Home =>
Holidays => Thanksgiving => An Extra Touch for Thanksgiving
Related Articles:
An Organized Thanksgiving | Tried and True Thanksgiving Recipes
An Extra Touch for Thanksgiving
by Arleen M. Kaptur
Description: Thanksgiving recipes and tips.
The turkey is baking in the oven and the pies are
all lined up on your countertop. Colorful vegetables and
fruits are simmering slowly or just adding their special
flavors and delightful aromas to your kitchen.
Food - a way of celebrating, showing love and affection,
and bringing family, friends, and loved ones together. An extra
special touch would be to present a "pilgrim" dish to your
Holiday table - something that will remind everyone of the food that was served at that
first Thanksgiving feast when Pilgrims and Indians joined hands and shared what they had with each
other. They were grateful for food, their families, the new
land, even their endurance during the hard times.
They learned much, experienced even more, and found
ways to overcome and achieve.
Just take a step back in time and allow your guests
to
taste a bit of History - a touch of the past - a
nostalgic
glimpse into the origin of our Thanksgiving
celebration:
Johnnycakes:
2 beaten eggs, 1 cup water, 3/4 cup milk, 2 tbs.
lard, melted, 1 tsp.salt, 2 cups yellow cornmeal,
butter, maple syrup
In bowl, mix eggs, water, milk, lard, and salt. Stir
in cornmeal. Stir well before making each johnnycake.
For each cake, place a scant 1/4 cup batter on a
hot, well-greased griddle, spreading to 1/4 inch thick.
Cook till golden, 2-3 mins. per side. Serve warm with butter and syrup.
Rice Pudding:
In heavy pan bring 3 cups milk to boiling, gradually
stir in 1/2 cup rice, 1/3 cup raisins, and 1/4 tsp. salt.
Cover, cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, till most of the
milk is absorbed, and the rice is creamy, 30-45 mins. Spoon into dessert dishes.
Dot with butter; sprinkle with a mixture of 1/4 cup
sugar, and 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon.
Indian Pudding:
3 cups milk, 1/2 cup molasses, 1/3 cup yellow
cornmeal, 1/2 tsp. ground ginger, 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon,
1/4 tsp. salt, 1 tbs. butter
In a pan, mix milk and molasses; stir in cornmeal,
ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Cook and stir till thick, about
10 mins. Stir in butter. Turn into a 1-quart casserole.
Bake, uncovered, at 300 about 1 hour.
A truly traditional - wonderful addition to your
Thanksgiving celebration:
Wassail Bowl:
1 orange, halved, 10 whole cloves, 2-4/5 quart
bottles claret, 1/2 cup sugar, 4 inches stick cinnamon
Stud orange halves with cloves. In a pan mix orange
halves, claret, sugar, and cinnamon. Cover, simmer about 15 mins. Remove cinnamon and
orange halves. Serve punch hot in small mugs.
A touch of "pilgrim" and your Thanksgiving Holiday will be very special indeed.
ENJOY!
Reprinted with permission.