Mom was doing her Turkey Day price-checking and commented that a lot of the best deals on turkey came with unwanted side dishes. "Unwanted side dishes?" We asked. Surely one of us will eat most any dish that comes our way.

"Green Bean Cassarole," she said.

"What cassarole?!" we replied.

We'd never heard of it. Dead serious.

"Well, I've never made it because I know you guys wouldn't like it."

"We appreciate it," we replied, "but there is such a thing as 'green bean cassarole'? In the name of all holy, tell us it is not so."

"Well, you've never eaten it because I don't make it for you."

"We understand, but not only have we never eaten it, we did not know it existed! Not only would we never have eaten it, we would not have imagined it in our worst nightmares."

"My, my, I've kept you sheltered," she lamented.

"We love you."

Since this happened a month back, green bean cassarole has been everywhere. Campbell's is actually selling it. As if it were a good thing! As if it were something somebody might want!

I could understand if it were some sort of New Years tradition. After all, most of us get plastered on New Years and we already down cabbage and black-eyed peas that we'd avoid the rest of the year, but T-day is supposed to be the day of (giving Thanks and) good food.

Good food and any cassarole including green beans are mutually exclusive.