Turkey Day Traditions and Delights
Family Histories Traditions
Thanksgiving dates back to the early 17th century when the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated a bountiful harvest together. Since then, many families have established their own traditions over the years, with cooking special dishes and desserts, watching parades, and participating in charitable activities, gathering together, and more.
We have many of our own traditions. Dev says, “As a southern and northern family, we mix up fun recipes like carrot puree and Dyspeptics delight.”
This is a special secret “Turkey Dressing.” Well, not any more, Dev is going to share it here. It’s been a family tradition of hers for years! This recipe which yields stuffing for a 15 pound turkey goes like this:
Ingredients:
2 packages of herb-seasoned dressing
2 cups of heavy cream
1 pound of hot sausage
1 cup of onion, finely chopped
1 cup of celery, chopped fine
1 pound of fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon of butter
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
1 quart of oysters
2 small bottles of stuffed olives
Salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning to taste
Instructions:
Begin by soaking the herb-seasoned dressing in the 2 cups of heavy cream while you prepare the other ingredients.
In a large skillet, cook the hot sausage over medium heat, breaking it up into smaller pieces as it cooks. Once fully cooked, remove it from the skillet and set it aside.
In the same skillet, sauté the finely chopped onions and celery in a small amount of the sausage grease until they become slightly tender. This will add flavor to your stuffing.
In the same skillet, add the sliced mushrooms, a little butter, and the Worcestershire sauce. Sauté the mushrooms until they are tender and slightly browned. Save the liquid that comes from sautéing the mushrooms and add it to the dressing mixture for added flavor.
Cook the quart of oysters until they become slightly curly. Drain them and set them aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the soaked herb-seasoned dressing with the cooked sausage, sautéed onions, celery, and mushrooms, as well as the cooked oysters.
Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning to taste. Be sure to taste and adjust the seasonings to your preference.
Gently fold in the stuffed olives into the stuffing mixture.
Stuff your turkey with delight!
Her other favorite tradition is making a rich Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. Recipe is as follows:
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
The pecans add a satisfying crunch, while the chocolate chips melt into a gooey, chocolatey layer. The addition of bourbon infuses the pie with a delightful, slightly smoky, and complex flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the pecans and chocolate.
For the Pie Crust:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
3 to 4 tablespoons ice water
For the Filling:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups pecan halves
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons bourbon (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract if you prefer a non-alcoholic version)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
For the Pie Crust:
In a food processor, combine the flour and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
While pulsing, gradually add ice water (start with 3 tablespoons) until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, shape it into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to fit a 9-inch pie dish. Place the rolled-out crust into the pie dish and trim any excess. Crimp the edges decoratively.
For the Filling:
Spread the chocolate chips evenly over the bottom of the unbaked pie crust. Sprinkle the pecan halves on top of the chocolate chips.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, bourbon (or vanilla extract), flour, and salt until well combined.
Pour the filling over the chocolate and pecans in the pie crust.
Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for about 50-60 minutes or until the pie is set. It should be slightly puffed and the center should no longer jiggle.
Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
Once cooled, you can slice and serve the Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. You can also garnish it with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.
Enjoy your delicious homemade Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie!
What is your favorite tradition? As a New Yorker, Dev loves the Macy’s Parade, and now also likes the Plymouth Parade. We didn’t even know about that one!
At Thanksgiving it is a time to reflect on the things for which we are truly thankful for. It is a special time of year where when we express gratitude for the blessings in our lives, with true appreciation and positivity. Dev is particularly grateful for her family and health. WE agree. What are you most grateful for?! We can answer that – Y-O-U! We truly appreciate our clients whether first-time home-buyers or repeat clients. And all of you who read our Newsletter, Blog, and Social Media Posts. We thank you!
Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends often come together to celebrate and share a meal. For many, it’s is a chance to reconnect with loved ones and strengthen bonds. Some people see Thanksgiving as an opportunity to give back to their communities. Many engage in acts of charity, such as volunteering at food banks or shelters, like the Pine Street Inn. Helping those in need creates good karma.
Here are some great suggestions for making the most of your Thanksgiving this year!!
Express Gratitude: Embrace the essence of Thanksgiving by taking time to reflect on the things you are thankful for. Share your gratitude with family and friends and encourage them to do the same. A gratitude exercise can set a positive tone for the day. What we focus on expands. When we count our blessings, they seem to multiply!
Take the stress out of the holidays by Planning Ahead: We promise ourselves EVERY year that “Next Year we wont get stressed.” This year, we mean it! Because preparing in advance can help reduce stress on Thanksgiving Day. Make a to-do list, plan your menu, and create a schedule for cooking and other activities. We’ve heard from those who actually do prepare ahead... it works because somehow they manage to stay sane and smile while we stress out with last minute mis-haps.
Get Involved with Loved Ones: Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to come together. Involving and including everyone in the preparations, whether it's cooking, setting the table, or decorating can be a bonding experience, and it is one sure way to get the most out of your holiday. Devon’s mom is an Etiquette teacher so she knows the importance of good table set up and manners.
When was the last time you tried a New Recipe? Experiment with new dishes and recipes to add excitement to your Thanksgiving meal. Incorporate family traditions and favorite foods while also exploring new culinary adventures. We dare you? Challenge your taste buds to new flavors, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Take your time to savor the Meal: Savor the flavors, engage in conversation, and appreciate the effort that went into preparing the meal. Consider sharing what you love about each dish. Put those phones away. Talk with your family and friends. It might surprise you how wonderful this can be. Don’t let another year go by without slowing down a bit and truly taking in all that YOU do have to be grateful for, including your two eyes to read this!
Engage in meaningful conversation and connection. Share stories, memories, and laughter.
Give Back: Thanksgiving is an excellent time to engage in acts of kindness and giving. Consider volunteering at a local charity, collecting donations for those in need, or inviting someone who may be alone for the holiday to join your celebration. Dev is an ace at this and we are inspired to do the same. WE hear over and over that its in giving that you receive. The reason we hear this is because it’s TRUE
Practice Moderation: While it's tempting to overindulge in food and drink, practice moderation to avoid feeling overly stuffed and uncomfortable. It will help you enjoy the day and feel better afterward.
Pay Attention to what you are eating. When you slow down and pay attention and become mindful of what you are putting into your body, well, somehow this wakes you up and you are less inclined to over indulge. But of course, on Thanksgiving most of us do.
Take a family walk! We love this. In our neighborhood we see families walking together all the time, not just on holidays. WE say, any time we can get our family to walk together it is a holiday!!! It creates a wonderful memory too and its’ quite bonding.
Appreciate Differences: Thanksgiving often brings together people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Embrace these differences and engage in open and respectful conversations. I’ts the 21stcentury. Don’t live in the past. Open up....and get aligned with all that is
Reflect on the Meaning: Take a moment to reflect on the deeper meaning of Thanksgiving. Consider what you're thankful for and how you can carry gratitude into your daily life.
Be Mindful of any health guidelines, especially if there are food allergies or sensitivities. Those are real and your guests will truly appreciate your consideration of them.
Remember that Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate and celebrate the people and experiences that bring joy to your life. By focusing on gratitude, connection, and meaningful activities, you can make the most of this special holiday. We truly wish you the happiest and most grateful Thanksgiving!