My grandmother, Gladys Daly, was 98 when she died. This was a few years ago. She was in bed, happily watching her favorite TV show: Desperate Housewives. She left us during a commercial break...but I still blame Teri Hatcher. Anyway, Grandma was a hoot, a true original. When asked what her secret to longevity was — and for her last eight years, someone was always asking — she usually went with “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” But once, sitting at the head of the Thanksgiving table, she whispered a different answer altogether: sweebles. We nodded our heads in understanding. Of course! Sweebles! It all makes sense! 

Based on the German word for onion (zwiebel), Grandma's sweeble recipe is a major staple at a Daly Thanksgiving (never mind that we're all Irish). Before sticking the turkey in the oven, you place Vidalia onions, chopped in half, in the bottom of the pan. Add a cup of water or chicken broth. Salt and pepper those suckers, then cook 'em with the turkey drippings for three to four hours. How do you know when your sweebles are done? When you gently press on one...and the sweet, gooey center rockets out! Huzzah! It’s like a toy and a treat! So if you want to live a long life — or at least have a yummy holiday feast — may I suggest the humble sweeble? And don't forget all those other delicious Turkey Day dishes, too, found here on this festive food playlist:

Turkey Dinner, Green Day
Sweet Potato, Cracker
Know Your Onion!, the Shins
Cornbread, Fish and Collard Greens, Anthony Hamilton
Fruit Salad, the Wiggles
It’s All Gravy, Christina Milian
Buttermilk Biscuits, Sir Mix-a-Lot
Cherry Pie, Warrant
Whipped Cream, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
Whiskey and Wine, 311