What is Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was the only time the Europeans were actually given land by the Native Americans
It was only through the giving nature of the Native Americans that the Europeans survived
Enjoy the holiday, but remember the Native Americans at this time.

Traveling to the New World was not an easy venture for the settlers. The area where the ship made landfall had belonged to the Patuxets. Once they had arrived at what was to be known as "Plymouth Rock", disease and the rough elements claimed many of the Europeans. Of the 110 first settlers, only 50 survived the first gruesome winter.

The nearest neighbors were the Wampanoags, a civilized tribe ruled by Massasoit. The chief and his people accepted the Pilgrims and helped them. Squanto, a lone survivor of the Patuxets, made his home with this new inhabitants and taught them how to survive in this new and challenging land.

At one point, a daily ration of food for a Pilgrim was 5 kernels of corn. With a simple faith that God would sustain them, no matter what, they pulled through. History records that not a single one of them died from starvation that winter. Not a one.

Without the help of the Native Americans, the Puritans would never have survived. American Indians taught them about the soil, and crops to grow, and everything about the land.

The harvest of 1623 brought a surplus of corn, so much that the Pilgrims were able to help out the Indians for a change. So joyous were they that they celebrated a second Day of Thanksgiving and again invited Massasoit to be their guest.

He came, bringing with him his wife, several other chiefs and braves. All sat down to a feast of 12 venison, 6 goats, 50 hogs and pigs, numerous turkeys, vegtables, grapes, nuts, plums, puddings and pies. But, lest anyone forget, all were given their first course on an empty plate.

They were each given 5 kernels of corn.

Edward Winslow, in one of the only two recorded accounts of the day, said:
"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

In 1659, Massasoit sold a tract of land to Miles Standish and others of Duxbury. This is the only land the Pilgrims had a true right to inhabit.

I am, obviously, a writer. I am passionate about getting the word out about Native American issues, but yet I'm not really political or a radical. I am a Mom and a proud Grandma who is much like most other Moms and Grandmas! I have my own charitable organization, collecting and delivering items to neighboring Indian reservations. I love the Black Hills of South Dakota, and I go up there as often as possible.

I love to cook, and have been called "The Kitchen Cupboard Cook" because being a single parent taught me to make a meal from practically nothing and make it taste good! That's me, in a nutshell! (And if you knew me, you'd know that's right where I belong, in a nutshell!)

What we celebrate today as Thanksgiving is not a happy occasion for Native Americans. Often, on Thanksgiving, the Native Americans will have such activities as bingo games, or other social get togethers. I like to try to attend one of these, and bring along something to give as a prize at their games, like a space heater.
I do not condemn Thanksgiving celebrations, they are a tradition for me as well!

History speaks for itself as far as the Europeans and the Native Americans over time. Today, we give little thought about the origins of Thanksgiving, but we do celebrate a time-honored tradition. If only there were a way to combine our giving of thanks with acknowledgment of how we came to be where we are today.

Thanksgiving became a National Holiday in 1789, marked by a speech by George Washington, who said, in part:
"...Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us."

Most people enjoy having both Thanksgiving and the day following off of work. Football has become a big part of Thanksgiving, and the day after is the official opening of the "Christmas Season" so shoppers head out in groves to get holiday deals.

For the most part, Thanksgiving day involves a feast among family and friends. What foods are served and what activities are enjoyed can vary among families, but some foods have become synonymous with Thanksgiving. You all know what it is, before I even type it:

Turkey

Turkey has been the featured Entrée on many Thanksgiving tables. Some prefer the roasted turkey, some like smoked turkey and yet others fry their turkeys!

In most cases, the turkeys we buy are frozen. Remember, it can take several days for a turkey to thaw in the refrigerator. It is NOT recommended to leave a turkey out on the counter to thaw. (Yes, I've done it too, when it's the night before Thanksgiving and the darn thing STILL isn't thawed!)

Many people begin cooking their turkeys on the night before the holiday, and cook on a low setting of 250, all night. (My Mother had a tendency to do this as she got older) Most folks, however, begin their turkey preparation early Thanksgiving morning.

Methods of preparing the turkey vary. I have developed a ritual based partly on what my own Mother did, and what I've found enhances the taste of the turkey.

1/4 lb. Butter
1/4 tsp. Sage
1/4 tsp. Poultry seasoning
pinch salt
pinch pepper

Let the butter soften, and mix in the sage and poultry seasoning. Rub this generously over the entire outside, and inside of the turkey

My Mother wasn't much of a cook, but she could sure make some delicious stuffing! My entire family is fanatical about stuffing. We could even be called obsessive. Okay, we've been known to form angry mobs when people use "Boxed" stuffing on Thanksgiving.

My Family recipe ends up being somewhat of a sage bread pudding (as far as texture goes) but every one in our family still uses this recipe (and their own added touches).

Since I am basically a "Pinch of this and a dab of that" cook, I am estimating amounts, it should be pretty close though. Our family had dressing inside the turkey and also a separate casserole dish besides. I told you, we love our stuffing! Since I am cooking for my family, I taste test just about every step of the way (and testing it after adding raw eggs STILL hasn't killed me!) So here we go:

3 Large Loaves Bread (left out overnight and hardened)
1/2-1 tsp. Sage
2 eggs
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1 c. celery (diced)
1 c. onion (diced)
1 can Chicken broth (or more to taste)
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Water
turkey hearts diced (optional, I don't do this, my sister does)

Break the bread into pieces. Do NOT crush, do NOT crumble, break the bread and put it into a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Give it a taste test. The mixture should be somewhat watery, but not too much. Let's say "extremely moist". If you make it too watery, adding fresh bread is fine. Once your stuffing tastes up to your standards, stuff the turkey and place any remaining stuffing in a casserole dish.

**I should note that if these instructions are not followed to the letter, my Mother WILL come back and haunt you. The only two things she is known for having cooked well is this stuffing, and her Chili

You just can't have Thanksgiving turkey without the fixin's. Here are some of my favorites. Some are traditional to my family, and others I have added to the tradition.

Smashed Potatoes Yes, smashed. With a real potato masher, but because there are always bits of whole potato left (which is how we like it) we say smashed potatoes.

Green Bean Casserole Your basic green beans, cream of mushroom (or cream of celery) soup, and Fried Onion.

Corn Because it's what the Native Americans taught us to grow, and what the pilgrims literally lived on that first rough winter.

Home made dinner rolls Ok, frozen, thawed and baked are acceptable as well. :)

Indian Frybread These are normally used for Indian tacos but are just as delicious just spread with butter and/or honey. *Recipe below

Pumpkin or Sweet Potato Pie Yum. Either one. Yum. **Recipes below

Indian Fry Bread
5 Cups flour
teaspoons baking powder
1 pinch of salt
1 pinch of sugar

Add milk until mixture is completely wet
roll lump of dough onto flour covered area
Kneed dough slightly
Put back into bowl and let rise for 1 hour

Pinch off egg size portions and flatten into circles
Heat 2 inches of oil in large pan
Place flatten circles in hot oil and cook on both sides until dough is thoroughly cooked.