The First Thanksgiving Day Spread

Our country's 2nd favorite family holiday will be celebrated this week and feature a bounty of traditional fare. Of course, I'm referring to Thanksgiving Day. Originating in 1621, the day represented a celebration of the harvest gathered by the Pilgrims and the indigenous Wampanoag Indians. Although there were some similar ingredients and foods, the feast looked very different from our current menu including turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, corn, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Some of these foods were on the first Turkey Day table but used in a different manner. Most historians agree on the following five courses:

Priscilla du Preez - UnSplash

Turkey wasn't the star of the table. It more than likely would have been several species of wild game birds like duck and geese. The birds weren't packed with stuffing but seasoned with herbs, onions, and nuts instead. The actual main course was venison, roasted on a spit or used in a hearty stew. Venison is deliciously gamey in flavor and the loin is extremely tender. Healthier than beef because it is very lean. But like beef, some of the cuts are tougher. Use the shoulder for stews, stroganoffs, and bourguignons. Grilled loins are a perfect match with berry-infused sauces or they can be flattened into a scallopini to create venison Marsala.

Allison Marras - UnSplash

Fish and shellfish were plentiful on the first table. Geographically the region is ideal for seafood. With the proximity to the coast, the Pilgrims and Indians had quick and easy access to the ocean's bounty. The area offshore is known as the "Grand Banks." This continental shelf makes a vast area of shallow water that remains cool year round. Mussels were the easiest harvest. A walk along the shoreline made for easy pickings from the rocks. Lobster, clams, oysters, and bass were also on the menu. I enjoy a nice pile of mussels steamed in white wine, garlic, and parsley ... served with a hunk of crusty bread. When I travel to the northeast coast it's time for a lobster roll.

Fruits and vegetables by the bunches adorned the first Thanksgiving Day table. The day originated to give thanks for the bounty of delicious crops harvested in the fall. Vegetable varieties would have included lettuce, spinach, beans, cabbage, and carrots to name a few. Corn though plentiful was not served as it is today. The kernels were removed and ground into meal then boiled down to make a porridge. Numerous types of berries such as blueberries, gooseberries, raspberries, and of course cranberries were on display too. Sorry to say cranberry sauce wasn't present due to the lack of sugar. Try the Parmesan Corn Pudding recipe on my website (geocheftreks.com), it is a perfect sweet and savory compliment for your holiday dinner.

Potatoes, be it russet or sweet, would have had no place at the table. The Spaniards had introduced the starchy tubers to Europeans in the late 1500's. However, they hadn't become popular enough with the masses to be loaded on the Mayflower. Spuds would have been replaced with others ground crops such as onions, parsnips, and turnips. There is nothing like mashed potatoes and rich turkey gravy, probably my wife's favorite selection on Turkey Day. I prefer to use Yukon Gold potatoes with a lot of roasted garlic and whipped together with melted butter and milk. Sweet potatoes or yams peeled, cubed, and roasted in a sweet maple and orange glaze makes a hearty side dish.

Pumpkin Pie is the most traditional holiday dessert ever created. Once again, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, this aromatic finish to the meal could not have been made. The sugar and spice trade routes hadn't yet been established. So there was no sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves, and add to that, wheat flour and butter. All you have left to make a pumpkin pie would be a miracle. Pumpkins and other gourds did make their way to the table, however. They were roasted over hot coals, chopped, and served ... mmmmm! For some variety, I have two decadently rich options. To make Pumpkin Pie Cobbler, mix brown and white sugar with pecans, top any pumpkin batter recipe, and bake. Or, take your favorite chocolate soufflé recipe and sub pumpkin purée and spices for the chocolate. Viola, Pumpkin Soufflé.

Thanksgiving Day isn't only observed in the United States. China celebrates the day in September. The people consume duck eggs and mooncakes. Germans celebrate with public festivals, fireworks, and parades. In Grenada, the day celebrates their liberation by American troops in 1983 from a military coup. In Liberia, Thanksgiving involves a church service. After which, crops are auctioned off and the people return home to a feast similar to ours. There are several other countries that give thanks in the fall with a feast. With our access to foods from our agriculturally blessed country, nothing beats the spread of the American table. The day was created to give thanks and be grateful not just for food but for health, family, and most importantly the one responsible for our creation, our Heavenly Father. Thank God for turkey dinner ... especially the leftovers. Turkey soup for a week!!! Happy Thanksgiving!