Thanksgiving 2009
(Table setting, Preparing food (with our new baby “Cipollina” in the background), Turkey platter and green beans, Roberto carving the turkey)…
I am not ashamed to say that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I love the idea of a huge public harvest festival where people are showcasing meals using seasonal ingredients on their tables all over the United States without even thinking about it! This tradition of giving thanks for the harvest is an old one, and one that I try to celebrate in our home throughout the year. It very much defines my relationship to the natural world and to the food we eat. For me, that is what Thanksgiving is β the last openly public harvest festival. It is not a celebration of the friendship between pilgrims and Native Americans because frankly, that Thanksgiving is a myth and the reality of it is not one that I would want to celebrate.
That being said, I love the food at this time of year. On this blog I often talk about my love for autumn foods , and at Thanksgiving, I can have many of them on my table at one sitting. I was very fortunate this year to have the baton passed to me, to host Thanksgiving at our house. In past years we have spent Thanksgiving with either set of parents, but this year, they decided I should be the one to host everyone. Honestly, this was a long held dream of mine, to be able to prepare a seasonal harvest menu that incorporates family favorites with my personal touch. A meal made in heaven! π
We were very thankful that my stepmother, Kayzie is a wine distributor, and checked 6 bottles of wine onto her flight for us to enjoy at dinner.
I hope to have many opportunities in the future to prepare this meal for family and friends. I am sure that it will be especially seasonal and full of ambiance when we move to Vermont. Especially when we can showcase foods we have grown and harvested ourselves, or at least those harvested within our community.
So I see a future of varied Thanksgiving dinner menus based on what is available and delicious that year, much like a harvest festival should be.
(Pumpkin ravioli, cranberry sauce and sweet potato casserole)
This was our menu this year:
Pre Meal Course:
Roasted Chestnuts
Cabot Vintage Reserve Cheddar Cheese
Clementines
Smoked Almonds
Hot Bourbon Toddies
First Course:
Homemade Pumpkin Ravioli with Sundried tomatoes in oil and toasted pine nuts with Vermont (organic) Raw Farmstead cow’s milk Feta
Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc
Second Course:
* Vermont Pasture Raised Turkey (“Henrietta”) from Applecheek Farm (a farm down the street from our place in Vermont)
* Sausage Stuffing with Pumpkin Oatmeal bread from Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day (made with wheat flour from Butterworks Farm (a farm in Vermont)
* Reclaimed Green Bean Casserole β made with all organic ingredients (including the onion rings)
* Mashed Potatoes with traditional turkey gravy (with bourbon)
* Cardamom-Orange Cranberry Sauce
* Sweet Potato Casserole
Oregon Pinot Noir
Dessert:
Indian Pudding with Bailey’s Whipped Cream
I hope all of my US based bloggers and readers enjoyed their own Thanksgiving Day celebrations! Happy Holidays!
dawn - November 30, 2009 at 5:51 pm
wow Jenn! a feast indeed. I’m glad you’re moving this way soon as I can just come over to your house next year and eat. LOL I tease.
Pumpkin ravioli eh? Oh man.
Love the new little guy. Once you move back I can now be your petsitter for the wee ones!! I might not give them back though, is that ok?
Mardi @eatlivetravelwrite - November 30, 2009 at 6:13 pm
What a great sounding feast and I love that you named your turkey. My husband does that with animals and prok bellies etc….
Aggie - November 30, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Looks mouthwatering!!! What a delicious spread Jenn! And your new baby is adorable!
Kris - November 30, 2009 at 6:40 pm
What a feast!
Jenny @ Nourished Kitchen - November 30, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Beautiful work, Jenn! I’m enamored of autumn foods as well. There’s such beauty in the seasonality of harvests. I’ve wanted to make an Indian Pudding for ages. I’m going to give it a shot this week, I think.
Lys - November 30, 2009 at 7:01 pm
What a meal Jenn! That’s it – I’m going to have to visit y’all in Vermont (or you guys will have to come to Philly). Love the new pup’s name btw!
Pam - November 30, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Glad to see ya post again Jenn! Awe love your new lil pup…so cute and dainty!
Food looks so heavenly!
Enjoy!
Joan Nova - November 30, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Thanksgiving is my favorite meal too! Your menu was beautiful. I particularly love the idea of the stuffing made from pumpkin oatmeal bread. Leave it to you to create a gourmet and locally organic green menu!
Peter G - November 30, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Stunning Jenn…a true celebration of the harvest and of local ingredients. I echo Joan’s thoughts on that stuffing! All the best!
Jen of a2eatwrite - November 30, 2009 at 8:08 pm
This sounds heavenly, Jenn. I’m sure you did everyone proud!
Anthony Guaydacan - November 30, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Everything looks great! I’ve got tons of left over turkey. Green chile turkey enchilada cassarole is always a favorite around this time of year. I was thinking of maybe doing a turkey and dumplings this year. Any ideas?
Adam - November 30, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Simply fantastic buddy! Seeing how I live away from my fam now, can you pencil me in for next year? π
Love how creative but yet close to the heart your sides are. I think it’s a wonderful way to round up the harvest year π
Glad all is well on the moving north homefront!
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie - November 30, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Looks like your Thanksgiving was wonderful, and everything looks perfectly delicious!
Bob - November 30, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Oh wow, great stuff! That turkey looks awesome. Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday too and I’m not ashamed either. π
Bellini Valli - November 30, 2009 at 11:13 pm
It sounds like you had a wonderful harvest menu with Henrietta, Cipollina and the rest of the family.Looking forward to seeing what you do with the leftovers:D
Maria - November 30, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Lovely meal Jenn! Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of mine as well. You created a great menu to honor the day.
momgateway - December 1, 2009 at 12:36 am
What a lovely spread! Thanksgiving is also one of my favorite holidays!
Jenn - December 1, 2009 at 2:37 am
Wow!! I love that menu. Next year I’m coming over to your house for Thanksgiving!!
NΓΊria - December 1, 2009 at 5:18 am
Did you say 6 bottles of wine??? That wonderful spread of food and the drinking, surely made your Thanksgiving a Meal to remember :D.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your growing family :D. She is supercute!!!!! Cipollina and Pepperoncino… wouldn’t it be a great tittle for a Disney Film?
Much love darlingβ₯
kat - December 1, 2009 at 5:34 am
spectacular gathering and lots of food!
DebinHawaii - December 1, 2009 at 6:39 am
It looks like a wonderful meal–now you’ll be hosting every year! π
Happy Cook - December 1, 2009 at 8:41 am
Wow looks like you had a wonderful celbration and just looking to all that delicous food i am really hungry.
Any leftovers for me π
Natashya - December 1, 2009 at 10:31 am
What a lovely feast! You guys look great, too. π
kat - December 1, 2009 at 11:03 am
Wow, that is a feast!
Michele - December 1, 2009 at 11:24 am
I know exactly what you mean! I can’t wait to have room to host Thanksgiving. It is definitely something I’m looking forward to! Your feast sounds lovely and moving to vermont sounds awesome! My boyfriend always talks about his best Christmas which was when his whole family rented a house in vermont and celebrated Christmas there.
Bianca @ South Bay Rants n Raves - December 1, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Sounds wonderful! I’m still full from Thanksgiving. For me it was a very traditional meal. My inlaws are all Betty Crocker so there were a lot of pies & cakes for dessert!
Sandy - December 1, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Oooh, sounds so lovely. Love the photos and your site!
Sandy
Arlene (MOM) - December 1, 2009 at 2:27 pm
This was as good as it looks. Thank goodness for the long walks on the beach.
lisaiscooking - December 1, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Sounds like a wonderful meal! You must have had a fantastic time.
Ivy - December 1, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Wow, did you do all these by yourself? Great job. Everything sounds wonderful. Chipollina is so cute!!
Toni - December 2, 2009 at 12:39 am
Oh my….I think you even outdid my sister, and that’s not easy!
I’m with you on this holiday. I love autumn harvest foods – the colors and the variety of flavors.
And Cipollina? Puh-leeeez! Adorable!
Ben - December 2, 2009 at 11:52 am
I too love Thanksgiving for the celebration of the seasonal food, the harvest and the time spent with loved ones. The other myth has never been a reason for me to celebrate it. And you def prepared a feast! And Cipollina is so cute. So you now have 2 babies? Your family is growing very fast π
Janice - December 2, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I like your approach to Thanksgiving, it makes more sense to me over in the UK than the way it is usually portrayed. Your meal sounds delicious.
elly - December 3, 2009 at 12:12 am
What an awesome sounding Thanksgiving menu, Jenn. YUM! I hope you had a great one!
Dharm - December 3, 2009 at 6:46 am
What a spread!! Happy Thanksgiving!
SippitySup - December 4, 2009 at 2:43 am
very inspiring menu. I am sure it was delicious. GREG
Michelle - December 4, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Mmmmmm….sounds super yummy.
Jill McKeever - December 8, 2009 at 11:45 am
I love the second photo with your sweet pup coming into the kitchen looking to help clean the floor. I love sugar-dogs.