Marjorie's
Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Christopher Patrick Holmes

My family is blessed to have so many wonderful cooks. Each one brings a different style and pizzazz to each and every recipe they serve. My Grandfather Jay was the grill master. He could cook anything on the grill. Some of my favorites were his applewood smoked cornbread and pineapple upside down cake grilled over pecan wood. My Grandmother Rose was the traditionalist, cooking exceptional collards, yams, and dressing. Rose passed on what she learned to my mother Susan, and she has since passed many of her secrets on to me.

When I got married, my wife's family was just as enthusiastic about food and had many of the items I could find on my own family's table at Christmas and Thanksgiving. It was during one of these holiday feasts that I was introduced to Marjorie's Strawberry Pretzel Salad. This is no ordinary salad, I thought. It looks more like a dessert than a salad and tastes like one as well. My wife was insistent I get a heaping spoonful of this so-called salad, so I did.

Moments later, the strawberry salad was gone. I was amazed. Nothing at my parents' or even grandparents' home flew off the table that quickly. There must be something wonderful about this salad. With my first bite I understood what all the fuss was about. The sweetness of the cool whip and strawberries and the saltiness of the pretzels were divine.

I asked about the recipe and found out that it was originally passed to Marjorie from her mother, Marie Elks. I began to understand the importance of the dish. It had been on the table for all the major holidays since Marjorie was a child. Whenever she makes the salad, there is a sense of pride that goes along with watching the large dish quickly empty. Marjorie will stand back and watch everyone enjoy the food she worked so hard to prepare with a smile.

I cannot imagine what a holiday meal would be like without the Strawberry Pretzel Salad sitting on the table next to the mash potatoes and gravy. It has been a tradition since long before I came into the family and will continue to be a mainstay long after I am gone. I have asked Marjorie to teach me how to make the strawberry salad so that I can continue the tradition started by her mother over 75 years ago. I hope, with the right coaching, nobody will be able to tell the difference when I make the good-to-the-last-crunch strawberry salad at Thanksgiving this year.