American Thanksgiving

[Yuri]

Just an advance wish to all my American friends in hopes that you all have a happy and enjoyable 'Thanks Giving' holiday tomorrow. Stay safe whether travelling to see relatives or those serving overseas!

I am doubly blessed as we Canadians celebrate our Thanksgiving in October (on your Columbus Day) As my wife Cathy is American we get to 'gobble up' turkey twice! (sorry, couldn't resist)

I assume that as Americans you know you could be eating your 'National Bird' this Thursday? A 'Bald Eagle' with all the fixin's just doesn't sound so appetizing!

Benjamin Franklin had various ideas of what should symbolically represent the U.S. and the story varies as to whether he suggested the noble turkey or just thought the artists rendition of the eagle looked too much like a turkey. You guys decide!

http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/turkey.html

No traditional Canadian Goose with "Goose Juice" huh? ('au jus' for you French Canadians)

Three posts in a row? "Someone tell me to put a cork in it!"

Cheers,

Yuri

[TheWatchman]

Thank you very much Yuri. We have 2 days of Thanksgiving in my family and I'm already prepping myself for the feast. Been looking forward to it all week. Everything from seafood, turkey, standing rib roast to oriental foods and everything in between! :) Oh, and how could I forget the pumpkin roll!

[RM]

Watchman,

Your menu put my mouth to watering. It also brought back the memory of the first time my niece decided to break with "tradition", and start her own. Her entree ?......enchiladas. Something was missing....

[TheWatchman]

That reminds me of my late aunt from New Mexico who made the best Mexican food that I've ever had. I'll never forget her enchiladas and other Mexican dishes she would make on Thanksgiving. My mom is the only one that can make those dishes exactly the same.

We're also having Mexican salsa. Only one more sleep til I can enjoy spending the day with lots of family and enjoy excellent food.

[Auburn Annie]

Well I'm cooking 2 turkeys (one for here, one for the family gathering) and there will be ANOTHER turkey, ham, creamed onions, mashed potatoes, hot buttered rolls, homemade turkey gravy, stuffing, salads, goulash (for something different) and an array of desserts like Aunt Jan's ice cream and oreo cookie sheet cake, apple, pumpkin and pecan pies, brownies, chocolate-peanut butter bon bons, fudge, and spiced nuts. Add the wines and whiskeys (and soda for the kids) and we all have something to be thankful for - including great weather (and for the travelers, no snow!!!!)

[charlene]

Travel safe, eat hearty and ENJOY!
Char

[Jennifer]

Happy Thanksgiving!

Were headed to my parents house for todays dinner. Looking forward to turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and more. Actually I am off to take a long walk w/ doggy now to try to offset some of the inevitable damage to my waistline!

[Auburn Annie]

There's nothing like the smell of turkey roasting in the oven to make a house feel like the holidays.

I made the cinnamon rolls early (our daughter insists on them for all major holidays, lol), cooked the bacon and am chilling the orange juice for breakfast; we're just waiting on her majesty to awaken so I can make the eggs and toast to go with them.

We're gathering at my sister Lisa's house as we have for the last 11 years - she's the one with 6 kids and a BIG house. At last count there will be 36 for dinner, with almost everybody here. No snow for snowball fights this year but we really do prefer sunny and almost 50 degrees (10 C).

Keep safe and happy, folks!

[Cathy]

Originally posted by Auburn Annie:
Well I'm cooking 2 turkeys (one for here, one for the family gathering) and there will be ANOTHER turkey, ham, creamed onions, mashed potatoes, hot buttered rolls, homemade turkey gravy, stuffing, salads, goulash (for something different) and an array of desserts like Aunt Jan's ice cream and oreo cookie sheet cake, apple, pumpkin and pecan pies, brownies, chocolate-peanut butter bon bons, fudge, and spiced nuts. Add the wines and whiskeys (and soda for the kids) and we all have something to be thankful for - including great weather (and for the travelers, no snow!!!!) Sheesh! I just read this and my blood sugar goes through the roof!

Sounds delicious, Annie.

[Auburn Annie]

It was. There were even more desserts than listed; somebody brought a cheesecake with apple crumble topping, and there were almond Hershey kisses all over the house. I brought blueberry pie home for Rich. I was very good, limiting myself to one dark chocolate macaroon and one small sugar cookie.

After everyone had their fill (the first time around) we had screaming rounds of Pit - a card game - in the living room, the Miami/Detroit game on the TV in another room, and some pickup hoops shooting in the driveway. People kept drifting in and out of the kitchen to pick on leftovers.

I'm still trying to get my hearing back, my feet ache from being on them most of the day, but the day went without drama. My sister Chris got all teary and choked up saying grace whe she got to the part about remembering those who have gone before. The babies slept through most of the chaos; Carter is 3 months old and Lucy was born October 13. All in all a very good thanksgiving indeed.

[ November 23, 2006, 19:27: Message edited by: Auburn Annie ]

[Peter Bro10]

No traditional Canadian Goose with "Goose Juice" huh? ('au jus' for you French Canadians)

Cheers,

Yuri [/QB]Just curious here, has anyone ever cooked one of those Canada geese? we only have millions of them? they're everywhere!! (sorry for drifting off topic slightly...)

[Yuri]

Canada Goose with all the fixin's?

Won't swear to this but I believe the Canada Goose is protected here in Canada as it is a natiional symbol. Under special circumstances they can be culled if a tremendous nuisance, or a danger around airports etc.
I don't believe you can hunt them outright although native Canadians are exempt.

A number of years ago, my canoeing partner and I had been dropped off on a tributary of the Albany River with the intention of canoeing to James Bay.

In spite of the isolated location, we crossed paths with some 'indians' camped nearby.
We found ourselves engaged in small talk with the group while enjoying the last beers we would quaff for a few weeks. They mentioned that they were cooking a Canadian Goose on a spit over an open fire at their camp site. Try as we might, we just couldn't get ourselves invited over to sample this delicacy.

Moose? I've tried. Canadian Goose - no.....
I've heard that beaver tail is another delacacy historically enjoyed. Propped up against a blazing fire, the fat in it will explode and it pops like popcorn.

With my recent arrival home, and everything here in chaotic disarray, we celebrated Thanksgiving with a traditional home made pizza this year.
Enjoyed all the traditional fare vicariously thorough all your mouth watering posts!

I suppose that my American friends are rushing out today to burn up their plasic cards on Christmas sales. Lightfoot under the tree would always be a hit!

Yuri

[Auburn Annie]

Yes, they're protected:

"Canada geese are protected by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929...."

There has been considerable grumbling in places to the effect that a lot of Canadian geese are no longer truly migratory, that they find a nice park or (especially) golf course with short grass and still water and stay put year round. Some municipalities hire dogs to chase them off because of the stuff they leave behind. One goose is not a problem; flocks of them can be. We have quite a few wintering over at a nearby preserve so they don't bother us in the city.

On the other hand we have thousands of crows, (peak estimate around 60,000) some of which have been dissuaded from perching downtown by use of fireworks and other loud noises at dawn and dusk when they gather. The local car washes do a banner business this time of year.

[Cathy]

My ex cooked a goose one time. I think he cooked it a bit too long, because it came out of the oven a lot smaller than it was when he put it in, and it was tough as nails. The dog wouldn't even eat it.

[Jesse Joe]

lol :D Pretty Good Cathy. Only you have the way to tell these stories.

I went to JP Cormier's concert here in Moncton, at The Capitol, Saturday Nov, 18th. Man he's good. And a funny guy. He and Darren played the same Mandolin at the same time. He got behind Darren his Bass player, and put his arm over Darren's shoulder, it's as if he was teaching him to play the crowd really laugh and loved it.

I got my Tribute to Lightfoot CD that he did signed by him and his wife Hilda. I think you will love his concert in Caribou, Maine. Only played one fiddle tune though. :)

[Cathy]

Thanks for the report.
I'm really looking forward to the concert.