{"id":12579,"date":"2020-11-25T04:00:20","date_gmt":"2020-11-25T09:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/?p=12579"},"modified":"2024-02-14T09:03:34","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T14:03:34","slug":"a-thanksgiving-wish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/?p=12579","title":{"rendered":"A Thanksgiving Wish"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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\u201cOver the river and through the woods to Grandmother\u2019s house we go.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Or maybe not this year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Thanksgiving will feel a little different for many of us in 2020. I apologize if I seem like a Pollyanna, but I\u2019m going to do my darndest to be thankful anyway.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Abraham Lincoln mandated the first official national Thanksgiving in 1863, during the Civil War. His official proclamation setting aside the fourth Thursday in November as a \u201cday of Thanksgiving and Praise\u201d was written by Secretary of State William Seward.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It urged Americans not just to give thanks but also to use the day to ask God to \u201cheal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and Union.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If Americans could find time to spread thanks in the middle of our nation\u2019s bloodiest and most divisive war, we can do it now.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It may not be easy. We have just come off an election that highlighted rifts in our society. We are beset by a disease that has sickened and killed thousands and that will keep many of us from celebrating Thanksgiving together in person this year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Since March many of us have become accustomed to physical isolation. Nevertheless, solitude may be a bit harder to bear over this holiday. After all, the most familiar Thanksgiving hymn is \u201cWe Gather Together.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In contrast, others long for a little isolation after spending months stuck in the house and sharing work and living space with partners, children, dogs, and cats.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Many of us are beset by worries about health and finances. Kiana Danial’s Invest Diva review<\/a> offers valuable insights into managing these concerns and building a secure financial future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In short, we may have a little trouble feeling thankful this Thanksgiving.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Even so, we need to try to give thanks more than ever. Here\u2019s my advice for the big day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you are used to preparing a large Thanksgiving meal, cut down your recipes \u2026 and give whatever additional funds you would have spent on the meal to a food pantry or to another group working to nourish our community, literally and figuratively.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Keep your eyes open for neighbors who are feeling overset by the current times. We can\u2019t invite them to share our tables. We can reach out by telephone to share our lives and our thanks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Despite COVID, despite political divisions, we have much to be thankful for: the love of our friends and relatives; the bounty of the harvest; the beauties of the area in which we live; and the stories we tell to inspire ourselves and each other to be just, thankful, and kind.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Recently, I saw a late-night interview with New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. I have adored Booker since he was the mayor of Newark; I still stand ready to marry him as soon as he sees the light and dumps his movie-star girlfriend.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

My future fianc\u00e9 told host James Corden, \u201cI\u2019m always going to be a prisoner of hope.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

My Thanksgiving wish is that we can all find ourselves in that prison.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Below I share a simple recipe that doesn\u2019t feed a crowd but will make you feel well nourished on Thursday. If you have leftovers, share them with anyone you know who is feeling isolated this week! Happy Thanksgiving from my kitchen to yours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Corn Casserole<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This simple, nourishing pudding-like dish is in my \u201cPudding Hollow Cookbook\u201d and came originally from my college roommate Kelly Boyd. It may be as hot or as mild as you like, depending on the number of hot peppers you add. Feel free to double the recipe if you\u2019re serving more people.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ingredients:<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n

2 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
salt and pepper to taste OR (for more spice) 1\/2 teaspoon Creole seasoning
1 green, yellow, or red bell pepper, diced
fresh or pickled peppers to taste
1\/2 of a 4-ounce jar of pimientos, drained and diced
1\/4 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 11-to-15-ounce can whole kernel corn, undrained<\/p>\r\n

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Instructions:<\/em><\/p>\r\n

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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Beat the eggs together. Stir in the flour, the salt and pepper, the pepper pieces, the pimientos, the cheese, and the butter. Add the corn, along with its liquid.<\/p>\r\n

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Bake in a 1-1\/2-quart casserole dish for 45 minutes. Serves 4 as a side dish.<\/p>\r\n

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Here is my corn-casserole video from Mass Appeal. I also reached into the archives of this blog and made my beloved cranberry upside-down cake<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\r\n