Scalloped Potatoes

By: Nathan Nguyen

Recipe:

• Russet Potatoes

• Butter

• Cheddar Cheese

• Rosemary

• Salt 

• Black Pepper

Story of Thanksgiving:

I awakened to the dawn of Thanksgiving to the savory aroma of the turkey cooking in the oven. As I hop down the stairs in joy the fresh aromas of fall surround me as I proceed to make my way to the center of the smell, the magnificent kitchen.

I am greeted with warm hugs and welcomes from my grandma and mom while I make my way through the kitchen. Being the naive and kind little boy I was at that time, I offered to help my mom make the best side dish ever, scallop potatoes. I didn’t think I would find myself helping prepare for any Thanksgiving fest until I was an adult but here I was on Thanksgiving helping my mom cook. 

Feeling the immense pressure from my mom I finally mustered the courage to help wash the potatoes with her. While washing the potatoes I could hear the beautiful tunes and hums of my mother as she gently caressed, cut, and washed the potatoes one by one while listening to Christmas music. While reminiscing on the special moments in my life something I did not take for granted was moments like this when I could experience the beauty of cooking with the people I love. Then, we patted the potatoes down until they were dry. My mom started to elegantly slice the potatoes into slim pieces. As she cut the potatoes, I started the process of laying each individual slice of potato into the baking tray as we worked in unity. 

Next, I helped my mother with preparing the seasoning by sprinkling the fragrant and lustrous seasonings of rosemary, black pepper, and salt evenly coating the golden potato slices around the bowl. I then slowly diced slices and slices of cheddar until they were thinner than the blade of the knife. I finally, helped transfer the glistening golden chunks of the silky and creamy cheddar cheese. 

Proud of my work with potatoes, a courageous little me decide helped prepare the vegetables. As the different assortment of smells surrounds our house,  I helped cut the creamy butter in order to baste the vegetables and some pork in order to add a whole new flavor of deliciousness. While we finish the final preparations of the Thanksgiving fest I step out to the living and stare out of the window to embrace the true feelings of fall as the bright orange leaves of the trees slowly fall one by one as the sun descends and the moon arises.

As the feast commences, I conclude my Thanksgiving night by feasting on the delicious pieces of buttery turkey and the warm and creamy scallop potatoes and buttery vegetables as this moment in time slowly fades into memories I’ll never forget. As the night of Thanksgiving dwells, I still haven't come to the realization that this was one of the best moments of my life with the people I love.