Thanksgiving is an American Holiday



           Christmas time once again, but let's have Thanksgiving first.  Every year I think of my father say Christmas is so commercialized.  What if he could see it today.  People putting up Christmas trees in their homes, and little kids coming to the door for trick-or-treat.  Wal mart has Christmas and Halloween decorations, side by side.  The corporate world, and black Friday.  What has happen?

           I saw a joke with a turkey telling Santa to get out of here, this was his day, pointing to the calender.  Tradition has been that Thanksgiving is on a Thursday.  Most people get a 4 day weekend, and that is when after stuffing their selves.  They start getting the Christmas stuff out of the attic.  Shoot,  in some traditions the tree doesn't go up till Christmas eve.  How is it that we forget what Thanksgiving is about. 

           Daphne is 9 years old, going to be 10.  When I picked her up the other day, Christmas music was on the radio.  She ask me to change the station.  When I asked her why?  She plainly said it's not even Thanksgiving yet.  Now, this little girl loves to sing.  Her dream in life is to be a singer, yet she knows it is to soon.  We are still eating on her Halloween candy.  When did Christmas stop being for kids, and stories of Reindeer, Elves, and Santa.  When did Christmas become about corporate bottom lines, year end markets and such.  What's more, what happen to stopping everything for one day out of the year to be thankful?



           The leaves haven't stop falling out of the trees yet.  Lets be thankful this year, a lot of people are seeing hard times.  I think the corporate bottom line is doing just fine.  I think the home front needs this Thanksgiving more than ever.  Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock, 1620, Indians, we now call Native Americans.  It is about the food.  It is about, not only the food, but the harvest, the summer coming to an end.  In some places the last chance to go out side with out freezing to death.

           Since it is about the food, a must have is Sausage Balls.  Easy to make, and high blood pressure or not, I love them.  Bisquick, sausage, and cheese.  That's it.  1 lb. of sausage, a package of mild cheddar cheese (12 oz.) and 2 1/2 cups Bisquick.  Mix in a bowl until crumbly, then roll walnut size balls.  Place on an un-greased pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.  Pile them high on a plate because I'll be eating them the whole time we are cooking.

           No, I think maybe this year, we need to be thankful more than ever.  More people are out of work, losing their homes, and the cost of every thing just goes up and up.  Maybe as we enjoy family and friends, let's try think about the fact that Thanksgiving is an American thing.  While looking threw "The Box" for  recipes to share with you.  I have come across one of my Grandmothers' it is called a War Cake.  I think of her now reading the ingredients.  

           During WWII, there was rationing.  My Grandmother came up threw the Great Depression.  A lot of her ways, only having chicken on Sunday, or canning jelly's and jams.  I still do some of it with my mother, but for her it was a necessity.  She too has left us.  She lived a long time, and did quite well.  She lived off of some investments, and toward the end lived in a very nice retirement home.  You don't see that much these day.  Back then Banks paid you, to use your money. 

  

           Right now I guess just having a good job, is a lot to be thankful for.  I feel this time now, is the ending of the year.  Not New Years, but Thanksgiving, where the harvest of the year is celebrated.  Like the War Cake, that; it something that should wait for Christmas.  Thanksgiving is turkey, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.  Pecan pie too.  This week we will be cleaning the ceiling fans, getting the house ready for company.  This house will be full of family, with food on their minds. 

           Now for a good Thanksgiving cake we have Fresh Apple w/ Nuts.  Get your mixing bowl out, we are going to put a little flour in our hair and on our nose.  You know it has to look like we are working here.  Blend 1 1/4 cups Mazola (cooking oil), 2 cups of sugar and 3 eggs together.  Then slow mix in 3 cups of plain flour with a teaspoon each of baking soda, salt, and Cinnamon.   With a wooden spoon fold in 1 cup of pecans, a teaspoon vanilla, and 3 cups of chopped up fresh apples.

           Spray your tube-pan with vegetable oil, after you put your wax paper in the bottom.  Fill with the mixture, and put in pre-heated oven, at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Do not open the door! 

           For the topping we are going to melt in a sauce pan 3/4 cup of lite brown sugar with 1/2 cup evaporated milk, and 1/4 cup of margarine.  Pour this all over the top and down the sides.  Sprinkle pecans all over the top.  With the entire house smelling of brown sugar, and apples, every one can't help being thankful.  Thankful to be getting a piece of that cake.

           I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving with family, and friends.  I hope your home is full of the smells, that truly make a wonderful holiday, called Thanksgiving.  As always share with your friends, click on the ads.  May there only be love and joy in your hearts.