A Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish all of my American readers & people from all over the world: A Happy Thanks Giving!

In Belgium, we don’t celebrate this festive day but we have also many things to be grateful for. A good husband, a good family, lovely friends & neighbours, a lovely house to live in, being able to do the things we love, home-grown produce, etc.

I didn’t know much about this festive day.

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the United States. Because of the longstanding traditions of the holiday, the celebration often extends to the weekend that falls closest to the day it is celebrated.

Thanksgiving in North America had originated from a mix of European and Native traditions. Typically in Europe, festivals were held before and after the harvest cycles to give thanks for a good harvest, and to rejoice together after much hard work with the rest of the community. At the time, Native Americans had also celebrated the end of a harvest season. When Europeans first arrived to the Americas, they brought with them their own harvest festival traditions from Europe, celebrating their safe voyage, peace and good harvest. Though the origins of the holiday in both Canada and the United States are similar, Americans do not typically celebrate the contributions made in Newfoundland, while Canadians do not celebrate the contributions made in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

You can read more here!

I am going to give you a few alternative dishes to celebrate your Thanks Giving. Just click onto the titles to go to the recipes!

**Festive appetizers :

1 & 2. Smoked duck appetizers &  smoked trout, avocado appetizers:

Smoked duck appetizers: see large picture above!

3. Cheesy, ham & pesto appetizers

** Festive soups:

1. Roasted chorizo, thyme & pumpkin soup served with home-made pumpkin &  feta bread

2. My beetroot soup

** Festive vegetarian main dishes:

1. My vegetarian butternut squash,  quinoa & red beans chili

2. Beetroot risotto with ricotta & parmesan

** Festive sides:

1. Beetroot wedges with a balsamic & orange marmalade sauce

2. Roasted balsamic & rosemary scented baked parsnips

** Festive main dishes with meat

1. Mangocheek’s fennel & swiss chard stew with chicken sausages & Thai coriander ( cilantro ) rice

2.  Veal with a wine & sage sauce, greens beans & mixed oven roasted potatoes

** Festive desserts

1. Gluten free & egg free apple speculoos spiced muffins, great as breakfast too! 

2. Sophie’s healthy gluten-free & sugar-free banana & almond butter cake with dark chocolate chips

Have a good Thanks Giving & enjoy yourself’s & this glorious food too, hey !!!!

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