessert topping and marshmallows. Spread over pretzel crust. Add the popcorn in a layer. Mix Jello in boiling water. Stir in turkey. When slightly thickened, pour over cream cheese layer. Place in the refrigerator until set. Serves 8 to 10.

Comments

[Puget Sound]

Back 15 years ago I had a friend from work who thought he would try that Thompson Turkey. When he came back from the holidays we asked how it went and all he would do is grimace and say, 'never again, never again'

[John W.]

Oh. My. God.

[KS]

That recipe could gag a maggot. As an alternative, I prefer to keep the jello and turkey separate, but here's a recipe for turkey with a different kind of stuffing;

8 - 15 lb. turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is Good)
1 cup un-popped popcorn (ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S LOW FAT IS BEST)
Salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter, salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan making sure the neck end is toward the front of the oven, not the back.

After about 4 hours listen for the popping sounds.

When the turkey's butt blows the oven door open and the bird flies across the room .... it's done.

[sparky]

good one

[blathering michael]

KS: thanks for the recipe. You DO have a sense of humor, though it seems it might be centered around blowing the butts off stuff... Merry Blackday.

[sparky]

Larry Hagman is in Austria this week and he sat down with a German language newspaper report er and gave an interview on his take on what is going on in America. My favorite quote:
"Do you know the theory that Dallas helped in the demise of the Soviet Union? I gave a Russian director 50 episodes of Dallas in exchange for 2 pounds of beluga caviar. He showed these to his friends and they immediately wanted the same cars, houses, and women. That's why the Soviet Union collapsed."