Everyone loves Thanksgiving,
but with nearly 400 years of celebrations behind it, sometimes it can be hard for a host to honor tradition while also making
the event his or her own. Forget about offloading the turkey and stuffing in
the name of innovation, instead give Thanksgiving a tradition friendly face lift with inventive modern appetizers and a group
activity that articulates the spirit of the holiday – showcasing your thankfulness for the blessings of being an American
by remembering service members deployed abroad.
This month, we will be
focusing on menu and mood. As for decorations, we know that you already have
Grandma’s China, a traditional tablecloth
and some servingware with sentimental meaning. The goal here is to freshen up
the edges of the holiday, while keeping many of the familiar and traditional touches that members of your family look forward
to from year to year.
Menu
For the past several
years, pumpkin as a flavor has been making its way out of the pie and into the mainstream.
From ravioli to lattes, pumpkin use is really expanding, so why not keep the traditional flavor and instead of dessert,
use a puree to make an appetizer soup.
Another trend in eating
habits is an increasing year-round use of seafood. So, after your soup course
add a small seafood appetizer. Mini crab cakes or a shrimp boil are easy and
high impact and pair nicely with fall foods. But don’t just offer cocktail
sauce; try the zesty mustard sauce below for an additional dipping option.
Pumpkin Soup – Makes
2 servings
1 14 ½ ounce can fat free chicken
broth
1 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
2/3 cup fat free milk
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp black pepper
Heat ingredients in a
Crockpot of slow cooker on low heat for an hour and then serve in individual soup bowls.
Increase ingredients in proportions as needed based in your number of guests.
Zesty Seafood Mustard Sauce
– Makes 6 servings
1 cup Cleveland Stadium Mustard
1 tsp White Wine Vinegar
¼ tsp Cayenne pepper
1 TBL water
Experience has taught
us that mustard matters. Whenever we are cooking and mustard is required, for
superior taste, we have always found that Cleveland Stadium Mustard is the way to go. Mix
ingredients above and serve in martini glasses for an attractive tabletop addition.
Setting
the Mood
Tens of thousands of
Americans, including many NEO residents, will not celebrate Thanksgiving or the other holidays with their families due to
their deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Start thinking ahead
to the rest of the holiday season, by spending part of your family’s Thanksgiving putting together holiday care packages
for soldiers in these stressful deployments.
Take a potluck approach
and have each family member in attendance bring at item or two to put in your box.
We asked some recently
returned soldiers what items are met with the biggest smiles. Popular choices
are typically in the areas of food items, entertainment items or hygiene items. What
items work best, however, depends on the individual conditions of the specific service member’s deployment. So, when sending to a friend or family member ask them what they would like.
Due to shipping conditions,
be aware that all foods must be nonperishable. Further, because of the extreme
heat and conditions that care packages are exposed to during shipping it is suggested that hygiene items and food items not
be mixed in the same box. Nobody wants to open a box of cookies that has been
covered in shampoo or has been compromised from the fumes associated with certain hygiene items.
In addition to care package
items, after dessert, forget the traditional family charades marathon and instead have each Thanksgiving guest write encouraging
letters to go in your care package. Ask children in attendance to add drawings
as well.
Don’t know a service
member personally, but still want to help? Visit www.anysoldier.com. This website matches
service members seeking care packages with people wanting to put together a package.
Cap off your Thanksgiving festivities
the next day by dropping your care package in the mail on your way out to start your Christmas shopping.
With best wishes for a blessed
holiday, Salut!
Morgan & Brooksie
