This and that: Thanksgiving

Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts

Friday, November 14, 2014

Something to be Thankful For (free printable)

Thanksgiving is approaching. A time to be thankful for all that we have and have been given to us. I have created a picture that you can download and print. All pictures are slightly different and are 8 X 10 printables.

Happy Thanksgiving Canada

This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving and I am sure all my Canadian family and friends are gathering together and enjoying a turkey meal or two. As we enjoy food, family,friends and fun do we remember what Thanksgiving is all about?

Crazy Ingredient Challenge ~ Gingerbread Spice and Onions

It is that time of the month... Crazy Ingredient Challenge. If you haven't heard about this challenge we are given two ingredients to work with from Jutta of Hungry Little Girl and then on the 20th of the month we then show the world what recipe we made with these two ingredients. Some of the past challenges were Broccoli and Pumpkin and Avocado and Caramel. This is the fifth month and I have had so much fun with this challenge. It makes me think outside of the box and cook or bake with ingredients I may have never thought of putting together. If you would like to join our group there is a button at the bottom of this post that will take you to the page with the instructions and how to join. Come and have fun with us... Bring on your creativity.

Foodie Friends Friday ~ Thanksgiving Fixin's #foodiefriendsfriday

I am late today getting my post ready for our Foodie Friends Friday Party... This week we are having a Thanksgiving Fixin' Party. I can't wait to see what you bring... Do you do traditional or untraditional Thanksgiving Dinners?

Cornish Hen with Apricot Glaze and Wild Rice Dressing

Thanksgiving is coming soon and I am not sure if you are like me but a turkey sometimes seems like to much to cook, especially if there is only two for dinner like at our house. My husband isn't a big fan of roast turkey as he thinks it is too dry. So often I will make Cornish Hens, you can make as many as you want or as few as you want. I have made half of this recipe and only had 2 hens and I have double the recipe when I have company. Cornish hens arranged on a platter always looks nice.

Cornish Hen with Apricot Glaze and Wild Rice Dressing

Recipe adapted slightly from Taste of Home 2007

Ingredients:

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup chopped onions (I usually use a little bit more and use red onions)

6 tbsp butter, divided

1 cup cooked wild rice

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

1 tbsp minced fresh parsley

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper ( I don't always put this in)

4 Cornish hens

1/2 cup apricot preserves (I have used peach jelly for this too)

1 tbsp white vinegar

Directions:

In a large skillet, saute mushrooms, pecans and onions in 4 tbsp butter until tender over medium heat. Stir in rice, apricots, parsley, salt ,pepper and cayenne pepper. Remove from heat.

Spoon about 3/4 cup of rice mixture into each hen, tie legs together with string. Place hens on cooking rack, breast side up in baking dish or roasting pan. Melt remaining butter and brush over top of each hen.

Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 1-3/4 to 2 hours or until meat thermometer reads 180 for hens and 165 degrees for dressing.

While hens are cooking place apricot preserve and vinegar in small saucepan, cooking on medium heat until you can mix them together. When hens are done, brush apricot mixture over the top and sides of hens and bake 15 minutes longer.

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Dinner
Cornish Hen with Wild Rice Dressing
Pretzel Salad
Glazed Carrots with Dried Cranberries

Finished Hen

LINKED: Tuesday Tasting, Foodie & Crafts Soiree, Thanksgiving Meal Planning ~ entrees

Monday, October 8, 2012

Butter Tarts and Canadian Thanksgiving

Today, October 8, 2012, the second Monday in October is Canadian Thanksgiving. Yes, Canada has a thanksgiving and it is in October not November like the American Thanksgiving. Did you know that 48 years before the pilgrims gave their thanks in 1621, Martin Frobisher an English explorer held a formal ceremony to give thanks for surviving his long journey to Canada. This ceremony took place in what is known as Newfoundland, in 1578.

The origins of Canadian thanksgiving is more closely connect to the traditions of the European then the Americans. The Europeans had celebrations to thank for the bountiful harvest for many years and this celebration was in October. In Canada for a few hundred years, Thanksgiving was celebrated in late October or early November. It was declared a national holiday in 1879 and at that time November 6th was the day set aside for Thanksgiving. It was on January 31, 1957 that the Canadian Parliament announced that on the second Monday of October, Thanksgiving would be

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to

Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with

which Canada has been blessed...to be

observed on the second Monday in October."

Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving with parades, gatherings of family and friends, pumpkin pies seasonal products and lots and lots of Turkey. Now the meals consist of other foods particularly if the family is of non-European descent. Do you have a tradition that you carry out when you celebrate Thanksgiving? If you do I would like to know.

Growing up my family always had a Thanksgiving meal of turkey with all the trimmings and pumpkin pie. We would at times either get together with my mom or dad's family or have them over. Now as we have grown older and have our own family and live in different parts of the country and the world it is harder to get together. Although the ones that are still living around where we grew up, still get together during the Thanksgiving weekend.

My own celebration of Thanksgiving is kind of hit or miss, depending if I have to work or not. As my husband is Togolese, we really don't have any tradition. This year I did make a bigger meal of cornish hens and a couple of sides. I also made Butter Tarts....something that I think is truly Canadian and something that I have been craving for a long time. I love Butter Tarts and I think this is the first time that my husband tried them and he also said "they aren't bad."

Butter Tarts

adapted for the Lucky Lake Community Rink Cookbook

Ingredients:

Pie crust - either bought or homemade

1/3 cup butter (or margarine)

1 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp milk or cream

1 egg, well beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup raisins (or currants)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Makes 12 tarts

Spray muffin tins with Pam. Roll out pie crust and cut into 5 inch circles and place in muffin tins. Prick bottom of dough. Set muffin tin aside.

In mixing bowl, mix butter and brown sugar together. Add milk and egg and beat until well mix. Add vanilla and then mix in raisins. I measure raisins and let sit in hot water until I am ready to use, drain water and then add to sugar mixture. Fill tart shells about 2/3 full.

Place in oven, bake for 8 minutes at 450 degree oven. Reduce heat to 350 degree and continue to bake until pastry is brown. Enjoy!