This year, due to the pandemic, Thanksgiving is yet another holiday that will have to be celebrated differently as some cities are telling their citizens that they must have 10 or less people in their homes. This will make it difficult at best for some people; it would be next to impossible to get together with my bunch if any of them lived in one of those cities. My immediate family, with only my children and their spouses is nine. Add all ten grandchildren and you’re already up to nineteen, and that still leaves out the fourteen great-grands who are scattered. There are two of my grandchildren and their children that I haven’t seen since last Christmas that I’m hoping to see. I am just thankful that none of us have suffered the effects of the virus and pray daily that we won’t. We seem to be at a point that prayer is the only thing that will truly help, mostly due to all the controversy about vaccines, etc. Most of us don’t leave the house without carrying masks with us, as nearly all businesses require one to even get inside the doors, so we comply and will continue to do so.
Let us give thanks…for our families; for our friends, for our schools and their teachers; for our churches and synagogues, where we can worship freely; for the service men and women who are fighting to keep our country a free place; for all of our first-responders and police, for the many doctors and nurses who work extra long hours to help keep us safe, for the fact that we live in a country that is still free; and last, but by no means least, that we have lived to celebrate another Thanksgiving.
Just as HE is the “reason for the season”, at Christmas, “THANKS” is the first word in the name of the feast we are celebrating this week!
For many of us, there may be fewer around the table than there were last year. For these families, we pray that they have the strength and courage to make it through the holidays with a little lessening of the pain in their hearts. We also pray for the ones who have family members that are ill; with cancer, Alzheimer ’s disease, heart disease, or indeed, any disease at all; that their burden of caring for their loved ones may be lightened. For all who live away from their families for any reason will get a phone call or card from the ones they love. For all who will be on the highways going to and from their families, may they have a safe trip.
For the ones of you who will be receiving the paper on Wednesday, here are a couple of my favorites to try. Maybe you still have time to make them, and maybe you have your complete menu planned, but, either way, or at any time, they taste good.
Sweet Potatoes with Apples
2 to 3 pounds fresh sweet potatoes
4 or 5 large cooking apples
1/4 to 1/2 cup brown sugar, or to taste
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
¼ cup (or less) water
Peel the sweet potatoes and slice into 3/4-inch thick rounds. Peel the apples and cut into 1/2-inch crosswise slices and remove cores. (If you have an apple corer, the cores can be removed before slicing). Place a layer of sweet potato slices in large pot or baking dish, sprinkle with 1 to 2 tablespoons brown sugar and a small amount of the melted butter or margarine, top with a layer of apples. Repeat layers, finishing with a layer of apples. Add 1/4 cup or less water to the pan and place over medium heat. Bring water to a boil, cover and cook without stirring until apples and potatoes are tender. This dish may also be baked in a 350ºF oven until tender. Serve hot.
Broccoli Salad
1 bunch broccoli
1/3 cup raisins
2 tablespoons red onion, diced
6 thin sliced, slices bacon
Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise (not salad dressing)
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
Slice bacon crosswise into strips, fry until crisp, set aside to drain well, while you wash broccoli, separate it into flowerets and cut into small pieces. Place the broccoli into bowl and add the raisins. Finely dice onion, add to broccoli/raisin mixture, and stir in the bacon. Mix the ingredients for the dressing and pour over all, stir to mix. Serve at room temperature.
Paula’s Cinnamon Pie
Cream together:
1/2 c. (1stick) butter or margarine
1 1/2 c. sugar
Add and beat in until well mixed:
6 egg yolks
3 T. flour
4 tablespoons cinnamon (yes, this is the correct amount)
2 c. milk
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake for about 40 minutes or until firm.
6 egg whites
10 tablespoons sugar
Beat the 6 egg whites until peaks form. Gradually add 10 T. sugar and beat until stiff.
Spread on pie and brown under the broiler. (I just do it in the oven and it works fine. My stove is very old and to use the broiler for this is impossible.)