Monday, November 25, 2013

TURKEY THOUGHTS - JUST FOR FUN!


From a turkey…

Ahem.

Today, just a few days from Thanksgiving, I thought it might be fun to write about the various *traditional* things that we eat on that special day.

Let the frivolity commence!


1)  Turkey

Wild turkeys have very powerful legs and can run at speeds up to 25 miles per hour.  Their top speed in flight is 55 miles per hour.  (I don’t want to mention the other guys who don't get away…)  Also, evidently they eventually get their revenge in the speed department – for, after eating turkey, we are usually rendered semi-conscious in a tryptophan stupor and can NOT move off the couch.  0 mph.


2)  Mashed potatoes

Did you know that potato plants are usually pollinated by insects such as bumblebees?  Me neither.

OK, this is a bit long, but I found this information from Wikipedia fascinating:

Antoine-Augustin Parmentier is remembered as a vocal promoter of the potato as a food source for humans in France and throughout Europe.  Thanks largely to his efforts, the Paris Faculty of Medicine declared potatoes edible in 1772. Still, resistance continued, and Parmentier therefore began a series of publicity stunts for which he remains notable today, often hosting dinners at which potato dishes featured prominently.  It is said that he ran a competition for various recipes using the potato. He then went on to win it apparently (cheeky fellow!) with his recipe for mashed potato.

Another tidbit: What song do these lyrics come from?  "I can mash-potato…And I can do the twist…"

Potato nicknames include: tater, spud, tuber.

(Answer: "Do You Love Me?" by The Contours)


3)  Yam or Sweet Potato

What's the difference?  Found these interesting facts:  Although yams and sweet potatoes are both angiosperms (flowering plants), they are not related botanically.  Yams are closely related to lilies and grasses.  Sweet potatoes are members of the morning glory family.  And, unless you specifically search for yams, which are usually found in an international market, you are probably eating sweet potatoes!  Which might not really matter to you, but the "I Yam What I Yam Society" is up in arms over the confusion.  (Popeye is the unofficial spokesperson…)


4)  Green Bean Casserole

This seems to be a favorite at many Thanksgiving tables.  My family loves it – except "The Hub."  He is what I like to call "texturally challenged" – and anything that has soup involved is on his DO NOT EAT LIST.  He will not come near soup, even struggles with holding a ladle.  He'll do it, in an emergency, but only at arm's length.  As for the rest of the family – an extra can of French-fried onions is usually bought, just for random munching.


5)  Jello

A lot of people also have some sort of Jello salad at Thanksgiving.  However, this is also another of "The Hub's" DO NOT EAT foods.  He says it looks slimy and reminds him of the hospital.  I've always liked Jello, except my love for it has been compromised by recent pre-procedure prep diets.

Also, did you know that Jello should be more accurately termed gelatin?  Jello is in fact a brand name.  Other brand names that have come to mean the thing they represent:  Bandaid, Kleenex, Xerox, Jeep, Boogie Board, Levis, Frisbee, Jacuzzi, Q-Tip, Styrofoam, and Vaseline – just to name a few.  Bonus points if you can think of others.  And a huge Extra Credit if you know the *grammar* name for these.

(Answer: Eponyms)


6)  Corn

A fun corn fact?  Did you know corn has an incredibly long shelf life? Archeologists have been able to pop 1,000-year-old popcorn!  Orville Redenbacher, watch out!  Cleopatra might give you some competition in the crunchy corn snack department.  Sometimes my family also includes corn along with the Green Bean Casserole.  It's a nice alternative for "The Hub." However, creamed corn must NEVER come near – either for him OR for me. Major yuck.


7)  Stuffing/dressing

A favorite!!  I have been known to make an entire meal out of leftover stuffing.  Cold, reheated, I'm not particular.  I've even resorted to Stove-Top. It's all good.  Have you ever tried putting stuffing in between two slices of bread?  A stuffing sandwich?  I have – delish!  However, if you eat too much you just might end up feeling...wait for it...STUFFED.  (I hear a collective groan out there.  C'mon people, puns are good for you).


8)  Gravy

Again, gravy is not on "The Hub's" plate.  But, I have been known to put *boatloads* on mine.  (Get the pun – gravy boat-loads?)  A fun personal family fact.  One year my mom just got sick and tired of slaving over gravy made from scratch – only to have my dad complain about the lumps.  So, one year she swore me to secrecy, and got the gravy in bottles.  (The bottled evidence was quickly bussed directly into the trash cans outside).  She poured the bottled gravy into the saucepan, added some turkey drippings, and stirred and stirred and stirred.   That year, my dad RAVED about Mom's gravy.  I'll forgive her the deception.  She deserved the accolades after the "joys" of preparing a meal with my dad.  "The turkey's gonna dry out if everything else isn't ready on time!" (Repeat 50 times).  He was a mechanical engineer.  'Nuff said.


9)  Cranberry

Got these fun facts from the Ocean Spray website: The cranberry gets its name from Dutch and German settlers, who nicknamed it the "crane berry." When cranberry vines bloom in the late spring, the pale flowers resemble the head and bill of a crane.  The cranberry is one of only a handful of major fruits native to North America.  Others include the blueberry and Concord grape. Also, cranberries bounce!  (Oh great, I can see it now – cranberry-bouncing to accompany the roll-tossing that already occurs).


10)  Dinner Rolls

So yes, we have rolls at our Thanksgiving table.  As if we needed some more carbs.  And yes, one year the rolls did not get passed around the table – they got *passed* – as in quarterback – heaved to the proper receiver.  I am embarrassed to say that this did not happen years ago when my kids and their cousins were young.  Nope, this happened with six teenagers and 20-somethings who knew better.  And one 50-something, I'm embarrassed to say.  Though I did discover that I have a very good arm.  (Call me the Peyton Manning of the bread world).


11)  Pickles and Olives

No, this is not a traditional addition to the Thanksgiving table, unless you grew up in my personal family.  My boys and I LOVE sweet pickles and black olives to accompany our Thanksgiving meal.  The boys traditionally bring this as their participation in the meal.  Mostly because we eat almost all of them by ourselves.  And yes, adults still love putting olives on the tips of fingers, and wiggling them around before ingesting.  (That would be me!)


12)  Ham

Some people also have ham at Thanksgiving.  My family does not.  We have ham at Christmas.  And our favorite, hands down, is the honey-baked variety. With the champagne mustard.  But, I'm wondering something.  If potatoes are pollinated by bumblebees, do honey-baked hams come from bee-stung pigs?  Poor piggies – sort of a double whammie if you ask me.


13)  Pumpkin Pie

A long-standing tradition.  I'm not a big fan of pumpkin pie, though I have grown to like it better recently.  (Do I even need to tell you about "The Hub's" opinion on this?  He has NEVER taken a bite of ANY sort of pie in his ENTIRE life.  Like I said, texturally challenged).  I think I was initially put off by the appearance of pumpkin pie.  It's not a particularly pretty pie.  Neither is mincemeat, rhubarb, or pecan pie.  They all sorta remind me of fruitcake – which I think is icky-looking.  Not good, except for maybe using as a doorstop. (And I sincerely apologize to all of you out there who choose to disagree with me!)

Interesting trivia fact: The pie that made the Guinness Book of World Records weighed a whopping 3,699 pounds after it was baked by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in New Bremen, Ohio in 2010.  The unveiling of the monster pumpkin pie attracted a crowd of thousands. The finished pie spanned 20 feet.  The ingredients used to make it included 1,212 pounds of pumpkins, 109 gallons of evaporated milk, 7 pounds of salt, 233 dozen eggs, 525 pounds of sugar, and 14.5 pounds of cinnamon.  (I shudder at the thought of the winner of the "Biggest Fruitcake Contest").


14)  Other 

And, last but not least, two others from a list I looked up: Turducken – a concoction of a turkey stuffed with duck and chicken.  A proverbial favorite of John Madden – (former NFL football coach).  And, bread pudding – something that also makes "The Hub's" AND my DO NOT EAT LIST.  Even though I am a much-more omnivorous eater than my husband, some things remain texturally-unsound even for me.  Bread pudding is right up there with creamed corn…and Brussels sprouts…and lima beans.  Just sayin'...


So, just some FUN for Thanksgiving.

No message today, other than this…

May we all be conscious of the many, many things we have to be thankful for on this coming Thanksgiving Day.  And may we never forget that all that we have, and all that we are, comes from the Giver of All Blessings – our precious Lord.


The Bread of Life.

Our Provider.

The Source of Grace and Love and Salvation.


The One who nourishes us now, and will feed us forever from His Tree of Life.





On each side of the river grew a tree of life,
bearing twelve crops of fruit,
with a fresh crop each month.
No longer will anything be cursed.
For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there,
and his servants will worship him.
And they will see his face...



"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)

"And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:20, NLT)

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17, ESV)

"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Psalm 34:1, NASB)




Two questions today:

What are you most grateful for this year?

Is there something on your Thanksgiving table that I haven't mentioned?
                                         

Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Jen at UNITE
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAYS
Laura at PLAYDATES WITH GOD
Rosilind at A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS
Judith at WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAYS 
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Jacqueline at ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
Jenifer at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Leslie at FAITHFUL FRIDAY
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW
Sandy at STILL SATURDAY
Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

21 comments:

  1. Fun facts, Sharon. Loved learning more about you. You always make me laugh! LOL!

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  2. Hi Dear! You did your homework, didn't you? Such a fun read. Imagine...debating potatoes. But my hat is off to the intrepid people who said, "Look at that! I wonder if it's poison?" and took one for the team. I love potatoes.

    Don't like yams or sweet potatoes, but I thought they were the same thing. So, I learned something today. I guess I can go back to bed. Yay!
    My husband despises Jello. I won't tell you what he says it's made out of, it's quite gross.
    We always have pecan pie and cinnamon rolls. Both my Mom's recipes, and now that she's gone, it has even more meaning.
    Happy, happy Thanksgiving! I hope you'll enjoy it in your new environment. Maybe you'll have a guest or two??
    Hugs,
    Ceil

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  3. This was so funny... Thanks for the laugh, Sharon! :D
    May you have a blessed texturally appropriate Thanksgiving!

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  4. I'm like your husband I have this weird thing about not liking certain texture of foods. Hope you & your family enjoy a happy Thanksgiving.

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  5. From one turkey to another... I love your FUN FACTS and TURKEY TRIBUTE because of your delicious sense of humor and that we both have the same dislikes on a list but I'm sure I'm more choosey than you... Picky Peggy (that's me) but not like the HUB (at least). However, all this did was make me miss "turkey day" even more since they don't do this here (and restaurants are asking over 200 pesos per person and nowhere near the same menu or what I'd eat (most of the time, not even a real turkey nor pumpkin pie). I don't have an oven and most stores wait for turkey or ham until Christmas.(sigh)...too long a drive to the border to have the real thing, so thanks for whetting my taste buds for naught, As always, I so appreciate the good laughs and love over here! Thanks!

    Happy Thanksgiving (may it be as blessed and enjoyable as you are)!!!
    Love,
    Peggy

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  6. Sharon...wow...that post took a lot of research! You did good! Everything you mentioned, down to bread pudding I love...well...the creamed corn not so much. You will find most of those on the menu at my house (no bread pudding or Jello OR creamed corn). My son and you must be kindred spirits about the dressing (we call it dressing in my family). I have been known to fix him his own pan of it...this is the highlight of his whole Thanksgiving holiday! Thanks for all of the fun facts...most of all, have a blessed Thanksgiving with your family!

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  7. You are such a mine of information and inspiration Sharon. Hoover is a word that came to mind for your list. I wish you and your family a wonderful thanksgiving, it is not a holiday celebrated here in England, but there is always plenty to be thankful to God for.

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  8. Very fun facts and trivia....now I am officially hungry!

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  9. Thank you for sharing with us here at "Tell me a Story." Yum, most of everything on your list will show up here for Thanksgiving, including being thankful!!

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  10. This was all fascinating to read, Sharon, and I loved your running commentary about your mean and your hubby's food preferences :) I think you about covered all the items that are usually on our table for a Thanksgiving feast. And definitely thankful to the One who gave it all!

    Happy Thanksgiving!!!

    betty

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  11. We haven't had the dinner at our house for approximately 10 years. We go in and out and eat what we want, when we can. Nice to see how you put the pieces together. I usually don't eat the whole thing, just bits and pieces. Now I might be more careful, but probably not... just eat what I want when I want it. That's all I can do that day... especially when we're at someone else's house. Good thinking/sharing. Thank you.

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  12. Praying for you a day of thankful rest and abundant peace!

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  13. You have more on your table this year then we did! I am thankful God answers prayers even if it is not in the way you want. Have to tell you that son did call and apologize - but it was a rough go!

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  14. Hi, Sharon! I sure love all your posts, but these fun ones keep me smiling! LOVE all the bits of info. you shared! It would be too difficult to share just one thing that I'm most thankful for this year. God has been so good!! But, if I had to pin it down, I would say it's how my hubs and I have grown spiritually together! For years, I had desired and prayed that he would take more initiative in spiritual leadership at home. For the last 6 months, he has been leading us in regular evening prayertime...a rare thing for him in the past. What a blessing!!!

    As far as food...you'll probably be grossed out, since you mentioned that you don't like this, but my sister makes THE best creamed corn casserole ever!! She also makes some great deviled eggs.I'm not a pumpkin pie lover, either, so we often have peanut-butter pie instead...my favorite! I sure don't envy you trying to cook for your hubby....he's a bit of a picky eater, isn't he! LOL! Fortunately for me, as long as it's not raw or burnt, mine eats just about anything I serve!!

    Anyways hope you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving...
    Ann @ Christ in the Clouds
    http://christintheclouds.blogspot.com/

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  15. Thanks for linking up with Woman to Woman's Word Filled Wednesday! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  16. Too fun! AND we actually have a PET TURKEY!! Thanksgiving is soo, soo different with a turkey who thinks she's a dog. Her name is Jethro (long story)...you are welcome to read about her at http://chaoticsimplicity.com/jethros-girl/ if you like! God Bless!

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  17. We enjoyed many of the same foods. I also made glazed baby carrots (in butter and brown sugar) since some of my family don't eat green bean casserole. Oh the shame!

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  18. Wow, I never imagined that there was so much behind our meal!
    Thanks so much for sharing at Essential Fridays.
    Blessings
    Mel from Essential Thing Devotions

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  19. Dear Sharon
    I am especially glad about the potatoes and pop corn. Life without popped corn or chips would be a bit boring, don't you think! Cranberries are also a great medication from Mother Nature for bladder infections.
    Blessings XX
    Mia

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  20. So much to be thankful for. Thanks for linking to Sunday Stillness.
    Blessings,
    Janis

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  21. This was fun!! I can't think of anything we ate that you didn't mention. We had pecan and apple pies but they fall under pies. We had homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast but breakfast doesn't count.

    I am thankful for the uncommon privilege of caring for my sweet twins this year. What a blessing.

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)