Happy Thanksgiving from the FSA family

Hello Friends:

This is my husband’s favorite time of the year.

Oh, it isn’t because he loves to decorate the outside of the house with white lights that my daughter says make the house look like a castle. And it isn’t for helping with trimming the tree and fighting the crowds at the mall. Wrapping presents has been handed off to our two daughters for the past five years. Really, between you and me, during the Christmas season we refer to him as Scrooge.

My husband loves Thanksgiving. He loves the smell of the turkey roasting in the oven. He can’t wait to savor the flavor of this year’s stuffing (or do you call it dressing?) Passing on the sweet potatoes with their lightly browned marshmallows on top (not his favorite) he chooses the homemade mashed potatoes with noodles. Of course, there is the green bean casserole that for some odd reason I never think to make other times during the year. Topping off the meal with a piece of pumpkin pie with whip cream is the “icing on the cake.”

And the final reason my husband loves Thanksgiving — Are you ready for some football? Yes, football all day long. The introduction for the weekend leading up to the Ohio State University and University of Michigan football game on Saturday. Go Buckeyes.

Football tradition

Did you know the tradition of watching football on Thanksgiving started with the Thanksgiving Classic games in 1920? Since then the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys have hosted games on Turkey Day. In 2006, a third game was added with different teams hosting.

First Thanksgiving

Looking back at the first Thanksgiving it was much different than our celebration today. For one thing mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, milk, cranberries and pumpkin pies were not present at the first Thanksgiving feast. The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians in 1621 feasted on lobster, rabbit, chicken fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup, honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs and goat cheese. Their feast lasted for three days.

As the Pilgrims came to America to get away from religious persecution I am sure their feast, like ours today, began with a blessing. A blessing thanking for the bountiful harvest that was laid before them and thanking the Wampanoag Indians for providing the food.

Thank the farmer

This year as we are gathered around our Thanksgiving feast, we will be thanking the American farmer for providing us with the delicious food which we are about to partake. When it comes to eating your Thanksgiving meal don’t forget the forks. The Pilgrims didn’t have forks, so they used spoons, knives and their fingers.

Not really sure if you want to share this fact with your young children. They may decide to eat like the Pilgrims. Share these fun facts with family and friends as you are gathered around the table enjoying the Thanksgiving feast.

In closing, thank you to the American farmer who works long hours in all kinds of weather so we may have food on our table. And from everyone in the FSA family to your family and friends, we wish you a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

That’s all for now,
FSA Andy