Find The Boots

Ok, so this is a little off topic, but...

What is it about mothers and cranberry relish? For years, my mother made a cranberry relish each Thanksgiving from a recipe passed down through the generations. Horrible. Disgusting. Nasty. As kids, we all had to take a bite. Finally, when I was about 30, I put my foot down and refused to eat it. "You don't like my relish?" "Mom, you're a great cook, but this is vile. " "It must not be to your taste then." "No Mom, it's not me. Nobody can stand it." "Really? " as she looked around the table.

I spoke up "Ok people, this is your chance! Tell the truth. Does anyone like this?" Everybody reluctantly started to shake their head. Even my father, who had been eating it for 35 years, said "It's not very good."

So I thought it was just my family. I few years later we had Thanksgiving dinner with a friend's family, and out came the relish. I tried a little. I didn't think it was possible, but my Mom's cranberry relish was actually pretty good compared to this.

A while back I was listening to NPR and they had a piece on cranberry relish. Another mother had inflicted cranberry relish on a party, which was described as the color and consistency of Pepto Bismol, but without the good taste.

So at this time of year it's standard to reflect on what you're thankful for. I'm thankful that I won't be eating cranberry relish this Thanksgiving.