WEDNESDAY READER | NOVEMBER 23
Thanksgiving is just right over there. As in tomorrow. Do ya have your menu planned? Invited to go somewhere? I’ll be in California hanging with family. Pretty sure I won’t get a pass helping in the kitchen. Ha! We’re all gathering at my sister, Lisa, and her husband, Curtis’ home.
I can hear Lisa now, “Apron’s in the bottom drawer, you can start chopping veggies for the stuffing and you’re in charge of mashed potatoes. Everyone loves your mashed potatoes.” She’s such a charmer. Ha!
Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for your support by being here and hanging out with us and telling friends and family.
Gobble-Gobble
POP QUIZ
- HOW MANY PILGRIMS TRAVELED ON THE MAYFLOWER IN 1620?
a) 500
b) 350
c) 50
d) 102 - HOW MANY PILGRIMS SURVIVED TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST THANKSGIVING?
a) 100
b) 201
c) 75
d) 50 - THANKSGIVING IS ONLY CELEBRATED IN THE UNITED STATES.
a) True
b) False - NAME THE 1st DEPARTMENT STORE TO HOLD A THANKSGIVING PARADE.
a) Neiman Marcus
b) Macy’s
c) Gimbels
d) Saks 5th Ave
~ Trivia Bits, copyright, 2018 Creators
QUICK QUESTION
HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED SOMETHING THAT JUST COULD NOT BE LOGICALLY EXPLAINED?
POP QUIZ ANSWERS
- d) 102
- d) 50
- b) False. Canada celebrates Thanksgiving the 2nd Monday in October
- c) Gimbels
GREAT THANKSGIVING STORY FROM A CLASSROOM
And so the story goes as read to a group of friends gathered …
Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment — draw a picture of something for which they were thankful.
Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate Thanksgiving with turkey and other traditional sides. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her students’ art. And they were.
But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher’s true child of misery, frail and unhappy.
As the other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes.
Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand.
Just an empty hand.
His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys.
Another suggested a police officer because the police protect and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us.
And so the discussion went … until the teacher almost forgot about the young artist himself.
When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas’ desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was.
The little boy looked away and murmured, “It’s yours, teacher.”
She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked him here or there, as she had many of the other students. “How often had she said, “Take my hand, Douglas, we’ll go outside.” Or, “Let me show you how to hold your pencil,” or, “Let’s do this together.”
Douglas was most thankful for his teacher’s hand.
~ Brilliant author of this touching story unknown
WHEN I STARTED COUNTING MY BLESSINGS MY WHOLE LIFE TURNED AROUND
~ Willie Nelson
(( Starve the landfills. Recycle.))
RIDDLE ME THIS
WHAT HARD ROCK GROUP HAS 4 DUDES BUT NOT ONE OF THEM PLAYS THE GUITAR?
BYE-BYE BIRDIE
As a member of the I-love-Thanksgiving-leftover-turkey gang, these are a two of my favorite ways that I especially enjoy it.
TURKEY REUBENS
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 TBSP ketchup
- 1 TBSP sweet pickle relish
- 2 tsp cider vinegar
- 4 slices dark rye bread or pumpernickle
- sliced, cooked turkey (how much is up to your preference)
- 8 slices good quality delis Swiss Cheese
- 3 TBSP butter
- 3/4 cup thoroughly drained sauerkraut
Whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, vinegar + salt and pepper to taste. Spread on bread slices. Assemble sandwiches with turkey, cheese and sauerkraut. Makes 2 big sandwiches.
Melt butter in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium to medium high heat, then add sandwiches, turning once, until bread is golden and cheese is melted. About 6-10 minutes total. Serve with leftover green beans (casserole) or fruit salad or a scoop of mashed potatoes.
TURKEY HASH
- 1-1/2 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes
- 1 stick butter, divided
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 large green pepper, finely chopped
- 1 cup shredded, cooked turkey (preferably, dark meat)
- 4 large eggs
Generously cover potatoes with cold water, then simmer, partially covered, until tender, 20-25 minutes. Drain. Cool slightly, then peel and coarsely grate with a box grater.
While potatoes cool, melt 6 TBSP butter in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and saute onion and green pepper, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 8-10 minutes.
Add potatoes, turkey, 2/3 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp pepper and cook, turning occasionally until browned in spots, 15-20 minutes. Transfer hash to individual plates.
Fry eggs in butter in skillet over med-high heat as is personal preference. Top hash with eggs. Serve with leftover cranberry relish. Makes 4 servings.
~ from Hippie Cowboy Recipe Box
RIDDLE ANSWER
MOUNT RUSHMORE
FROM AN OLD NEWSPAPER CLIPPING IN A SHOEBOX
I am thankful for:
The taxes I pay because it means I’m employed.
The clothes that fit a little snug because it means I have enough to eat.
My very own shadow that watches me work because it means that I am out in the sunshine.
A lawn that has to be mowed, windows that need to be washed and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
The spot I find at the far end of the the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
The lady behind me at church who sings off key because it means I can hear.
The huge piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.
The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it really means I’M ALIVE.
~ author uncredited
Fascinating Stuff
FASCINATING STUFF
- Barred Plymouth Rock chickens don’t trace their heritage back to the Mayflower, but they are an historic American breed derived from several earlier breeds. Probably a Dominique, possibly a black Cochin. (No-one is certain.) They were introduced at a Massachusetts agricultural show in 1849. “Barred refers to the unique black and white striped pattern on the bird’s feathers; “Plymouth Rock” reflects its Massachusetts roots. For a time, barred Plymouth Rock chickens were the most popular breed in America.
- Campbell’s Soup created green bean casserole for an annual cookbook over 50 years ago. It now sells a cool $20 million worth of Cream of Mushroom soup every Thanksgiving!
- Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldren’s first meal in space after walking on the moon was foil packets of roasted turkey.
- Female turkeys (called hens) do not gobble. Only male turkeys get to gobble.
- Back in 1953, a Swanson employee accidentally ordered a colossal shipment of Thanksgiving turkeys (260 tons to be exact). To get rid of them all, Gerry Thomas, salesman, casme up with the brilliant idea of filling 5,000 aluminum trays with the turkey along with cornbread dressing, gravy, peas and sweet potatoes. They sold for 98 cents each and were a huge hit. Within one year, 10 million were sold!
- Although its logo features a mission bell, the “Bell” part of Taco Bell’s name comes from Glen Bell, the company’s founder. In the 1950’s, the California businessman test marketed crispy-shell tacos for 19 cents each at his Bell’s drive-in. When customers gobbled them up, Bell knew he had a winner. He opened his first Taco Bell in Downey, California, in 1962. Today there are about 7,000 Taco Bell locations in 25 countries worldwide — none of them in Mexico.
~ from the archives of Trivia Bits by Leslie Elman, copyright
