Thanksgiving Feast

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes but the First Thanksgiving likely included wildfowl, corn, porridge and venison. (Bettmann / Corbis)

History

The original Thanksgiving dinner as documented in the journal/ledger of William Bradford (Plymouth colony Governor), consisted of:

  • Fowl (Turkey, Swans, Ducks & Geese)
  • Deer/Venison
  • Lobster & Seal
  • Mussels, Claims, Bass & Oysters
  • Local Veggies (Corn, Peas, Carrots, Cabbage, Spinach, Lettuce, Potatoes & Turnips)
  • Herbs, Onions, & Nuts to dress the Fowl
  • Roasted Pumpkin Gourd Custard Mixture (Desert)

What Dishes Have Become a Part of the Traditional American Thanksgiving?

  • Fowel or Turkey
  • Herbs and Onions to dress the Turkey
  • Veggies made into many succulent side dishes
  • And of course the staple Pumpkin Pie evolved from the Roasted Pumpkin Gourd Custard Mixture

Location:

Roseburg, Oregon. We spent 3 days at my mother’s house.

Day & Time:

Our Thanksgiving celebrations spanned from Wednesday evening on the 22nd of November 2017 to Friday the 24 of November 2017. We stayed at my mother’s house throughout the duration of our celebrations.

People Attending:

My aunt Yvonne, Uncle Francis, mother Rebecca and her significant other Dino, my aunt Yvonne, her friend Hollie who happens to be retired chef (who happened to cook our entire Thanksgiving dinner), my husband Ronald, his mother Mary (my mother-in-law), and myself Shaleen as well as my two children Austin and Daphnie.

Who Prepared the Feast and Why:

My maternal aunt Yvonne’s friend, Holly who is a retired Chef prepared the Thanksgiving feast. Hollie flew up from Denver Colorado and Yvonne from Sonoma California.They arrived in Roseburg Oregon, on Monday night prior to thanksgiving,. Yvonne and Hollies intentions were to prepare a feast for themselves, and the rest of our family, mostly because they have not seen us in 10 years. Although the recent fires that devastated Sonoma California also had something to do with it. Yvonne’s son had lot his home, and she is making a point to live life and spend time with her family and friends. This was a way of reuniting while none of the nuclear kinship families had to partake in the preparation. We got to engage in conversations activities together as a family which we have not done in 10 plus years.

Thanksgiving 2017 Menu:

  • Appetizers: Crackers (2 kinds), Olives (3 kinds), Artisian Bre, Cheese Platter (6 Kinds) & shrimp w/cocktail sauce
  • Drinks: White Wine, Red Wine, Beer, Water, Chocolate Milk
  • Entree: Turkey
  • Sides:
    • Rolls (6 kinds)
    • Green Bean Cassarole
    • Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
    • Stuffing
    • Traditional German Cranberry Dish (passed down 5 generations)
    • Tart Cranberry Dish
    • Sweet Potatoes
  • Dessert: Pumpkin Pie paired with Fresh Blackberries and Umpqua Blackberry Ice-Cream
Thanksgiving Day Feast paired with a nice white wine. Pumpkin pie was served as dessert although I did not eat it due to an allergy.

 

an appetizer plate minus the shrimp oh, that the entire family and friends ate while awaiting the feast.
The amazing and large turkey prior to carving.
Turkey carved ready to be plated.
Candy marshmallow sweet potatoes fresh, stuffing, and green bean casseroles made with fresh green beans.
Green bean casserole and mashed potatoes.
My grandma’s recipe of a German cranberry dish. Ingredients are whipped cream layered over cranberry (Jelled) and sliced layered over saltine crackers. This is a great example of how my kinship celebrates Thanksgiving and in corporate Traditions from previous generations.
Plates and flatware, roll five different types, butter, and a tart whole cranberry dish. A traditional dish from my aunt’s friend Holly who made the entire Thanksgiving Day Steve’s family. This Incorporated a tradition from a family that is outside of my immediate kinship group.
Pumpkin pie before it was plated. This was the staple of dessert.
Plated traditional pumpkin pie paired with and Umpqua vanilla ice cream with Blackberry ribbons, topped with fresh blackberries. A beautiful desert.