The Feast of Thanksgiving
This coming Thursday, the fourth Thursday in November, is the American Thanksgiving. Although it has a religious context – giving thanks for all we have been given – it is not a church holiday, but a secular one.
A group of people fled England (we call them the Pilgrims) seeking a place where they could practice their particular and very fundamental religion without persecution. They landed in a new country and established a colony. A good many of them died in the first year – from starvation, from minor ailments like ear infections that went untreated and became more serious illnesses. At the end of the harvest, the following year, they gave a great feast to celebrate those who had survived.
Honored guests were the Native Americans, who had welcomed the newcomers, showed them berries and forms of wildlife good for gathering and hunting, and without whom the Pilgrims could not have survived. At the table were foods never seen in the old world – turkey, corn, cranberries, possibly potatoes. . .
Wherever we are in the world, we take this 4th Thursday in November to give thanks, and to feast, preferably with family and friends.
My nieces, Little Diamond and Sparkling Diamond grew up going to the local soup kitchen on Thanksgiving with their parents to serve the poor and homeless their Thanksgiving meal. Many of us have special church services that day. Most of us spend a good part of the day in the kitchen!
We have so much to be thankful for this year. Although my parents are old, I have been able to go back and help them several times this year. The next generation of our family has (mostly) finished school and all have jobs they love doing. We shifted our tent successfully to another country this year, and are having a great time getting to know Kuwait. We have found a church here and are thankful to be able to worship freely. Through another friend, we met a family here we dearly love, and we will spend Thanksgiving with them. I am sure it will be a mountain of food.
I will be fixing my Mom’s cranberry salad, cornbread stuffing for my husband-of-Souther-origins, a pumpkin pie, and some balsamic roasted sweet-potatoes (the potatoes are tradition, the balsamic is not) and a few other dishes. We try to balance the traditional with something new from time to time. We will break open one of the fruitcakes to serve with the other desserts. Mom’s Fruitcake Recipe
You will know where people will be gathering and feasting by the delicious aroma of roasting turkey as you take advantage of this gorgeous weather to go out walking . . . We give thanks for the beautiful weather, too.
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The menu you have set sounds scrumptious! Having lived in the US so long I miss Thanksgiving. Last thanksgiving I didnt do anything although I was in the US but before that a freind and I cooked a mean Turkey. I think Im gonna try to have a Thanksgiving meal as well this Thursday inshalla. Any recommendations about good places that serve Thanksgiving meals and give you the whole atmosphere as well? I suppose I could do it at home but that’s bound to create havoc (meaning: anothing Katrina) in my kitchen. In case I do end up cooking, I suppose I just buy the Turkey from Sultan?
Mmmmmmm, save me some pumpkin pie 😛 I used to celebrate it too when we were in the States, a long time ago. But last year I celebrated it with an English couple here. The food was sooo delicious! Which reminds me, I wonder if they’ll invite me again this year??!!
Hi 1001. So glad to see you back. The problem with hotel Thanksgivings is that Thanksgiving is more about the friends/family than food. Hotels leave you feeling unsatisfied. And, since you are going to hit the kitchen like Katrina, might as well invite a few friends in to share the fun. If they offer to bring something, say YES! That’s half the fun!
Yep – buy the Turkey at the Sultan, and be sure to thaw it in time to cook it on Thursday. And be sure to take out the things they pack inside. The secret to really good turkey is to keep it tightly wrapped until the last half hour, then let it brown and baste.
Do a Thanksgiving with a Kuwaiti twist – make your “dressing” (we don’t stuff anymore because of the potential for food poisoning) with rice and nuts and . . . whatever your family will love – ummmm, maybe some of Equalizer’s white truffel oil. Simple green salad but some yummy dressing – go for broke Roquefort! Other simple vegetables – green beans, brussell sprouts – as I said, I am roasting sweet potatoes with balsamic vinegar this year. We don’t even bother with the mashed potatoes and gravy anymore! Maybe try a pumpkin ice cream for dessert?
Most of all – have fun with it. And tell me all about it; I might want to adopt some of YOUR ideas for next year! 🙂
Elijah – oops! I think the English Thanksgiving was earlier in the year – maybe even earlier this month! It’s not so much about the food as the gathering together and sharing – I wonder . . . do the English use turkey at their thanksgiving?
Hun this is way over my head! I love how you say you wanna adopt some of MY ideas. What exactly would you want tips on, how to make fried eggs or how to “make” a salad? I dont know even what you mean by “keep it wrapped until the last half hour”. When I was in the states we baked that Turkey for more than 5 hours ! LOL I am gonna have to do some serious internet research before starting this. But Im getting excited about it. Where do you find sweet potatos? I’ve had those before, I LOVE THOSE! Or do you take normal potatoes and add sugar and balsamic vinegar?
Yum. I love Thanksgiving. My father the Bostonian prefers pecan to pumpkin pie, though – and this year I found a new recipe to try, an oatmeal pecan pie.
Here is the recipe, courtesy of Cooking Light magazine:
Oatmeal Pecan Pie
From Cooking Light
Rolled oats add heartiness to the filling of this classic Thanksgiving dessert. Make the pie up to a day ahead, but store it in the refrigerator if you do.
1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie dough (such as Pillsbury)
Cooking spray
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
2/3 cup regular oats
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
Preheat oven to 325°.
Roll dough into an 11-inch circle. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Fold edges under; flute.
Combine brown sugar and remaining ingredients, stirring well with a whisk. Pour into prepared crust. Bake at 325° for 50 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely on a wire rack.
I am currently in Boston, for the annual Middle East studies conference, and staying here through the holidays. Plimouth Plantation, the museum-cum-trust that oversees the site of the Pilgrims’ first landing and educates visitors about 17th century life here, has an exhibit covering ‘myths and realities’ of the first Thanksgiving, as well as the history of how “our” Thanksgiving traditions have evolved. Evidently there was no turkey at the first Thanksgiving – and nor was it celebrated on the third Thursday in November!
Hahaha guess I missed it. Yes, they do have turkey.
Forgive me for my ignorance but i dont know exactly what i should say in this occasion but here it goes :
Wish you and your loved ones a happy and warm thanksgiving.
1001 – You’ve inspired me. More postings, more recipes, in your honor. What inspired me? I think you are going to have FUN with this!
Sweet potatoes at Sultan! Also Yams. Both are sweet and could be used in this recipe. (see post)
Elijah – oh, dear, I wish you could join us! Sorry you missed the day with your English friends. But . . . it’s still a good excuse to gather with friends.
Little Diamond – oatmeal??? with pecans?? oh, sweet one, WAAAAYYYYYY too healthy for a real Southerner . . . gotta use a bottle of Karo corn syrup and a stick of butter!
Abdulaziz – WOW. You knocked my socks off. No one could say it better – that was beautiful. Thank you.