Don’t u think it is amazing that Oysters & oranges made their way into the mountains for Christmas? They were certainly part of life for my Daddy in WV.
I love oyster stew anytime and made some for supper last night. When I was growing up, Mama made it for Daddy and I. On those nights, she and my sister would eat a pizza. I remember Grandma and Grandpa ate oyster stew a lot in the winter. Like Matt, I like a lot of black pepper in mine and eat it with Zesta crackers.
In the Little House book By the Shores of Silver Lake, Laura Ingalls Wilder describes oyster soup for New Year.s dinner in the 19th century. I never forgot her description after all these years
My mom detested oyster stew, but my old spinster aunt would make it. Us three boys and Dad would sneak over to her house and she would share with us. Aunt Lizzie been gone for 25 years now. I forgot about oyster stew. Joyful to be reminded.
My grandparents would have a cauldron of oyster stew and a cauldron of venison chilli cooking on the wood stove in the living room on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day, it would be roast pheasant, baked ham, quail, doves, and rabbit. All the bounty of the land.
My Dad's family brought this tradition to Oklahoma from Appalachia - his favorite became ours. We used to be able to buy canned Oyster Stew off the shelf, just like Tomato Soup. I still eat a tin of Smoked Oysters with crackers for dinner once in awhile. Thanks for these fun memories!
That looks delicious. I live an hour away from the Oyster beds in Tomales Bay Calif... we grill our oysters...yum...just throw the whole thing on the grill, they pop open and you drizzle garlic butter into them..
This was a tradition with my in-laws. My husband, and his Daddy and I, would put oyster crackers in the stew with plenty of pepper in it. We wouldn't eat the oysters🤣 My Mother in-law would say, the oysters are the best part about it. Y'all have a blessed evening and Happy New Year 🎉🥳🙏💕
@@camplife7698 I always heard that to eat oysters on the half shell, douse in hot sauce, a squeeze of lemon, suck it in and comp once on the right (probably with your jaw teeth), once on the left, and swallow. I like smoked baby oysters on crackers with yellow mustard, they are a little chewy, as I imagine Matt's are, but I like them. I'm anxious to try his stew. Thanks for posting and sharing.
I’m a Canadian transplant to the Chesapeake (30 years) and my variation is to add smoky bacon that I sauté first with some onion and sometimes a bit of cream with the milk.
I just love this, my foster mother would make this no matter what the holiday was. So good!! Sounds like we were raised on the same tree limb. Blessings from VA ❤️
@Deborah Kelly - One of my best buddies was named Barbara Kelley. My family in Virginia, (transplanted from NC) used to make this around Christmas although being from the Tidewater area, we had seafood often. It was made exactly like Matt does it.
Our Christmas Eve thing was always potato soup, made in much the same way as Matt's oyster stew but with potato chunks instead of oysters. Dad was the only one of us who could stand the things, so my sister made potato soup one year and a new tradition was born! Every so often we'd try adding something new: carrots, green beans but it was pretty much the consensus that just the taters were fine, though I've taken to adding a couple of diced turnips in with the potatoes. A bowl of soup with a big slab of pumpernickel bread spread with butter. Mmm-mmm!!
My Grandma’s family was from Kentucky & oyster stew was a Christmas Eve tradition & my dad made it ever year while I was growing up. My daughter likes it so I sent your video 2 her.
Love Ya'll I almosted cried I'm 49 an from Alabama region I remember my grandmother making this for us on Christmas eve and really cold days with those beautiful little oyster crackers ❤Blessings Ya'll
Yup,Christmas Eve evening meal. My Mom grew up near Burl Ives hometown of Newton Illinois ....in a little village, Ste Marie, Illinois Circa 1915...... 9 brothers and sisters ... They all brought the tradition North ,seeking jobs. We all grew up in the Chicagoland area observing Christmass Eve dinner this way....quietly and together, before heading out (those of us who were old enough) to Midnight Mass..... It's the only way I can really enjoy oysters to this day.... God Bless the Pressley family! Great memories! Thank you 💞
This brings back good memories from my childhood. My dad made oyster stew the same way. But I didn't care for the oysters but I loved the broth so I always gave him my oysters and of course I had to have lots of crackers with mine.
The holidays are about celebrating traditions which evoke warm, family memories. We never had oyster stew, but I will always associate certain foods/treats/customs with Christmas. Mom's date bars, my grandmother's flaky crust raspberry squares, my grandfather's peanut brittle made on fresh snow, and French Canadian meat pies bring back memories on my childhood. My mother incentivized my sister and I to be good by rewarding us with short sections of yarn we used to cover baby Jesus in his manger, to keep him warm. On days that we earned yarn, the ritual was to add the yarn to the manger, just before we turned on the Christmas lights that evening. And, not coincidentally, those were the days that mom baked special treats for us.
When I was young we had "Holy Supper" on Christmas Eve. Catholics do this quit often. No meat allowed but plenty of seafood and pasta. My Aunt made Lobster sauce from scratch with fresh linguini. Amazing food. Be well and Happy new Year.
This is a tradition that came to me as an adult, but I learned very quickly how good it is. I had never eaten oyster stew before but soon adapted to it!
My grandparents in old rural Vermont used to talk about their tradition of oyster stew for Christmas too! When they stopped keeping house on their own, that tradition faded as their son, my dear, departed dad, did not care for it. 🙂💜 Thank you for sharing your wonderful traditions!
Matt and Tipper, My late husband was a member of the local MASONIC LODGE and during the week before. CHRISTMAS, the Lodge members and their families, and friends, were invited to their OYSTER STEW SUPPER. We had crackers and sweet pickles with the stew. Oddly enough, their recipe was exactly like Matt's. They also made Irish potato soup. They used the same recipe as the oyster stew for the potato soup. Needless to say, the potato soup was way too thin. They only put 5 pounds of potatoes in a pot as big as a wash pot and the potatoes were chopped so small it was difficult to find them. But everyone always had a great time. After the meal all the ladies were given the Poinsettias which decorated each table. Another great video. I really enjoy your sharing your family with b us. Happy Healthy New Year. Jeri Whittaker 12/29/2022 Near Athens, Georgia
This was my family's tradition as well, except we had Texas Pete on the table to add a few drops. My dad's entire family made this on Christmas Eve down here in the Piedmont area of NC.
I can remember my grandma making oyster stew for my grandpa. We didn’t have for Christmas, but grandma always made scalloped oysters for Christmas. My sister and I continue the tradition.
Your entire family is adorable. I'm from Eastern Kentucky, everything you do rings true. I've never had oyster stew, but I'm goanna try it! Simple is better for the most part. The food you cook is a page out of my mamma's kitchen. I always tell people she could bake a cake on a rock. I love my Appalachian heritage, so much of it is getting lost. Thank you for keeping it alive. Your girls are amazing young women, you both should be proud! Come spring please post a video on how to make salt pickles, I can't' seem to get it right, should've paid more attention. Best of the Season's Greetings!
Oyster stew or chili was also a Christmas Eve tradition for my family growing up. My father is from Iowa and my mom was from Oklahoma and we always lived in Iowa. Great memories!
@Steve Gordon My family, too, had oyster stew & chili. My folks also came from the Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota areas. About 30 years ago I introduced to them Bacon potato chowder (bacon, potatoes, onion, celery, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup & milk😋) and we have had that & oyster stew for Christmas Eve sense!
My grandfather and now my uncles keep this tradition alive. They are of Irish heritage. But we live in Wisconsin, and my Irish ancestors immigrated around 1845 directly to farm in Wisconsin. I've never known anyone else that practices that tradition. Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this.
My x mother in law was from Turkey Scratch Tennessee. I have no clue where that is. She taught me so much and I'm learning that most of the things were Appalachian tradition. She made oyster stew.
People don’t realize Appalachian isn’t just one town or state. You brings me joy watching traditions that have been in my family for generations. Happy New Year.
You are not alone. Here in South Jersey we have the luxury of bayside seafood. Simple things like blue claw crabs, and oysters. The oyster stew that you have shared, myself and many friends have eaten at a local seafood festival every September. Simple and delish!!
Because our Family was so large, we always had a table set up with shelf safe foods, chips, cheese, pickles, olives, mini pies, chocolates, and other snacks. The table is set up about 4 PM December 31 and taken down about 1 AM January 1. People would then come-and-go as they see fit. My Daughter and Family still follow that tradition.
My family never had ever tried oysters at all or really any sea food, until my oldest brother came back from Vietnam. He introduced us to oysters, shrimp and scallops. We lived in WV and had never been to any beach except local river banks or lakes. We ate fish, but from river or lakes. He opened us up o a whole new world of foods back then. I think I was the only one in our family that loved oysters, besides him. The first time I went to the beach was back when I was 20 yrs old with some friends. We ate at a fish camp that served oyster stew and I loved it. I’ve never made it myself, because no one in my family will eat it. If Im a sea food restaurant that serves it, I’ll get me a cup to enjoy. The ones I’ve had usually put some onion and some put celery in the stew. I think I’d like it anyway it’s fixed. Matt’s stew looks delicious!
Matt's oyster stew looks like exactly the way my mom made it and my sister and I make it just like this. Great job Matt. I've been eating and making oyster stew for many years.😊
Growing up, we had oyster stew often- my Dad loved it! I wouldn't eat the stew, but I loved those oysters on a saltine cracker with a little catsup and everybody gave me theirs! I love oysters every way but raw!
This is a tradition in my family that goes back at least 4 generations from me and I'm swatting at 70. My children still do it also. We prepare them the exact same way; however, we eat them on Christmas morning.
Apparently it was in the Midwest at some point too. I remember in Laura Ingalls Wilder's book The Long Winter, the family did manage to make this as a Christmas treat!
This stew came from Ireland and it was a replacement for fish and came over on the Mayflower with immigrants. Tipper check me on this but I believe it’s what I recall I’m old so may not remember too good.
I know my sister i. Law always would make Oyster Stew. I just never cared for oysters if they weren’t deep fried. It’s good to pass down family traditions. God bless y’all.❤️✝️
Yum! We didn't eat oyster stew on Christmas but we used to always have an extra pan of dressing with oysters in it. I haven't made it in years though, since I'm the only one left who would eat it. I may have to make me some though cause I saw a guy making smoked oysters and canning them in mason jars, and I've been thinking about doing that. They looked really good, nothing like the ones that come in in tins.
When my brother and I was little, Daddy would make oyster stew. It was served in pie plates so it would cool quicker for us littles. When you got to the bottom of the plate we'd prop the back side up on a knife so you could scoop up the last of it. I still make it today. For us it was never a tradition, but just a good winter dish to warm your insides.
Looks amazing! My friend The grew up in Key West. His mother taught him how to make it and he showed me and it is super simple.! But he grew up using evaporated milk, oysters, and butter, of course, and then, grated in one carrot. I really find great to give it a little sweet to offset the saltiness, and it is so simply beautiful and so easy to make.! So thank you for sharing❤️
This brought back a memory ❤️ We always had the family over on Christmas Eve so we ate a big dinner about 2 or so in the day.. but this made me remember Daddy in the kitchen after everyone left making him his oyster stew.. he’d give me a little taste.. I liked the crackers in the broth🤣
Mamas recipe!!! She loved her oyster stew! She’d save the little pearls she would find in a little glass pimento jar tucked away in her cabinet ❤Thank you for this sweet memory 😊
My dad made oyster stew, usually in the fall/winter (one of the 3 things he knew how to cook). When I was a kid he used canned oysters, when I made my own as an adult I found fresh oysters and love it. I usually “Chef” mine up a little, but my secret is 50% fresh milk, 50% evaporated milk and good butter.
I love how you honor traditions, such a family-enriching habit. Thank you for another fun video Tipper! God bless Pressley/Wilson/Graddick family in 2023. 🙌🏼 💓 🙏🏼
I make Oyster Stew by putting my Oysters in the bottom of a pot of melted butter with salt and pepper. And cook the Oysters until they start curling around the edges after they do so I add a can of milk and a can of water until the amount desired is reached. Then it is simmered until it is done. 😆 🤣 Yep, until I say it is done. My Grandparents always ate Hoop Cheddar Cheese when they had Oyster Stew and of course we do the same. Nothing like Family Traditions!! I live in Central NC and we have always lived alot the same way you guys do. Talking today about the way things use to be, and missing those Wonderful days. We each hold memories dear to hearts!!💖😘 Happy New Year!! May God guide each of Us through the New Year!! Prayers from my family to yours!!🙏🏻😘
It was a tradition in my grandmother's family. Christmas was the only time of the year that you could get oysters at the store, they were expensive. My grandma got dementia, and I made it for her the last Christmas she was at herself, enough to remember. Haven't made it again since.
We have oyster stew twice a year. At Thanksgiving and Christmas. I make it just like this. We fight over the last oyster in the pot. LOL Competition is fierce. Some times we do rock ,paper, scissors. I never win. This is a favorite thing for us to eat on a cold night.
Coming from eastern North Carolina my grandfather always had a oyster stew for Christmas Eve dinner. Now that he has regretfully passed my family has altered the tradition. Instead of oyster stew we enjoy steamed oysters every Christmas Eve. Thank you for sharing this recipe though and sharing the memories and traditions your family has on Christmas 🎄
My mom would make oyster stew exactly this way. She got the recipe from her family… it went back several generations. She grew up east of Atlanta. That side of my family had roots in North Carolina and moved to Georgia sometime before the 2nd world war.
When I was growing up in extreme southwest VA, we always had oysters at New Years, not Christmas. And generally we had them fried, not in a stew. Nowadays I love them prepared in any way, any time of the year!
@@CelebratingAppalachia I've had some grilled oysters down on the coast of GA that were good, too. And roasted in the shell over an open fire on the beach is fantastic.
My husband and I started this tradition for our immediate family on Christmas Eve. I made it the same way Matt made his. It's so good! Haven't made it in awhile since my husband has passed. We had crackers, little oyster crackers, with it.
My family followed this tradition. I’ve continued this. We always had celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese to go with it. Saltine crackers too. I was raised in Northeast Kansas. I’ve been told by other family that the tradition came from Europe. Thank you for sharing this video.
We made clam chowder Christmas Eve growing up. Mom made a pot also of oyster one year cause that’s what she liked. Potatoes, bacon, celery, onion, clams and evaporated canned milk…thin..never thickened and saltine crackers. Some liked to put all crackers in at once and some like to put a few, eat, and repeat(me😊). Your channel is a wonderful reminder of what life was like. I was the only girl so I learned all of moms recipes and some that I’ve forgotten I have learned back by watching your channel❤.
Ms Tipper, you have hit upon a memory going way back more that 60 years. That is a dish Mother would make as part of a Christmas meal. In later years, Thanksgiving was also included. She's from way up the St John Valley. Could add some heavy cream in good times with a dash of paprika. Matt with his oyster crackers and smile, yep sure brings good memories! Thank You Both! -Bob...
So that's why we always had oyster soup at my grandparent's on Xmas Eve?! Wow! We also had scalloped oysters as well - my fave. Never really had a taste for fresh oysters, but I still eat the canned kind to this day, straight from the can with crackers...
I'm from the midwest and we always had oyster stew on Christmas Eve...daddy made it the same way Matt makes it..we usually had oyster crackers with it and nothing else...we knew the next day we'd have turkey with all the trimmings. I never liked the oysters as a kid but I loved the broth..
I LOVE OYSTER STEW!! My mom used to make the best! My oyster stew is really good but my Mom's was the best in our family. We grew up near the Chesapeake eating crab and oyster stew. But we're from Virginia in the Appalachias.😊🙏
My father was from north Georgia, Scots heritage, and he made this just like Matt every Christmas Eve. I didn’t know it was a widespread tradition till now. I couldn’t eat it but the others in the family really enjoyed it.
My parents always had oyster stew on Christmas Eve. (never any other time of year) I and some of my other siblings didn't quit cotton to it, so mom gradually started to offer a second soup for us on Christmas Eve.
This oyster stew looks delicious. It so good with toasted buttery garlic bread. My favorite way to eat oysters is fried and cooked on the grill in the half shell with butter and garlic. They are delicious this way. Thanks for sharing your special tradition. Merry Christmas and God bless
My husband doesn't care for oysters, but I do. It's not a tradition here, but I make oyster stew for myself for myself once in awhile. As oysters are so expensive, I buy the canned oysters from our local Walmart. Am sure they are one as fresh as fresh oysters, but it still is pretty good. They are found in the canned meat section. I pour the oysters and juice in a pan with a wad of butter. When warmed up I add the milk and heat till very hot. Aside from the butter and salt and pepper, I had a pinch of Old Bay seasoning. With some crushed up saltines, it's a feast for me.
Don’t u think it is amazing that Oysters & oranges made their way into the mountains for Christmas? They were certainly part of life for my Daddy in WV.
I do 😀
Remember, we were sending Chestnuts, Turkey on foot, and hams back the other way.
I love oyster stew anytime and made some for supper last night. When I was growing up, Mama made it for Daddy and I. On those nights, she and my sister would eat a pizza. I remember Grandma and Grandpa ate oyster stew a lot in the winter. Like Matt, I like a lot of black pepper in mine and eat it with Zesta crackers.
In the Little House book By the Shores of Silver Lake, Laura Ingalls Wilder describes oyster soup for New Year.s dinner in the 19th century. I never forgot her description after all these years
I had forgotten that-thank you for reminding me 😀
By the shores of silver lake was my favorite book...I loved that book
My mom detested oyster stew, but my old spinster aunt would make it. Us three boys and Dad would sneak over to her house and she would share with us. Aunt Lizzie been gone for 25 years now. I forgot about oyster stew. Joyful to be reminded.
A tradition of my daddy's family I still make oyster dressing for Thanksgiving and oyster stew for Christmas. Good eats.
My grandparents would have a cauldron of oyster stew and a cauldron of venison chilli cooking on the wood stove in the living room on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day, it would be roast pheasant, baked ham, quail, doves, and rabbit. All the bounty of the land.
Sounds great!
My Dad's family brought this tradition to Oklahoma from Appalachia - his favorite became ours. We used to be able to buy canned Oyster Stew off the shelf, just like Tomato Soup. I still eat a tin of Smoked Oysters with crackers for dinner once in awhile. Thanks for these fun memories!
That looks delicious. I live an hour away from the Oyster beds in Tomales Bay Calif... we grill our oysters...yum...just throw the whole thing on the grill, they pop open and you drizzle garlic butter into them..
Marry Christmas 🌲 and happy new year to you and the rest of your family how are you celebrating your day so far!🎀🎀🎁🎁
This was a tradition with my in-laws. My husband, and his Daddy and I, would put oyster crackers in the stew with plenty of pepper in it. We wouldn't eat the oysters🤣 My Mother in-law would say, the oysters are the best part about it. Y'all have a blessed evening and Happy New Year 🎉🥳🙏💕
Love that Linda 😀
@@CelebratingAppalachia think it was basic because of the expense of the oysters and doing best for next day.
We did the same thing. Daddy made it, put saltines in it to make it stretch for our family. The kids only ate the soup part, Daddy liked the oysters.
@@camplife7698 I always heard that to eat oysters on the half shell, douse in hot sauce, a squeeze of lemon, suck it in and comp once on the right (probably with your jaw teeth), once on the left, and swallow.
I like smoked baby oysters on crackers with yellow mustard, they are a little chewy, as I imagine Matt's are, but I like them. I'm anxious to try his stew.
Thanks for posting and sharing.
@@tammybuffkin4338 same!
I’m a Canadian transplant to the Chesapeake (30 years) and my variation is to add smoky bacon that I sauté first with some onion and sometimes a bit of cream with the milk.
I just love this, my foster mother would make this no matter what the holiday was. So good!! Sounds like we were raised on the same tree limb. Blessings from VA ❤️
Love that! Thank you for watching 😀
@Deborah Kelly - One of my best buddies was named Barbara Kelley. My family in Virginia, (transplanted from NC) used to make this around Christmas although being from the Tidewater area, we had seafood often. It was made exactly like Matt does it.
Our Christmas Eve thing was always potato soup, made in much the same way as Matt's oyster stew but with potato chunks instead of oysters. Dad was the only one of us who could stand the things, so my sister made potato soup one year and a new tradition was born! Every so often we'd try adding something new: carrots, green beans but it was pretty much the consensus that just the taters were fine, though I've taken to adding a couple of diced turnips in with the potatoes. A bowl of soup with a big slab of pumpernickel bread spread with butter. Mmm-mmm!!
My Grandma’s family was from Kentucky & oyster stew was a Christmas Eve tradition & my dad made it ever year while I was growing up. My daughter likes it so I sent your video 2 her.
Thank you!!
Love Ya'll I almosted cried I'm 49 an from Alabama region I remember my grandmother making this for us on Christmas eve and really cold days with those beautiful little oyster crackers ❤Blessings Ya'll
Such good memories you have 😀
Yup,Christmas Eve evening meal.
My Mom grew up near Burl Ives hometown of Newton Illinois ....in a little village, Ste Marie, Illinois
Circa 1915......
9 brothers and sisters ...
They all brought the tradition North ,seeking jobs.
We all grew up in the Chicagoland area observing Christmass Eve dinner this way....quietly and together, before heading out (those of us who were old enough) to Midnight Mass.....
It's the only way I can really enjoy oysters to this day....
God Bless the Pressley family!
Great memories!
Thank you 💞
Love your wonderful memories 😀
This brings back good memories from my childhood. My dad made oyster stew the same way. But I didn't care for the oysters but I loved the broth so I always gave him my oysters and of course I had to have lots of crackers with mine.
Love those memories 😀
I was always hard to keep from the raw oysters.
As a Texan, I’m very fond of black pepper, and a lot of it.
😀
The holidays are about celebrating traditions which evoke warm, family memories. We never had oyster stew, but I will always associate certain foods/treats/customs with Christmas. Mom's date bars, my grandmother's flaky crust raspberry squares, my grandfather's peanut brittle made on fresh snow, and French Canadian meat pies bring back memories on my childhood. My mother incentivized my sister and I to be good by rewarding us with short sections of yarn we used to cover baby Jesus in his manger, to keep him warm. On days that we earned yarn, the ritual was to add the yarn to the manger, just before we turned on the Christmas lights that evening. And, not coincidentally, those were the days that mom baked special treats for us.
Roland-what wonderful memories! I love your mother's incentivization 😀
This was a "New Years Day" Tradition in my family for as long as I can remember, along side Grandma's Pot of "Black Eye Pea's". 😎
When I was young we had "Holy Supper" on Christmas Eve. Catholics do this quit often. No meat allowed but plenty of seafood and pasta. My Aunt made Lobster sauce from scratch with fresh linguini. Amazing food. Be well and Happy new Year.
This is a tradition that came to me as an adult, but I learned very quickly how good it is. I had never eaten oyster stew before but soon adapted to it!
Love oyster stew. Live on the beach in NC. Get oysters fresh all the time.
Blessings from Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean ❤️💛💚🎄
My family has this Christmas Eve tradition too. I'm 3rd generation American and this tradition came from Germany.
My grandparents in old rural Vermont used to talk about their tradition of oyster stew for Christmas too! When they stopped keeping house on their own, that tradition faded as their son, my dear, departed dad, did not care for it. 🙂💜 Thank you for sharing your wonderful traditions!
Delicious, delicious, delicious!
😀 Thank you!
Matt and Tipper,
My late husband was a member of the local MASONIC LODGE and during the week before. CHRISTMAS, the Lodge members and their families, and friends, were invited to their OYSTER STEW SUPPER. We had crackers and sweet pickles with the stew. Oddly enough, their recipe was exactly like Matt's. They also made Irish potato soup. They used the same recipe as the oyster stew for the potato soup. Needless to say, the potato soup was way too thin. They only put 5 pounds of potatoes in a pot as big as a wash pot and the potatoes were chopped so small it was difficult to find them. But everyone always had a great time. After the meal all the ladies were given the Poinsettias which decorated each table.
Another great video. I really enjoy your sharing your family with b us.
Happy Healthy New Year.
Jeri Whittaker
12/29/2022
Near Athens, Georgia
Love those memories Jeri 😀
Sitting around the table and enjoying a fine meal and family. Cherish this!!
This was my family's tradition as well, except we had Texas Pete on the table to add a few drops. My dad's entire family made this on Christmas Eve down here in the Piedmont area of NC.
Love that Tracy 😀
Marry Christmas 🌲 and happy new year to you and the rest of your family how are you celebrating your day so far!🎀🎁
Thank you for sharing Tipper and Matt.
Glad you enjoyed it Robin 😀
My favorite holiday meal. Been having it since I was knee high to a grasshopper! Love gettin the crackers soggy!❤️
I can remember my grandma making oyster stew for my grandpa. We didn’t have for Christmas, but grandma always made scalloped oysters for Christmas. My sister and I continue the tradition.
Your entire family is adorable. I'm from Eastern Kentucky, everything you do rings true. I've never had oyster stew, but I'm goanna try it! Simple is better for the most part. The food you cook is a page out of my mamma's kitchen. I always tell people she could bake a cake on a rock. I love my Appalachian heritage, so much of it is getting lost. Thank you for keeping it alive. Your girls are amazing young women, you both should be proud! Come spring please post a video on how to make salt pickles, I can't' seem to get it right, should've paid more attention. Best of the Season's Greetings!
Thank you! So glad you enjoy our videos 😀
Oyster stew or chili was also a Christmas Eve tradition for my family growing up. My father is from Iowa and my mom was from Oklahoma and we always lived in Iowa. Great memories!
@Steve Gordon My family, too, had oyster stew & chili. My folks also came from the Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota areas. About 30 years ago I introduced to them Bacon potato chowder (bacon, potatoes, onion, celery, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup & milk😋) and we have had that & oyster stew for Christmas Eve sense!
@@kellylorang6845 Bacon potato chowder sounds delicious too!
My grandfather and now my uncles keep this tradition alive. They are of Irish heritage. But we live in Wisconsin, and my Irish ancestors immigrated around 1845 directly to farm in Wisconsin. I've never known anyone else that practices that tradition. Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this.
Oyster stew was the tradition for Christmas Eve supper for generations in our family. My boys never liked it until they were older.
My x mother in law was from Turkey Scratch Tennessee. I have no clue where that is. She taught me so much and I'm learning that most of the things were Appalachian tradition. She made oyster stew.
Thank you Susan 😀
People don’t realize Appalachian isn’t just one town or state. You brings me joy watching traditions that have been in my family for generations. Happy New Year.
You are not alone. Here in South Jersey we have the luxury of bayside seafood. Simple things like blue claw crabs, and oysters. The oyster stew that you have shared, myself and many friends have eaten at a local seafood festival every September. Simple and delish!!
Because our Family was so large, we always had a table set up with shelf safe foods, chips, cheese, pickles, olives, mini pies, chocolates, and other snacks. The table is set up about 4 PM December 31 and taken down about 1 AM January 1. People would then come-and-go as they see fit. My Daughter and Family still follow that tradition.
I like that Jerry 😀
My mother loved this as well on Christmas Eve.
Thank you Robin 😀
My family never had ever tried oysters at all or really any sea food, until my oldest brother came back from Vietnam. He introduced us to oysters, shrimp and scallops. We lived in WV and had never been to any beach except local river banks or lakes. We ate fish, but from river or lakes. He opened us up o a whole new world of foods back then. I think I was the only one in our family that loved oysters, besides him. The first time I went to the beach was back when I was 20 yrs old with some friends. We ate at a fish camp that served oyster stew and I loved it. I’ve never made it myself, because no one in my family will eat it. If Im a sea food restaurant that serves it, I’ll get me a cup to enjoy. The ones I’ve had usually put some onion and some put celery in the stew. I think I’d like it anyway it’s fixed. Matt’s stew looks delicious!
We aren't from Appalachia, but my parents, two uncles and their families, had this tradition when I was growing up.
Matt's oyster stew looks like exactly the way my mom made it and my sister and I make it just like this. Great job Matt. I've been eating and making oyster stew for many years.😊
Love oyster stew! Delicious.
So good!
I always use old bay seasoning on all seafood. It has the rite amount of salt,pepper, paprika, etc. Try it
My dad loved oyster stew and always added hot sauce! It was delicious! A special treat for the holidays!
Ok, I'm going to the store to get all I need to cook this tonight. It'll be like I'm eating dinner with you and yours LOL!
😀 I hope you enjoy it!
I’ve lived in the mountains all my life and have never heard of this tradition!
Growing up, we had oyster stew often- my Dad loved it! I wouldn't eat the stew, but I loved those oysters on a saltine cracker with a little catsup and everybody gave me theirs! I love oysters every way but raw!
Course ground black pepper is so good I believe I could put it on ice cream! Land to mercy I love it!
You sound like Matt 😀
I had forgotten my grandma followed that tradition! I love oyster stew! Thank from helpin my recollection!
This is a tradition in my family that goes back at least 4 generations from me and I'm swatting at 70. My children still do it also. We prepare them the exact same way; however, we eat them on Christmas morning.
Love that!
My husband’s parents and grandparents did this. Oyster stew and bologna salad sandwiches. Yummy.
Grew up eating this with my grandpa. Haven't had it since I was about 12yrs old, forgot all about it. You just gave me the recipe he used. Xoxo ❤
Love oyster stew and fried oysters. Stew looked delicious
Apparently it was in the Midwest at some point too. I remember in Laura Ingalls Wilder's book The Long Winter, the family did manage to make this as a Christmas treat!
This stew came from Ireland and it was a replacement for fish and came over on the Mayflower with immigrants. Tipper check me on this but I believe it’s what I recall I’m old so may not remember too good.
I know my sister i. Law always would make Oyster Stew. I just never cared for oysters if they weren’t deep fried. It’s good to pass down family traditions. God bless y’all.❤️✝️
People who don't eat oysters don't know what they're missing. Oyster dressing and oysters with rice is also very good. Happy New Year.
Yum! We didn't eat oyster stew on Christmas but we used to always have an extra pan of dressing with oysters in it. I haven't made it in years though, since I'm the only one left who would eat it. I may have to make me some though cause I saw a guy making smoked oysters and canning them in mason jars, and I've been thinking about doing that. They looked really good, nothing like the ones that come in in tins.
When my brother and I was little, Daddy would make oyster stew. It was served in pie plates so it would cool quicker for us littles. When you got to the bottom of the plate we'd prop the back side up on a knife so you could scoop up the last of it. I still make it today. For us it was never a tradition, but just a good winter dish to warm your insides.
Looks amazing! My friend The grew up in Key West. His mother taught him how to make it and he showed me and it is super simple.! But he grew up using evaporated milk, oysters, and butter, of course, and then, grated in one carrot. I really find great to give it a little sweet to offset the saltiness, and it is so simply beautiful and so easy to make.! So thank you for sharing❤️
Sounds great!
Lookin mighty handsome all clean shaven there Matt...
This brought back a memory ❤️
We always had the family over on Christmas Eve so we ate a big dinner about 2 or so in the day.. but this made me remember Daddy in the kitchen after everyone left making him his oyster stew.. he’d give me a little taste.. I liked the crackers in the broth🤣
Just the way we made it in Va. I love it. The milk and oysters are the best together.🎉
Mamas recipe!!! She loved her oyster stew! She’d save the little pearls she would find in a little glass pimento jar tucked away in her cabinet ❤Thank you for this sweet memory 😊
My dad made oyster stew, usually in the fall/winter (one of the 3 things he knew how to cook). When I was a kid he used canned oysters, when I made my own as an adult I found fresh oysters and love it. I usually “Chef” mine up a little, but my secret is 50% fresh milk, 50% evaporated milk and good butter.
We always have Oyster Stew and Ground Baloney every year on Christmas Eve since I can remember and I'm 67! Love it!
Love that 😀
I love how you honor traditions, such a family-enriching habit. Thank you for another fun video Tipper! God bless Pressley/Wilson/Graddick family in 2023. 🙌🏼 💓 🙏🏼
Thank you 😀
My Daddy used to make oyster stew on Christmas Eve identically to the way y'all do it, even with those same little crackers. Thanks for sharing this.
I make Oyster Stew by putting my Oysters in the bottom of a pot of melted butter with salt and pepper. And cook the Oysters until they start curling around the edges after they do so I add a can of milk and a can of water until the amount desired is reached. Then it is simmered until it is done. 😆 🤣 Yep, until I say it is done. My Grandparents always ate Hoop Cheddar Cheese when they had Oyster Stew and of course we do the same. Nothing like Family Traditions!! I live in Central NC and we have always lived alot the same way you guys do. Talking today about the way things use to be, and missing those Wonderful days. We each hold memories dear to hearts!!💖😘 Happy New Year!! May God guide each of Us through the New Year!! Prayers from my family to yours!!🙏🏻😘
It was a tradition in my grandmother's family. Christmas was the only time of the year that you could get oysters at the store, they were expensive. My grandma got dementia, and I made it for her the last Christmas she was at herself, enough to remember. Haven't made it again since.
We never had oyster stew in East Tennessee or Southeast Kentucky but I know other folks who like it at Christmas. Thanks for sharing ☃️🎄☃️❤️
Good video Matt it looked hood thanks Tipper
Glad you enjoyed it 😀
My Pop made Oyster stew last week and it was divine.
We lived in Bristol Va/Tn in the 1946-1955 and my dad made Oysters Stew also. It was a delicious stew
We have oyster stew twice a year. At Thanksgiving and Christmas. I make it just like this. We fight over the last oyster in the pot. LOL Competition is fierce. Some times we do rock ,paper, scissors. I never win. This is a favorite thing for us to eat on a cold night.
😀
Coming from eastern North Carolina my grandfather always had a oyster stew for Christmas Eve dinner. Now that he has regretfully passed my family has altered the tradition. Instead of oyster stew we enjoy steamed oysters every Christmas Eve. Thank you for sharing this recipe though and sharing the memories and traditions your family has on Christmas 🎄
Thank you for watching 😀
Marry Christmas 🌲 and happy new year to you and the rest of your family how are you celebrating your day so far!🥂🍾❤️💯♥️🌹🌹🎉🎉🎊🎊🎆🎇🥰🙏🎀🎀🎁🎁
My mom would make oyster stew exactly this way. She got the recipe from her family… it went back several generations. She grew up east of Atlanta. That side of my family had roots in North Carolina and moved to Georgia sometime before the 2nd world war.
When I was growing up in extreme southwest VA, we always had oysters at New Years, not Christmas. And generally we had them fried, not in a stew. Nowadays I love them prepared in any way, any time of the year!
I love them fried too 😀
@@CelebratingAppalachia I've had some grilled oysters down on the coast of GA that were good, too. And roasted in the shell over an open fire on the beach is fantastic.
My husband and I started this tradition for our immediate family on Christmas Eve. I made it the same way Matt made his. It's so good! Haven't made it in awhile since my husband has passed.
We had crackers, little oyster crackers, with it.
A fine tradition! Using your finger as a thermometer, is a good thing. I used my wrist to test the baby’s bottled milk. I love oyster 🦪 stew!
My family followed this tradition. I’ve continued this. We always had celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese to go with it. Saltine crackers too. I was raised in Northeast Kansas. I’ve been told by other family that the tradition came from Europe. Thank you for sharing this video.
We made clam chowder Christmas Eve growing up. Mom made a pot also of oyster one year cause that’s what she liked. Potatoes, bacon, celery, onion, clams and evaporated canned milk…thin..never thickened and saltine crackers. Some liked to put all crackers in at once and some like to put a few, eat, and repeat(me😊). Your channel is a wonderful reminder of what life was like. I was the only girl so I learned all of moms recipes and some that I’ve forgotten I have learned back by watching your channel❤.
Ms Tipper, you have hit upon a memory going way back more that 60 years. That is a dish Mother would make as part of a Christmas meal. In later years, Thanksgiving was also included. She's from way up the St John Valley. Could add some heavy cream in good times with a dash of paprika. Matt with his oyster crackers and smile, yep sure brings good memories! Thank You Both! -Bob...
So glad you enjoyed it!
My family always had oyster stew on Christmas Eve and fried oysters for breakfast Christmas morning. Yum
So that's why we always had oyster soup at my grandparent's on Xmas Eve?! Wow! We also had scalloped oysters as well - my fave. Never really had a taste for fresh oysters, but I still eat the canned kind to this day, straight from the can with crackers...
My mom used to make oyster soup/stew any chance she got. It was delicious, especially the broth... Very comforting food
It's groovy to keep loving traditions ✌️❤️ to y'all
I'm from the midwest and we always had oyster stew on Christmas Eve...daddy made it the same way Matt makes it..we usually had oyster crackers with it and nothing else...we knew the next day we'd have turkey with all the trimmings. I never liked the oysters as a kid but I loved the broth..
I LOVE OYSTER STEW!! My mom used to make the best! My oyster stew is really good but my Mom's was the best in our family. We grew up near the Chesapeake eating crab and oyster stew. But we're from Virginia in the Appalachias.😊🙏
Great job. That's exactly how I fix and eat mine. I grew up on the Georgia coast and we gathered fresh oysters for this.
My father was from north Georgia, Scots heritage, and he made this just like Matt every Christmas Eve. I didn’t know it was a widespread tradition till now. I couldn’t eat it but the others in the family really enjoyed it.
Love that Kim 😀
We always had this. I think it came from my Dads side of the family. But we are all from Philadelphia. Go figure!
My parents always had oyster stew on Christmas Eve. (never any other time of year) I and some of my other siblings didn't quit cotton to it, so mom gradually started to offer a second soup for us on Christmas Eve.
This oyster stew looks delicious. It so good with toasted buttery garlic bread. My favorite way to eat oysters is fried and cooked on the grill in the half shell with butter and garlic. They are delicious this way. Thanks for sharing your special tradition. Merry Christmas and God bless
Thank you Sherry 😀
This is how my folks make oyster stew too. We would have it on Christmas day.
I have it on my dad birthday and Christmas and New Year's Day
My husband doesn't care for oysters, but I do. It's not a tradition here, but I make oyster stew for myself for myself once in awhile. As oysters are so expensive, I buy the canned oysters from our local Walmart. Am sure they are one as fresh as fresh oysters, but it still is pretty good. They are found in the canned meat section. I pour the oysters and juice in a pan with a wad of butter. When warmed up I add the milk and heat till very hot. Aside from the butter and salt and pepper, I had a pinch of Old Bay seasoning. With some crushed up saltines, it's a feast for me.