Travel Misc

Thanksgiving food traditions are many and varied, but perhaps the most noted are the “Thanksgiving foods” that we indulge in on this day. Thanksgiving is the first full weekend in autumn for most Americans, and many people celebrate it not only as the day after Thanksgiving Day, but as an excuse to get out of the house and do something nice for themselves. Thanksgiving food can also tell you a lot about American life at that particular time of year. If you’ve been fortunate enough to have spent Thanksgiving Day with a family or a group of friends, you know that there’s no place else on Thanksgiving Day where you can get away from all the commercialism and Thanksgiving food and Thanksgiving trivia.

The tradition of Thanksgiving food began with settlers traveling west across the American continent in pursuit of land and food. When they arrived at what would become the present-day state of Texas, they brought with them their traditions and their dishes. Among the most popular dishes in thanksgiving menus have been black-eyed peas, collard greens, corn bread, pumpkin pie, and the classic turkey. The turkey itself has undergone quite a few changes over the years, from the traditional open top skin to the deli-style turkey dinners of today. Turkey has also gone through a number of changes in preparation as well. While historically turkeys were roasted, today most are fried.

Cranberry sauce, which dates back to the middle ages of the Common Era, was a vital part of the traditional thanksgiving dinner menu in the Colonial Period as well as later during the industrial revolution. Today, cranberry sauce is no longer considered a must have; instead, fruit juices, apple cider vinegar, and various sweeteners have taken its place. This change is related to the increased interest in healthy eating and weight loss that is prevalent throughout the U.S.

Dessert was always a staple of thanksgiving feasts – pie, bread, and chocolate sauce were favorites. Because of this, many thanksgiving-themed dishes have evolved over the years. One of the more popular versions found today is cranberry pie. Cranberry pies have a tart cranberry flavor and a rich cream base that goes well with the turkey and ham it is served on. Other versions include strawberry shortcake, chocolate chip cookie, banana pudding, or pound cake.

Another way to keep things interesting on thanksgiving is to add in some main dishes to the main menu. A common practice for thanksgiving main dishes is carving of pumpkins into shapes of fruits or vegetables. Pumpkins, in turn, are traditionally associated with Halloween and Samhain. The reason behind this being that pumpkins give off an air of spookiness and horror, which is often associated with Halloween.

A lot of thanksgiving-themed dishes include roasted turkey as the main course. Roasting turkey is an excellent option as it can be paired with a main dish that goes with it, such as pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie is considered to be the Thanksgiving specialty by most people. Other possibilities include chicken-or-grilled steak or pasta dinner.