Although we have crossed the Thanksgiving abyss, there are more holidays ahead; and, all too often, turkey dinners will be a part of them.
I gave up such nonsense long ago; but I realize that those of you who still eat meat and celebrate holidays may long for some variety. And so I offer the following surprising suggestion, lifted from a 1921 booklet from the U.S. Playing Card Company, How to Entertain at Cards.
The Ullage Group has a continuing interest in past menus and recipes, and what they reveal about our changing mores. Here we can see, all too clearly, that tastes in socializing have drifted as well. I suspect that few of us throw parties like this nowadays; and that if we did, our guests would be puzzled and uncomfortable. Some might even place a discreet call to Adult Protective Services. Caveat, then. I post it here for its sociological interest.
A Turkey Card Party
Ask guests to a turkey supper, followed by cards. Have a miniature barn yard in the center of the table, with papier-mâché turkeys eating kernels of corn which are scattered on the cloth. Turkey candy boxes make combination favors and place cards. When the food is served the guests are surprised to find that they are not to eat turkey, but food that a turkey would enjoy. Cream of corn soup, fried oysters, corn bread, egg and lettuce salad, and big bunches of malaga grapes are a suitable menu. A corn popper, holders used in eating sweet corn, a carving knife, and for booby a bottle of “Corn Cure” suggest prizes for the game.
(Posted by Doug Skinner)
4 responses so far ↓
1 Lisa // Dec 4, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Turkeys would enjoy oysters? Maybe it’s just my turkey-addled brain, but that seems a little beyond the pale of bio-dietary imagination.
Oyster and cornbread stuffing never sat quite right with me (or in me) either. Oysters and turkeys – two great tastes that should be kept far, far apart on the palate.
2 Doug // Dec 5, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I found that odd too. I can’t imagine turkeys raiding the oyster beds. However, I did once see a seagull proudly strutting around with a slice of pizza in its beak.
3 Kathleen // Dec 11, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Hello, this seems to be the only way I can make contact–and I suppose I have to comment on the Turkey Dinner first. In my experience, chickens will eat anything (especially other chickens)so turkeys may well eat oysters.
Now then, you,Doug, told me I could find the puppet show DVD for sale here, but I cant find. Therefore I set aside my idea of buying one and propose a barter/ trade of Penny’s and my DVD of our film “Dr. Jekyl and Ms. Hyde” for a Doug and Mike Adult Entertainment DVD.
Yrs truly–JK White
4 Gail // Dec 14, 2008 at 9:51 am
This was from 1921 when “Mock Turtle Soup” was all the vogue too! Probably lots of “Sidecars” were served to the guests pre dinner, then after mucho cream, oysters, etc..ugh, definitely a nightmare-ish “Dream of the Rarebit Kind” was ahead of all the day after. I guess “Corn Cure” (whatever that is) may alleviate it all the next day. This holiday season, I could use some too! I’ll look into it.