Thanksgiving Food: Traditional Dishes and Recipes
When and how is it celebrated?
The US celebrates Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November, while Canada does so earlier, on the second Monday in October. The holiday recalls a harvest meal shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag in the autumn of 1621, which American schoolbook tradition treats as the first Thanksgiving. Today many families travel across the country to eat together. The meal is often eaten in the afternoon, frequently with American football on television. Much of the cooking is done the day before, because on the day itself the oven is taken up by the bird for hours. Leftovers are part of the tradition. On the Friday after, the remaining turkey ends up in sandwiches.
What is on the table?
The turkey is the heart of the meal. If you do not want to roast a whole bird, use a turkey breast. Alongside it come Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, with the gravy made from the roasting juices of the bird. Tart Cranberry Sauce balances the mild meat. Many families serve a Green Bean Casserole, a bake of green beans, creamy mushroom sauce and crispy fried onions that the Campbell company made famous as a recipe in 1955. Sweetness starts with the side dishes. The sweet potato casserole often has a topping of marshmallows, or in the South often pecans. In the southern states many people bake cornbread instead of bread rolls. Dessert is almost always Pumpkin Pie, spiced with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Pecan pie and apple pie often sit beside it.
Tips for your own festive meal
For a smaller table, a turkey breast is enough instead of a whole turkey, and it cuts the oven time considerably. Plan mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce and the Sweet Potato Casserole, which can be prepared the day before. Bake the pie a day early too, as it slices more cleanly when cold. To drink, hot apple juice with a cinnamon stick or cranberry juice topped up with sparkling water.
