Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for November 13, 2020

Lemon Icebox pie? While I love it, it does not seem very Thanksgiving-y. Give me Pecan Pie or give me…..well, any pie without coconut will do.

Must be the usual. He rattled that list off pretty quick.

A tradition like so many others…

(I’m the same, it’s a set menu.)

Not a full meal, tho… No green bean casserole; no sweet ’taters with pecans and marshmallows; no ham; no cake…

How much food does one need?

Gadzooks! I’m starting to drool.

“Icebox?” In the US, at least, I thought that term had disappeared in the first half of the 20th century. We always had refrigerators. Is “icebox” still a Southern US thing?

I noticed that Arlo specified Dressing not Stuffing. I wonder if Dressing means the same thing to him as it does to me? For me Dressing is prepared outside of the bird while Stuffing is, well stuffed into the bird.

What is your preference? Dressing or Stuffing?

That Arlo! He is one CRAZY AND WILD GUY!

To Arlo the Traditionalist the planning is moot. I think Janis wanted a little more of a discussion.

I am curious about “English peas.” What makes them different from peas that speak other languages?

I’ll be on my own this year: pizza one night, chinese the next, maybe some italian…

Arlo’s in a little denial…

My grandfather used to own an ice-delivery service back in the early to mid 1900s. He lived on the Hudson River and in those days, the river would freeze in the winter. In the 20s and 30s, he had a horse to assist him. He’d go out on the river, cut blocks of ice, and the horse would assist him to remove the block. The ice blocks were stored in a barn by the river and covered in burlap. Even back in the 50s and 60s, I remember visiting in summer and playing in the barn to get away from the heat (the ice made natural air conditioning!). And sometimes we kids would lift up the burlap to “examine” the ice bloc, touching it to watch it melt under our fingers….and even licking it! In the last decades, Grandpa used a truck rather than a horse for assistance. While refrigerators had made their way to many homes, this town was small and a bit backwards, so I think his business lasted longer than usual. -—His sons, (my uncles), changed the business to paving once the days of the Icebox were truly over. I’d say mid-late 1960s was the end of the business. Still a pretty vivid memory in my mind.

My mother used to make the best lemon meringue pie ever.

I had to look up English peas to find out they’re just peas.

Janis’ reaction shows that she forgot the first rule for all lawyers: Never ask a question for which you don’t already know the answer.

We still ‘dial’ phones, ‘roll down’ car windows, record ‘footage’ of video, and you’ll take my icebox desserts out of my very cold dead hands.

I guess I’m missing something. Why is Janis looking stunned and then perturbed while asking what kind of pie? And is his answer funny or something? Other than unusual to say lemon icebox?

Maybe arlos, with all that food, is thinking of Gene and family for the holiday

Blueberry and Apple pie, if you please!

Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie and I’ll settle for a butt end baked ham with corn on the cob instead of peas.

You can never have too much pie. I always keep an emergency backup pie.

Fatal mistake. You should have answered either, “Honey, whatever you make.” or “Honey, what would you like?”. Any other answer will involve a long discussion…..

Whenever I hear the term “icebox” I think of old-timey and grandma’s house. Foods back then were made from scratch. She called it an icebox. So icebox cookies or pies or whatever I believe evokes the old fashioned taste and method.

The fact he recited that without a hesitation tells me Arlo knows what he wants!

It is simply the name for a traditional no bake pie.

OK I had to google it. “English peas” are just what we call peas. Shelled, green, round,etc. “Lemon Icebox Pie” (yes icebox is an old term) is a lemon custard pie that is baked then put in the refrigerator overnight to chill.Must be a regional thing

My grandparents used a “safe” before they had an ice box. It was a cabinet put in the basement in a dark spot to keep food fresh. No ice involved, just kept the doors shut. Wonder how long it actually helped food stay semi-fresh.

I’ve never heard of Lemon Icebox Pie before – I had to look it up. Looks pretty good.

One icky vegetable (I don’t like peas) and two pies? I thought they tended to eat healthier than that. Maybe it was just a general outline and they will add some real food to the plan.

However, my answer to him would have been, “Whatever you want to make is OK with me!”

JJ lives down south and should know pecan pie is mandatory.

The bag of Nestle chocolate chips has a marvelous recipe for Toll House Pie

In this instance the term “Icebox” is simply part of the name of this particular dessert. Grew up in Appalachia in the 50s and 60s. Never had an icebox but we all referred to our refrigerator as the “Kelvinator” since it was the brand most purchased. We got electricity and running water in the early 60s and an indoor toilet when I was in 6th grade.

Mince meat pie!!!!!!! They’re really hard to find…

An ex always ordered a ‘tootie’ for Thanksgiving.. https://shop.tootiepieco.com/lemon-icebox-pie-p22.aspx

He also forgot to add “Ambrosia”!

“English Peas?”

Would those be The notorious Mushy Peas?

https://www.britishcornershop.co.uk/batchelors-mushy-peas

My parents said ice box so I did too but was saying refrigerator by the time I was grown. I think I’ll start saying ice box again to mess with my grandchildren. I love doing that.