Time to Give Thanks
November is a time to give thanks for everything around us. We enjoy our families and friends and show our appreciation on Thanksgiving. Every year, on the fourth Thursday of November (this year it is November 22nd), annual tradition brings families and friends together for a feast of thanks. Originally a thanks to God by the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony who survived a brutal winter safely, the first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days and provided food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Native Americans. Today’s Thanksgiving feast has many similarities in the foods that were served: berries, fruits, pumpkin and squash.
Melissa’s wants to celebrate with you, by offering some serving suggestions to enhance your current day Thanksgiving Day feast; Try mixing in grains with your favorite stuffing recipe to add some nutrition. Add fresh cranberries or dried cranberries and you have a delicious healthy side. Other fun appetizers are dragon fruit slices placed on top of a Starfruit slice, then topped with a dollop of yogurt. Try simple Melba toast rounds topped with Melissa's Sun Dried Tomato Pesto mixed with cream cheese. Everyone will love it and it is fast and simple to make.
Planning ahead is important for a successful holiday meal. Prepare your turkey early in the morning and cook it all day to get the aroma in the air. Use a turkey "bag" to insure a moist turkey and it basically takes care of itself (no basting). You can even toss your veggies in the bag with the turkey. Use plenty of baby fingerlings, baby carrots and even pearl onions or boiler onions to serve as a tasty side dish. Melissa’s new steamed carrots are delicious served sprinkled with cinnamon and a dash of sugar. Organic baby yams are always a hit served casserole style topped with marshmallows! Fresh cranberry sauce and fresh mashed potatoes will be perfect sides, along with the green bean casserole that everyone loves and looks forward to every holiday season. Make is simple and easy, but tasty and filling.
After Thanksgiving, Hanukah and Christmas are right behind. This year the first night of Hanukah is in early December on the 8th at sundown. Generally a family feast is served before the Hanukah menorah is lit. Potato latkes (or pancakes) are served with sour cream and apple sauce. Children play spin the dreidel and anxiously await opening a gift for the first night.
Christmas is Tuesday, December 25th this year. The night before Christmas is also a very popular family gathering when many families go to church together. Christmas Day families gather for fun and food, and often a large feast similar to Thanksgiving.
Be sure to serve plenty of fresh vegetables before and during your holiday meals to help offset all the wonderful foods you will be eating!
