The Holidays/Thanksgiving

I was talking with my sister, Rebecca, the other day and we were talking about the holidays. Thanksgiving starts out the Holiday Season. As a matter of fact, called her yesterday on the recipe for cornbread dressing. I had left out something and couldn't figure what it was. Before calling her, I got online and "googled" it. Of course, there were tons of recipes but, didn't tell about the ingredient I use. So, I decided to call her after looking at my 10th recipe online. Becky stated that she uses some of the things that I do to the exception of me substituting cream of celery soup for the celery and I do not add bell pepper anymore(my girls do not like it). I asked her if she used Allspice, she said no, I do. It perks up the Sage for me and my family loves it.
We started reminiscing when we were younger and having Thanksgiving at our grandmother's house and how our dad and grandmother would always try to out do the other on the dressing. We would have 2 dressings every year. Daddy would use less broth and add cream of chicken to his to make it moist but not to the point of it being more soupy as my grandmother's was. Don't get me wrong, they were both great. I liked daddy's more for the taste/consistency and my grandmother's on taste/presentation (she used more spices and ingredients than dad). My grandmother's secret to great cornbread is to use only cornmeal and mayonnaise and water. That's it.... the best cornbread you can eat, melts in your mouth. Daddy would make the turkey and grandmother the ham. We could never get enough of those being so tender, all you needed was a fork.
Now, I make the dressing for my family as to start a tradition and use my dad's recipe along with my grandmother's spices. It turns out great, almost, every time.  :)  I make sure my girls watch and take note of  the recipe so that one day they can share it with their children.
My sister makes our grandmother's fruit salad, I am not big on that dish. I have tried making it a couple times, but never could  get it the way I remembered.
I remember those times, fondly, my mother and her sister and my grandmother sat around after dinner usually talking about the younger/or good ole days and laugh and carry on.It was so much fun and they were good times, you didn't want that day to end.
That's what I wish for my girls... to look back on times as this and remember with a smile and laughter.  

Thanks------