The Gourmet Librarian
The "Gourmet Librarian" is a monthly series on the CCPL Website
November 2006
Stuffing A La Lisa
Everyone knows the story of the first Thanksgiving how the Pilgrims struggled, the Indians reaching out to help and then the day the Pilgrims feasted and invited their new friends to give thanks to God. Whether solemn or festive early American Thanksgivings were always held in the fall after a good harvest. Thanksgiving is a day that we are to pause and give thanks, but there was a time when Thanksgiving wasn't a national holiday.
Enter Sarah Hale. Sarah Hale fought for Thanksgiving for many years. She also fought for other things such as playgrounds for children, girls attending school, historical monuments commemorating this countries great past. She also argued against slavery. If that wasn't enough, she raised five children on her own because her husband died tragically at an early age. She wrote poetry, children's books, novels, and biographies. You may know one of her rhymes. It goes like this: Mary had a little lamb the fleece was white as snow and everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go. She was also the first female magazine editor in America.
Sarah loved Thanksgiving and when folks started ignoring Thanksgiving she picked up her pen. She wrote thousands of letters asking politicians to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. She wrote magazine articles asking her readers to help and the women of American listened. They picked up their pens and wrote. One by one the states officially made Thanksgiving a holiday but Sarah wanted the whole country to celebrate together on the same day like a family. Sarah petitioned five presidents to make Thanksgiving a national holiday and they all said "No".
When the Civil War began it was a bleak and terrible time for our country. Sarah picked up her pen once again and wrote another letter, this time to President Abraham Lincoln. American needed Thanksgiving, now more than ever. A holiday wouldn't stop the war, but it could help bring the country together. Lincoln said, "YES". In 1863 President Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday-a day for all American to give thanks, TOGETHER. He hoped that the holiday would bring a spirit of unity to a nation broken in two. It had taken Sarah Hale 38 years and thousands of letters, but she got her wish.
My family celebrates Thanksgiving alternating between my parent's home in Eastern Kentucky and my husband's family in Cincinnati. This year we go to my parents. Mom will have a beautiful centerpiece on the table with pewter plates and mugs. The meal will begin with a layered jello salad on a bed of lettuce. We will then have a layered vegetable salad, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, homemade rolls, chicken and dumplings, and of course, the turkey. This will be followed by a selection of mom's incredible desserts. I love the cozy feeling of having this same traditional meal year after year. It takes me back to so many other happy Thanksgivings I've shared with my family.
I hope that however you celebrate you will be able to look back over this past year and give thanks for all of life's blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!
SEE YOU NEXT MONTH! MEET ME IN THE KITCHEN!
Lisa, The Gourmet Librarian
Stuffing A La Lisa
To Start and Have Prepared:
- 1 pound sausage
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 2 small onions, chopped
- 1 1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
- 1 14oz. bag of cubed stuffing
- 1 cup of brazil nuts, chopped (optional)
- 1 can of chicken broth
- salt and pepper
Directions:
Wash and chop mushrooms. Sauté with onion, butter, lemon juice and
Sauté the first five ingredients. Drain excess grease if any. Stir in the stuffing and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the chicken broth. Spread mixture in a 9 X 13 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Tips:
This is a chunky dressing. Every bite is full of goodness. The nuts are optional. They add a delicious crunchiness to the dish. You can serve this delicious dish year around!