How to Celebrate Thanksgiving without Turkey
There is every indication that the turkey actually became a part of Thanksgiving many years after the Pilgrims celebrated their first feast. It was the biggest and most impressive entrée available, and it was a native American bird. Nothing made such a grand display as a centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table than this large roast bird. Still, there is no reason why any other meat, or fish for that matter, couldn’t be served instead. Thanksgiving day of course is synonymous with a large meal, but there are no hard and fast rules as to what that meal should consist of. For those concerned about keeping with tradition, early accounts of what the Pilgrims actually ate on this feast day included venison, wild fowl, which could just as easily include duck, or goose, and a variety of seafood.While pork and beef were not on their menu, they undoubtedly would have been if they had been available. Roast beef or pork, chicken, or the family’s favorite fish, could just as easily be served. Many people, in fact, prefer chicken over turkey because it is sometimes much more moist, and some families already have the tradition of serving either a whole roast chicken or Cornish game hens. Even casseroles, which may or may not contain meat, and an assortment of side dishes served buffet style can make up a Thanksgiving feast. Some families have the tradition of serving their favorite pasta dish, such as lasagna, at Thanksgiving, which was undoubtedly not on that first Thanksgiving table.Of course meat is only a small part of the meal. There can still be stuffing, traditional mashed potatoes and yams, gravy, vegetables, and the family’s favorite desserts. If no one in the family likes pumpkin pie, this can easily be replaced by apple, cherry, or any other fruit or cream pie. Everyone enjoys fresh hot rolls, muffins or bread for dinner, and the pumpkin can even be incorporated into the muffins.For the most part, the dinner is all about the assortment of dishes, and once everything is on the table, it is pretty unlikely that anyone would even notice that the turkey had been replaced by another choice of meat. In the long run, the meat that is served is not really important. Enjoying Thanksgiving is not about the main course as much as it is about being together with family and friends and giving thanks for our blessings.
