Zucchini Corn Bake

Karen Schaefer

Every Thanksgiving, my Dad's whole extended family gets together and celebrates Christmas because on Christmas, we get together with my mom's family. For Thanksgiving, we go up to Michigan and get together not only for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but for a small family reunion, too. We used to do it so that each family hosted the reunion in their choice of location, so it was a different family and ran in a cycle. Now it is held in the same location every year, a couple of blocks away from my Grandmother's house since she is getting up there in age.

Every year, most of the dishes are always prepared by the family. For example, my grandma and mom make sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole, and my favorite, zucchini corn bake. Other things that are always at the reunions are jello, ham, turkey, cheese platters, veggie platters, and fruit platters, all prepared by aunts, uncles, and cousins. The smells of cinnamon and pine are captivating. They really do bring the joy of Christmas to my family. Even though it's really Thanksgiving, it's sort of a way for us to be together and share special moments.

For as long as I can remember, my mom and grandmother would make zucchini corn bake. Not only does she make it at Thanksgiving, but whenever there is a special occasion or a holiday. She even makes it especially for me on my birthday. I have no clue where the recipe came from, and I will never know my mom will never tell me. I think it is because she got it from Grandma, but she wants me to think it's hers. But I do not mind one bit. As long as she keeps making it, I'm good.

Sometimes I help her make it, and now that I am on my own, I make it myself. When we would make it together, I always got the job of mixing the eggs, zucchini, salt, pepper, and creamed corn. My mom is always so good at straining the zucchini out after it's cooked in water, and I've always had trouble with it. So, making it on my own is a bit of an adventure.