Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: Psalm 50:14
"The Colonists and the Natives often ate wild turkey, although it is not specifically mentioned in Edward Winslow’s eyewitness account of the First Thanksgiving. He said that four men went hunting and brought back large amounts of fowl – with waterfowl like ducks and geese being most likely from such a bountiful shoot. Hunters could position themselves in marsh
grass and fire at scores of birds floating on the water.
Yet Governor Bradford’s description of the Pilgrims’ first autumn in Plymouth makes it clear, “there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc.” The fowl served at the First Thanksgiving could have been turkeys, ducks, geese, and swan. Early Plymouth writings also mention eating eagle and crane at other times. And what about stuffing? Yes, the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims occasionally stuffed birds and fish, typically with herbs or onions. The English sometimes used oats in their stuffing.
At this point, you might be asking, “Surely pumpkin pie appeared at the First Thanksgiving?” Pumpkin -- probably yes, but pumpkin pie -- probably not. Pumpkins and squashes were native to New England, and like the turkey, were introduced to Europe during the 1500s where they gained widespread acceptance. In Plymouth, the American varieties were new to the Pilgrims, but hardly exotic. However, the fledgling colony probably did not have the butter and wheat flour for making piecrust."
PartakersOfPlenty
"The Colonists and the Natives often ate wild turkey, although it is not specifically mentioned in Edward Winslow’s eyewitness account of the First Thanksgiving. He said that four men went hunting and brought back large amounts of fowl – with waterfowl like ducks and geese being most likely from such a bountiful shoot. Hunters could position themselves in marsh
Yet Governor Bradford’s description of the Pilgrims’ first autumn in Plymouth makes it clear, “there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc.” The fowl served at the First Thanksgiving could have been turkeys, ducks, geese, and swan. Early Plymouth writings also mention eating eagle and crane at other times. And what about stuffing? Yes, the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims occasionally stuffed birds and fish, typically with herbs or onions. The English sometimes used oats in their stuffing.
At this point, you might be asking, “Surely pumpkin pie appeared at the First Thanksgiving?” Pumpkin -- probably yes, but pumpkin pie -- probably not. Pumpkins and squashes were native to New England, and like the turkey, were introduced to Europe during the 1500s where they gained widespread acceptance. In Plymouth, the American varieties were new to the Pilgrims, but hardly exotic. However, the fledgling colony probably did not have the butter and wheat flour for making piecrust."
PartakersOfPlenty
