Baking for Thanksgiving Day and a History lesson

Greetings from Ten Gables Cottage,

I have been baking desserts and making cornbread for my dressing for tomorrow--Thanksgiving Day. I thought I would rest a moment and show you my yummy looking desserts. I made a cherry cake with cherry icing and whipped cream and a peanut butter pie. We are also having pumpkin pie, which is very traditional for Thanksgiving. I will post these recipes later---I absolutely love the peanut butter pie. The cherry cake is also to help my son, Greg, celebrate his birthday coming up in a few days.

I was asked by one of my English friends to tell the history of America's Thanksgiving.

So, briefly, I will try to explain it. The Pilgrims, a group of people, came to America seeking civil and religious liberty. They arrived after a few months of sailing in late Nov. of 1620 in Massachusetts at Plymouth Rock and signed the first civil government document, called "the Mayflower Compact, for self government. The Pilgrims then had a prayer service and began to build shelters. It soon got very cold and many people died during the winter, but the survivors were helped by the native American Indians, who helped them in Spring to plant gardens. The first Harvest was plentiful and the Pilgrims and the Indians had a wonderful 3 day feast and celebration, giving thanks for their liberty, their harvest and the fowl and deer they added to their feast. This was America's first Thanksgiving feast, although settlers in Virginia had had a Thanksgiving earlier in 1607. After George Washington became America's first president, he proclaimed a day set aside in November to give thanks. Then later, President Abraham Lincoln set aside the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving. Our country was founded on the concept of self government, self reliant communities and devout religious faith, so we still remember our founding fathers and give thanks to God on Thanksgiving Day.

well, I always get a little mushy when I think of pioneers and pilgrims and civil and religious freedom! Sometimes we tend to take our many blessings for granted!

We will be celebrating with this menu:

Roasted Turkey with cornbread dressing

Dumplings and giblet gravy

Mashed potatoes

Green beans

Fresh roasted asparagus

Fresh fruit salad

Yeast dinner rolls

AND THE DESSERTS! Tonight will be a Thanksgiving service at my church and tomorrow our meal and holiday with family. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!