Thanksgiving Recipes and Traditions
The American celebration of Thanksgiving stretches back almost 400 years to the year 1621, when English settlers at Plymouth Rock gave thanks for their first harvest. The Pilgrims held a feast together with members of the local Wampanoag tribe who had helped them avoid starvation the previous winter.
In the beginning Thanksgiving was informally observed. But in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as an official national holiday. And since 1939, the official celebration falls on the fourth Thursday in November.
More than any other American holiday, Thanksgiving is centered around food. Turkey is crucial to the meal, but duck or even venison is sometimes served. Seasonal produce with New World origins features prominently: corn, squash, beans, yams, pumpkin, cranberries. In recent years it has become more and more common to accompany the whole meal with a fine American zinfandel or pinot noir wine. But any wine you like, white or red, will do.
Thanksgiving Recipes
Baked Country Ham
(American Southern roasted ham)
Country hams are an old tradition in the American South. Fresh pork legs are salt-cured, sometimes smoked, and then dry aged for several months. Because the meat can be very salty, country hams must be soaked in water for a time to remove excess salt. Baked country ham is the perfect centerpiece for any family celebration. Leftovers are great for breakfast with red-eye gravy or served as a sandwich in buttermilk biscuits. Read more »
Candied Sweet Potatoes
(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)
Also called sweet potato casserole, candied sweet potatoes are a favorite dish in many American households at Thanksgiving and Easter, especially children. They are an extra treat when a layer of marshmallows is baked and browned on top. At Easter, chick- or rabbit-shaped and colored marshmallows called "Peeps" are sometimes used. Read more »
Cornbread Dressing
(American cornmeal bread dressing)
Cornbread dressing is the only dressing there is for many Southerners. It's a favorite for Thanksgiving. The recipe below is a basic foundation for many variations. Each cook has his or her favorite version. Read more »
Cranberry Sauce
(American cranberry condiment)
Cranberry sauce is an essential part of any American Thanksgiving meal. Many families serve it for Christmas dinner too. Some people have to have cranberry sauce in the shape of a tin can; others prefer this more naturalistic version. A less sweet cranberry sauce is served with game birds in northern Europe. Don't limit cranberry sauce to the holidays. Cranberries are a "superfruit" with amazing antioxidant qualities. Use as a side dish at summer picnics or as a spread on your favorite sandwich. Read more »
Pavo Salvadoreño
(Salvadoran roast turkey with sauce)
Pavo, or turkey, is a popular Christmas meal in El Salvador. Salvadoran immigrants to the U.S. often serve it for Thanksgiving as well. The Salvadoran version of roast turkey has a variety of vegetables and spices that are roasted along with the turkey in the roasting pan. This tasty mixture is then pureed and served as a rich sauce to accompany the turkey. Cold leftover slices of turkey with a little sauce are served in sandwiches called pavo con pan. Read more »
Pumpkin Pie
(American pumpkin pastry dessert)
Like roast turkey and cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie is an essential part of any American Thanksgiving meal. Read more »
Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy
(American holiday turkey)
So central is turkey to American Thanksgiving that the holiday is often referred to as Turkey Day. This two-step roasting method produces a golden brown turkey with moist breast meat. Roasting the turkey breast-side down forces juices into the white meat of the breast that would otherwise dry out. Roast turkey is a also a traditional main course for an English Christmas dinner. Read more »
Wild Rice Pilaf
(Canadian-American wild grain pilaf)
Wild rice is not a true rice, rather a type of grass seed that grows wild in the upper midwestern section of the United States and central Canada. Native Americans would harvest the grains from lakes and streams where the aquatic grass grew. Wild rice pilaf is the perfect accompaniment to duck, goose, and game meats. It is also an ideal addition to a Thanksgiving meal. Read more »
