Blog from Cheshire Franchise
Over the last decade or so, many of us have tried to incorporate cultural festivals into our weekly menu (in part thanks to the great offers put on in Aldi’s Aisle or the Middle of Lidl).
We tuck into haggis on Burns Night, a curry with all the works on Diwali, or stock up on baklawa during Eid, and the same is true for Thanksgiving.
What is Thanksgiving?
For those who don’t know, Thanksgiving is an American holiday that takes place on the fourth Thursday in November to give thanks for the harvest that year. It’s been going since the 17th Century, but now it is very much associated with lots of food, family gatherings, parades, Black Friday and American football.
When it comes to Thanksgiving, food is as important as it is at Christmas, so if you want to celebrate alongside your American friends and get your children to try some new flavours, here are a few things you can expect at a Thanksgiving dinner.
Turkey
In many ways, the Thanksgiving meal looks very similar to our traditional Christmas lunch, with turkey and all the trimmings.
The roast turkey recipe you use can vary depending on preferences, but the general rule is to make sure there is enough for everyone and for leftovers on the days following.
Cornbread stuffing
While turkey (and the accompanying roast potatoes) might be familiar to you and I, the addition of cornbread stuffing is likely to be new.
Bread stuffings are traditional at Thanksgiving dinners, and this recipe from Good Food includes bacon, garlic, sage, semolina, buttermilk and chillies. It can be made vegetarian by simply removing the bacon from the recipe, giving veggie friends something delicious to enjoy on this special occasion.
Mashed potatoes
Typically, there is a choice of both mashed and baked (or ‘roasted’ to you and me) potatoes at Thanksgiving dinner.
Their creamed potatoes are a spectacle themselves, full of flavour and richness, so you don’t need a huge portion to be satisfied.
BBC Food’s recipe for garlic and parmesan mashed potato is a delicious example of what you can expect, with the smooth and creamy dish containing a crispy breadcrumb and parmesan topping.
Delicious vegetable sides
Just like the mashed potatoes, the side dishes are every bit as exciting as the grand turkey centrepiece.
There are lots of different types of vegetable accompaniments you can choose to serve at Thanksgiving, from green bean casserole to parmesan roasted green beans, sweet potato gratin to shredded brussel sprouts, and a classic corn casserole to one-pot creamy greens.
As you can imagine, they all take time and effort to cook, so if you’re going to put on a Thanksgiving dinner, you have to see it as a labour of love - certainly not a quick afterschool meal!
If you don’t have time on a Thursday to prepare it all, do most of the cooking in advance or maybe save your hard work to celebrate at the weekend.
Pumpkin pie
Is there anything more American than pumpkin pie? This pudding is also as autumnal as you can get, making it a perfect choice for a Thanksgiving dessert.
Although not many Brits get busy in the kitchen making pumpkin pie, there’s nothing stopping us as all the ingredients are readily available in the UK.
For the filling, you simply need pumpkin puree, which can be found in large supermarkets. Alternatively, you could make your own by scooping out the flesh of a cooked pumpkin or squash.
The rest of the filling is made by using eggs, sugar, maple syrup, double cream, flour, mixed spice and vanilla extract.
The shortcrust pastry can easily be made from scratch, but you could always skip this step and get a ready-made pastry if you’re running short on time. Serve warm with whipped cream for a truly scrumptious pudding.
Pumpkin pie isn’t the only pie you can end your Thanksgiving meal with, as pecan pie, sweet potato pie, and apple pie are also popular for the celebration.
Whether you’re American or not, teaching children about different foods and festivals from around the world will expand their palate and get them used to trying unfamiliar flavours.
Another way to enhance their appreciation for food is to book a children’s cooking class where they can learn valuable kitchen skills as well.
To find out more about cooking parties, workshops and classes in the north west, get in touch today.