Thanksgiving Traditions – Musings Inspired by This is the Feast by Diane Z. Shore
After reading This is the Feast by Diane Z. Shore (my review here)and having her share a recipe for a sweet potato casserole got me all excited for Thanksgiving. This is the Feast is an excellent picture book to introduce to children the traditions behind this most beloved American holiday. It’s this time of year that we remember the history of our country as well as contemplate upon our many blessing and what it is that we are thankful for.
Long time readers of my blog realize that for some odd strange reason, I am really drawn to books about the suffering of the human condition. Why? Perhaps because I always come away with gratitude for the simple things in life. When I think about it, I am rich beyond measure. I have a house, two cars, a washing machine, dishwasher, oven, fridge, TV, DVD player, game systems, clothes, food, and all kinds of other “stuff.” I am safe and protected. I don’t have to fear what today or tomorrow will bring me. What right do I have to complain about my life? There are so many other people out there that don’t know where their next meal is going to come from, do not know where they’ll sleep at, do not know if it’s safe to go out on the streets. My heart reaches out to those in the world who are less fortunate than myself. I thank my God every day that I was born into such privilege.
While we should be mindful of these blessings all year, Thanksgiving is a great time to step back and truly remember that which we should be grateful for. And that of course, involves stuffing ourselves full of Turkey with our families, watching a parade or two, and maybe watching some football (I say maybe because luckily for me, this does NOT happen in our house, my husband hates sports!).
If you are like my family we eat the same exact foods every single year. I thought I would share with you my pumpkin pie recipe, which is the BEST! And I have a confession to make, I’ve never made it with canned pumpkin. We always grow our own pumpkin and then I cook it, mash it, and freeze it in the exact quantities I need for the pie. Overachiever? Maybe. But I really regret the year we made pumpkin pie as our neighbor gifts for Christmas. I’m never doing that again!
My Dad’s Pumpkin Pie Recipe:
3 1/2 cups massed cooked pumpkin
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups milk (1/2 of it canned)
6 eggs
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
4 T white sugar
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cloves
Mix all ingredients together. Fill pie pan 2/3 way (I use premade pie dough), transfer to oven rack and then fill to brim. Cook at 350 for about 50-60 minutes. Watch it and over pie crust with foil to prevent burn. Check to see if pie is done by inserting knife into center. Serve with real whip cream (away with that fake stuff!). Makes 2-3 nine inch deep pies.
What traditions do you have in your home for Thanksgiving? If you’d like to post your favorite recipe I’d love to have them!
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Category: Bookish Musings & Miscellany
Tags: blog tour, Kidz, photos of my family, recipes
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Thanks for the recipe. I think I’ll try it, but I won’t be growing my own pumpkin. I plan to post some recipes next week (after Thanksgiving) so I will have some pictures too.
on November 19th, 2008 at 4:30 pmI appreciate your thoughts about being grateful for all the “stuff” we have. That pumpkin pie recipe looks delicious. I use my grandmother chiffon recipe- it’s simmered on the stove and poured into a baked shell to set. I tried once making it from fresh pumpkin but the task of turning a hard pumpkin shell into a nice smooth cooked puree was too much for me. Any pointers?
on November 19th, 2008 at 7:01 pmKathy – I know – I did say overachiever. I have yet to make this recipe with canned pumpkin.
Jeane – My sister-in-law also uses her own pumpkin but her pie is really, really stringy. And I can say that because nobody in my family reads my blog. I make it just like I would mashed potatoes. Chop it up, boil it, and then use the electric beater. It’s always been really smooth for me.
on November 20th, 2008 at 10:59 pmOwn pumpkins?? Wow! I’m super impressed. I’ve never made a pumpkin pie by myself before. I’m usually the helper. But I can make a mean apple pie!
on November 21st, 2008 at 12:50 pmMy attempt was really lumpy. I didn’t have a mixer or blender at the time, it was pretty ludicrous to even try. And I think I didn’t cook it enough…. someday maybe I’ll try again.
on November 22nd, 2008 at 9:17 pmThis year I made pumpkin cheesecake. I had to deseed the pumpkins and roast them to create the puree. I completely understand now why you regretted doing the pumpkins for Christmas. The two pumpkins I had were not that big and it took me about 45 minutes to get them deseeded.
on November 28th, 2008 at 9:29 am