No matter who you are or what you love, Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that has something for everyone: home cooked meals, football tailgates, famous parades, entertaining dog shows, and family traditions. But, let’s be honest–anyone would be lying if they said their favorite highlight of this occasion wasn’t the delicious Thanksgiving feast. Warm, bursting with flavor, and offering a variety of options, Thanksgiving dinner is an unforgettable meal that can’t be beat. And for those of you foodies who are equally enthusiastic about history, The Lance has got you covered with brief origins on your favorite Thanksgiving dishes.
Number One: Turkey
Ah, turkey: the dish we all know as the good ol’ poster child of Thanksgiving. But why is that? I mean, most people don’t even enjoy the turkey at Thanksgiving dinner–they prefer the sides. Regardless, turkey has somehow found its way to remain the symbol of this beloved holiday ever since the fall of 1621 when it was consumed at the first Thanksgiving between members of the Plymouth colony and the indigenous Wampanoag tribe. Though not the centerpiece of this historical harvest dinner (the menu also included a variety of seafood, venison, and corn), the turkey came to symbolize the perseverance of the Plymouth colony and their temporarily good relationship with the Wampanoag tribe after surviving their first brutal winter in the New World with a limited food supply.
Number Two: Stuffing
Arguably the best Thanksgiving dish, stuffing is one of those warm, wholesome recipes you really can only enjoy once a year during the holiday season. And while what makes stuffing so special is its variability across families and generations, we can count on the fact that it originated as one consistent recipe from the early settlers, including a mix of herbs, chestnuts, and spices. But instead of cooking stuffing in a separate dish like most do today, the settlers literally stuffed the cavities of birds (more specifically turkey) with this mixture, giving off an even heartier flavor. Even America’s first cookbook, American Cookery written by Amelia Simmons in 1796, featured a recipe for stuffing. No matter how differently each family cooks their stuffing, there’s no doubt that this centuries-old recipe shares an unmatched sense of patriotism (and delicious flavor) across each and every American.
Number Three: Sweet Potato Casserole
No matter how many people dislike it, there’s no doubt that everyone associates sweet potato casserole with Thanksgiving. Yet, this dish certainly wasn’t on the original Thanksgiving menu back in the 1600’s. While sweet potatoes were a popular crop with both the Wampanoag tribe and Pilgrims, they enjoyed this sweet starch at Thanksgiving dinners without the marshmallow topping. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that marshmallows became the go-to topping for sweet potatoes, when the Angelus Marshmallow company hired an imaginative magazine editor to whip up some unique recipe ideas for their puffy product. In this magazine, not only can you find the original idea for sweet potato casserole but also the root of marshmallow becoming a staple topping for hot cocoa and fudge. Whether or not you scoop a serving of sweet potato casserole onto your plate this Thanksgiving, remember that this dish is proof that even the strangest bursts of creativity go a long way.
Number Four: Cranberry Sauce
Native to and grown wildly in the Northeast, cranberries have long been a staple in the diet of many indigenous tribes, especially in the form of sauce. When the colonists arrived in the New World, they, too, enjoyed this delectable dish, but not in the super sweet form we know of it today due to their low sugar rations. In fact, it wasn’t until the 20th century when the company Ocean Spray began canning cranberries in 1912 to make them last longer and later introduced “jellied” cranberry sauce in 1941.
Number Five: Pumpkin Pie
We all know this feeling: stuffing your face with savory dinner dishes, falling into a deep food coma, but then suddenly being revived upon hearing your mother shout from the kitchen, “Who’s ready for dessert?” Because truly, nothing is better than enjoying a slice of hearty pumpkin pie, decorated with whipped cream, to end this festive night. For this lovely dessert, we can thank the indigenous tribes of North America, who have been making sweets out of this orange squash long before any colonists stepped foot in the New World. However, after the colonists arrived and the Columbian Exchange system began, pumpkins were introduced to Europe and people began to make pie of it. Talk about cultural fusion! Anyhow, this practice of baking pumpkin pies continued into the settlement of the Thirteen Colonies, making it an iconic staple for this American holiday.
Conclusion
No matter your favorite Thanksgiving food, every dish has its own unique and entertaining story. So whether you’re reading this just to try to polish up on your American history or searching for the perfect conversation starters at Thanksgiving dinner, we hope you’ll leave this article with a newfound appreciation and curiosity for the story behind each recipe.