Many of us remember when we were in school Thanksgiving plays. Even as far back as attending our one-room country school when I was a child, we always had Thanksgiving and Christmas pageants with home-made costumes. Some of us wore Pilgrim clothing such as the black garb with black buckled hats while others wore Indian costumes including paper headbands with colorful construction paper feathers and brown paper clothing.

We all heard the story about how the Pilgrims arrived by way of the Mayflower ship landing on Plymouth Rock in late 1620. The first winter was rough for our pilgrim fathers and a great number of them died. Not only did they have problems with coming to a new country, adjusting to the freezing temperatures and different land, there was also the problem of communicating with the land’s current occupants, the Native Americans. Read more »

Several of our family members enjoy cooking the holiday dinner. Each of these giblet gravy recipes has a unique feature specific to the person who cooked the turkey in any given year. Read more »

Bread stuffing is a mainstay in our household every time we roast chicken or turkey, and is my favorite part of the meal. Even within our family, we each have a little different way of making dressing. Here are several bread stuffing ideas for you and your family. Read more »

For many people Thanksgiving is a day of family, feasts, and football or a film at the nearest movie theater. Others meet the day with loneliness and dread. Still others enjoy spending the day alone. Here are a number of ideas to help you have a great day if you find yourself alone on Thanksgiving. Starting the day with at least a tentative plan and a positive attitude will help reduce any feeling of loneliness. Read more »

Every year in October, two important dates appear on our calendar. One is Blog action Day and the other is World Food Day. As this site is about food, concentrating on food tips and ideas for various holidays throughout the year, I thought it was time we also recognize those of struggle with the lack of food.

This probably won’t be a popular post for those who don’t want to face the truth about what is going on in the world, but it is a necessary reminder that we need to be mindful of what we have and what others do not.

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Thanksgiving ushers in the holiday season with a festive feast, typically with family and friends gathered around the table. In the United States, the turkey could be considered the national bird as an untold number of families will have turkey and stuffing as the center of their main meal. We are providing a suggested menu for you to try out on this special day. Read more »

Not everyone likes the taste of turkey or wants the hassle that baking a turkey and dressing can involve on Thanksgiving day. Many enjoy a tasty, baked ham as an alternative on this special holiday that is typically known for turkey and stuffing. This easy recipe will show you how to bake a ham and have you and your family dining on a terrific meal without all of the hassle. Read more »

As a huge fan of anything made of pumpkin, I’m always on the lookout for great recipes that include this delicious fall favorite. I’m also partial to pies rather than cakes, so this recipe was a hit with me before I hardly took my first bite. If you try this recipe, please let us know your thoughts. Read more »

As Thanksgiving approaches new cooks often begin to quake in their shoes when they think about preparing a large meal for the whole family. Many times the guest list can include any number of relatives and friends. What they don’t understand is that preplanning can take away much of the stress of preparing their first Thanksgiving dinner menu. With these tips a new cook can prepare a full holiday meal. Read more »

Turducken

There is more than one way to do almost everything. This includes preparing the Thanksgiving turkey. We all know just how good a slow roasted turkey from the oven tastes. If you’re looking for something a little different this year, here are some other choices for creating a turkey wonder that’s a bit different from the norm, but just as tasty.

Barbequed Turkey – We put everything else on the grill, why not a turkey too? Grilling a turkey gives it a unique flavor and texture much like chicken parts grilled to perfection for a family outing. The difference is that here we are grilling an entire turkey at once. Instead of putting the turkey on the grill slats, it is placed in a baking pan over the flames. This way, the turkey can be basted and seasoned prior to and during the cooking process. As the turkey nears doneness, add your favorite sauce to it for an extra kick. Read more »

For many, the biggest part of the day on Thanksgiving is spent in the kitchen. There are dishes to prepare, meat to cook, and desserts to make. When the cooks finally get to sit down it is at the Thanksgiving table to join their family and friends in devouring the meal he or she has worked so hard to put together.

Here are some ideas for meal planning this Thanksgiving to help you spend less time in the kitchen and more time actually enjoying the holiday festivities. Read more »

Most adults in the United States understand the importance of Thanksgiving, held on the last Thursday of November. Our friends in Canada celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. People gather together with family and friends to share a meal reminiscent of the first feast shared between the Indians and the Pilgrims.

A Thanksgiving gathering can consist of many people or just a few, and provides an opportunity for everyone to give thanks for what each has in his or her life. Typically, there is a huge meal, usually with turkey, dressing, and all the side dishes that go with this prominent feast day. Here are just a few ideas if you’re looking for something different this Thanksgiving. Read more »