Thanksgiving Memories

We never had turkey for Thanksgiving when I was growing up. Thanksgiving was just another day except we didn't have to go to school. Usually there were chores for us to do on the farm that day, i.e. triming leaves from sugar cane, or going to the edge of the "back 40" to cut broom straw to make brooms to sweep the floor. That seemed to be a favorite thing to do Thanksgiving afternoon. It was fun for us to have a day together with our parents and grandparents. Some of the foods I remember having for Thanksgiving were fresh turnips, sweet potatoes (cooked many ways), cooked apples and fried apple pies, and usually fresh pork and rice cooked together. Sometimes we had stewed chicken and dumplings and those were my favorite. And chicken and dressing in later years.

Then when I got married and was living Germany I decided to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. I got out my Betty Crocker cookbook to see how to cook a turkey. I didn't removed the giblets from inside the turkey and was surprised to find them when I sliced the turkey! No wonder I couldn't get much stuffing inside. Since then I have cooked many turkeys for Thanksgiving.

For the past 20 years we have spent many Thanksgivings at my cousin's barn out in the country where they have a community Thanksgiving meal, inviting family and neighbors who are old and alone during the holidays. We always enjoy going there and visiting with cousins that we sometimes only see once a year. They clean the farm equipment barn and place tables inside for the food that everybody brings. There are always turkeys, hams,
barbecue that cooks all night, rice, and so many vegetables and desserts. You never go away hungry. We've only missed a few over the years when we would be away. This year we will be going to SC to visit our son and family and will have to miss "Thanksgiving in the Barn."


Pictured here are some of the cousins eating in the barn.