Julia Child’s recipes may be complex, but she believed in simple shortcuts for appetizers.A time-saving option was serving Goldfish crackers before Thanksgiving dinner.Her love of food ranged from coq au vin and crêpes Suzette to fast food fries and hamburgers.
From cassoulet to coq au vin to crêpes Suzette, many of Julia Child’s signature recipes are quite elegant, and, well, a little complicated. While the results are worth the effort, her dishes often require a labor of love to get them on the table. But for Thanksgiving, it seems that Child wasn’t shy about taking a delicious (and simple!) shortcut for the appetizer course. Apparently, she adored Goldfish crackers.
Harvard University shared details about Child’s food philosophy back in 2012 during a day-long symposium about her life. “While Julia is often heralded for her focus on fresh ingredients, her ideas on food were far-ranging … she found organic food elitist, thought McDonald’s French fries and Burger King hamburgers were the best,” panelists shared.
Child: Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images. Design elements: Getty Images. EatingWell design.
One of her favorite snacks, Goldfish crackers, was served at the post-symposium reception, the Radcliffe Institute revealed. We have to admit, that sounds a bit easier than whipping up boeuf bourguignon for a crowd.
Apparently, Child set out Goldfish as a Thanksgiving appetizer each year during her cocktail (or mocktail) hour.
Sure, you could spend $50-plus to assemble a showy cheese board to snack on before Thanksgiving dinner. But if you’re looking for a store-bought shortcut to save you some time in the kitchen, feel free to follow in Child’s footsteps. The flavor of Cheddar and crackers in one affordable, five-second “recipe” (open bag, pour into bowl)? That sounds like a winning starter to us!
Dining and Cooking