In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely uncover the surprising truths behind the rules we follow, the ones we break, and the embarrassing moments we all secretly Google.

From medieval knife etiquette and Victorian orange-cutting rules to restaurant dilemmas, awkward check battles, and the lesser-known rules of modern hosting, this episode reveals how manners have evolved — and why they’re more important today than ever.

A mix of cultural style, history, and real-life stories, Nancy and Sylvia share how etiquette shapes our relationships, our confidence, our friendships, and even tells others who we are at the table. If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”, this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories has answers to the questions you might be too embarrassed to ask out loud — but still should know.

This is not your grandmother’s etiquette talk, but instead something you can put to use tomorrow..

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• The Easy Bread Plate Hack Everyone Should Know About: The “B” and “D” hand trick doesn’t just save embarrassment — it’s one of the most-searched etiquette questions worth learning.
• History Behind the Rules We Follow Without Thinking, And Why: Did you know that Medieval danger signals, Victorian pamphlets, and ancient dining rituals still influence how we sit, eat, serve, and host today?
• The Check-Dance Ritual, And Who Pays? From the guy with “alligator arms” and the host rule to power plays disguised as politeness, the debate over who pays is one of the most revealing etiquette moments in our professional and personal lives, and it's worth learning how to do it right.
• Toasting: Trust, Poison, and a Loud Clink: Did you know that the glass clink isn’t just for celebration—historically, it was a way to prove you weren’t poisoning your neighbor. (And yes, how high your glass, or goblet, was filled mattered!)

🎧 What You Can Do Next:

If this episode made you rethink even one habit, hit follow, share it with a friend, and send us your funniest or most unforgettable etiquette story. Join us, Nancy and Sylvia, in future stories at Family Tree Food & Stories, where we explore the traditions, quirks, and conversations that shape how we eat, gather, and connect — because. . .

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Home for the Holidays: The Lost Art of Decorating with Food

What if your next holiday centerpiece wasn’t from a store—but from your pantry? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely help you rediscover the forgotten art and easy ways to decorate with food. It’s been a long-standing, even ancient tradition that’s fun and everyone can join in and help.

From hanging this year’s turkey wishbone and saving it for next year’s wish-making activities, to crafting apple-head dolls, hanging cookie tree ornaments, and stringing cranberry and popcorn garlands, there’s an interesting story with each of these holiday decorations.

There’s some pretty interesting history to many other food decorating traditions. Nancy and Sylvia dig into the Greek legend of the cornucopia and the history of how the pineapple became a symbol of welcome in many New England towns.

You’ll also learn the story of how Otto, the cookie-loving poodle, managed to sneak his share of holiday food decorations, unbeknownst to his owners. Then, give some of the other traditional edible craft decorations a try with your own family and friends, like orange-and-clove pomanders and more.

This holiday season, try bringing a little nostalgia back into your home, things that your grandmother might have done, and get an early jump on decorating for the holidays, with food!

Nancy shares… “Food is art, food is memory—and decorating with always makes you happy.”

Whether you’re a crafter, foodie, or simply someone craving a warmer, more memorable type of holiday season in 2025, this episode will help you remember that every meal has a story, and every story is a feast.

Key Takeaways:

• The history of edible decorations: from cornucopias to cookies and eggs
• Holiday decorating ideas: garlands, pomander oranges, bread babies, and more
• Regional food decorating stories from New England to Ecuador
• Why food and decoration: memory-making magic for holidays, heritage, and home

Tune in to Family Tree Food & Stories at Podcast.FamilyTreeFoodStories.com or wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe so you never miss an episode release.

Learn why oatmeal is more than breakfast—it’s a bridge between past and present, comfort and culture, nourishment and nostalgia.

Additional Links ❤️

• Book: My Family Tree, Food & Stories Journal Awarded #1 New Release on Amazon
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What makes Thanksgiving more than a meal? There’s a lot more of the old and new traditions that, when combined, can make this celebration one you’ll remember for years to come.

In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely explore how food, family, and traditions shape our sense of gratitude and belonging across the generations, tables, and even time zones from how to make that traditional turkey better than ever, to the most bizarre dishes of the past decades. This episode takes you behind the scenes of how some of our favorite Thanksgiving foods reveal where we came from (in past generations), where we’ve been (think wartime rationing), and those things that have become mainstay traditions, perhaps taught to you by an in-law.

Key Take Aways:

1. Gratitude: How The Legacy of Food and Friendship Lives On: Through stories of Gloria Hardy Rice and Denny Hamilton—two unforgettable women remembered through their cooking and hospitality—you’ll see how recipes and rituals can preserve memories far beyond the kitchen.

2. Strange but True: Mid-Century “Weird Dishes” Still Make it to The Table: Ever heard of bologna cake or ham and banana casserole? Nancy and Sylvia uncover these real mid-century recipes and explore what they reveal about America’s shift from fresh to processed foods—and why some trends are making a comeback.

3. Sweet Potatoes vs. Yams: The Real Difference: You’ll finally learn what separates these two Thanksgiving staples—and discover that the sweet potato actually comes from the morning glory family, not from traditional tuber potatoes.

4. Modern Twists on Classic Thanksgiving Traditions: From Friendsgiving gatherings to global recipe swaps and even new drinks and how to brine with apple cider, and even frog eye salad, this episode offers simple ways to freshen up your Thanksgiving platters.

5. The Sensory Secrets of Gratitude: You’re encouraged to notice the details—the scent of rosemary, the crisp sound of turkey skin, the warmth of laughter. It’s the simple things that make a Thanksgiving meal and day that much more memorable.

🎧 Join Us:

This Thanksgiving, we hope you’ll grab a seat at the Family Tree Food & Stories table. Listen to a few extra shows at Podcast.FamilyTreeFoodStories.com to rediscover the flavor, humor, and your own family history that makes Every Meal a Story, and Every Story a Feast!

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