Wet Thanksgiving & A Bit of History

Wet Thanksgiving & A Bit of History plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

It appears that after dinner pick up game of touch football will have to wait unless you are interested in a little rain and mud. The storms that pounded the Oregon and Washington coast on Monday and Tuesday will continue to push inland bringing wind and rain to rest of the states. Some minor flooding is expected so be sure and check local conditions and drive carefully holiday.

So you think you have a pretty good idea about the first Thanksgiving. Maybe not. USDA Historian, Anne Effland says that the first get together probably included games and competitions much like our watching of college football. But what about that turkey on the table? Effland says a journal entry by one of the pilgrims sheds some light.

EFFLAND: The had gone out to shoot wild fowl so it’s not absolutely certain they had turkey but they certainly might have.

Thanksgiving of course has not been celebrated since that first gathering in 1621. In fact it wasn’t until 1863 that then President Abraham Lincoln declared two national Thanksgivings; one in August to commemorate the Battle of Gettysburg and the other in November to give thanks for "general blessings."

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

Who hasn’t found themselves at the eleventh hour still in the kitchen trying to put the finishing touches on that perfect holiday meal? Why not take some of the pressure off this holiday season by making and freezing some of those goodies ahead of time. We often don’t think about the fact that there are a number of foods that do freeze quite well. Many food experts and famous chefs will attest to the fact that it’s perfectly okay to freeze some favorite holiday fare without risking taste. Casseroles are a great make ahead freezer choice, along with many fruit pies, cookies, and breads that we all favor on the holidays. Of course, there are foods you shouldn’t attempt to freeze ahead of time, such as foods with a cream or custard base, or mayonnaise fillings. Pies with meringue tops don’t freeze well either. Even so, if you can cook half of the holiday meal ahead of time, you might actually be able to sit down with the rest of the family and enjoy all the kudos that will be directed your way. And say, if you still find yourself running out of time to be able to cook, there’s nothing wrong with serving a delicious store bought pie in that family heirloom pie plate!

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.