Chapter 1
For me personally, whenever Thanksgiving comes we don’t always celebrate it due to the fact that in my culture there’s no such thing. However, when we do celebrate Thanksgiving, it smells wonderful. Every morning in the kitchen is where the action of the day begins. The clattering of pots and pans create an alarm for the family to wake up. Then comes the regular breakfast before we start preparing for dinner. My mom takes out the turkey that has been thawing for the last 2 hours and grabs the spices. During that time I’m in charge of making side dishes. I start off with the zucchini/squash bread. From washing the zucchini and peeling the squash I smell the enticing yet savory smell of the spices coming together. My mother first takes some pre-bought seasoning from the store and lathers the turkey, she then takes her secret seasoning and uses that as the last bit. She then places it in the oven which was preheated to 350 degrees. She gets to take a break while I start mixing the bread together and add it next to the turkey; baking for about an hour and a half before resting for the rest of the day. But, without anyone looking I sometimes take bits and parts of the resting bread. It’s too tempting not to. The taste of a creamy, buttery, sweetness, just coating your mouth just tells you to have to eat more. Later in the afternoon, we start to make soups of all sorts, the smell of ginger and garlic filling the air with and herbal savory smell adding this warm aura throughout the rooms within the house. Then we start to make the stir-frys; which consisted of green beans, rice, and noodles. Speckled with the bits of cut-up vegetables it looked gorgeous; a small masterpiece which would only sadly last that day before being devoured. The beans carried a crunchy and tender texture that went well with turkey and the fried rice. It balanced the dish by giving it a nice refresher as you move into the next dish. We usually go-to soups and noodles next. Soups and noodles consisted of something sweet and the other savory. Whatever, soup you chose you usually went with the other in noodles. The sweetness of the hot soup would be countered by the savory, springy, fried noddles and vise versa. And then we would finish off with the baked bread talking with each other how was the day for each of us. Now back then when I was a kid. My mom used to serve fish too. Baked and in soups; it would fill the kitchen with this putrid and sour smell. In general, I hate fish, from the look to the smell. For me it’s too strong, the smell of a fishy and onion just made me want to hide underneath my bed. We used to also make hand made noodles. They were delicious. We made homemade pork or chicken broth, seasoning it with multiple spices like lemongrass and added out homemade noodles. The noodles making the soup thick and creamy. But, it takes half of the day and by that time we wouldn’t have the bread or side dishes done. For my cousins, they make this special banana leaf rice. After washing the rice they shape it into a rectangle on top of a clean banana leaf to then fold it and steam it in the rice cooker. It by itself adds this nice sweet but mellow aroma. But then if you want to taste the sweetness then they would add a bit of honey in the rice before steaming it. It’s nice and easy to make and the smell isn’t very strong. From the enticing savory and sweet smells coming from the various food what is the most important to remember for is the time that is spent with the family while making the foods. And thanks for what we have now and around us.
AND HERE ARE SOME RANDOM THANKSGIVING POEMS.
What is Thanksgiving?
A holiday?
A feast?
The Mayflower
The Pilgrims and Indians?
It is a welcome for all
It is a time for prayer and faith
It is a time for all to help and share
It is time to be thankful
Gather around in this warm parade
Family and Freinds let us share this table and dinner
May we bless the coming year and value for what we have
And pray that the memories from today will help us find our way
Why I love Thanksgiving.
Each year on Thanksgiving Day
There is always food
And a cherry mood
Family and Freinds come along
And dance in the gentle song
Hear the wind and autumn leaves
The crunch and snap in the soon winter breeze
Food begins and prayer starts
Turkey and gravy
Ham with corn
Pumpkin Pie and Coffe with Cream
Fill the table with oncoming warmth.
After the fill of plenty begins the talk
Of blessing, hope, and faith
Just before the chime of eight
All leave saying goodbye
And then waiting for next year with an eager vibe.
