Even those unbridled by patriotism, a love of America, or even a simple appreciation of US culture might still welcome the opportunity of a roast dinner come the third Thursday of this month. And why not? Turkey and all the trimmings is as triumphant a way as any to spend an evening.
Come November 23, that's exactly what's on the menu. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner will include dishes made from ingredients native to North America: the centrepiece turkey, of course, but also sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, creamed corn and pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving is reputed to be the largest eating event in the United States not only in terms of food bought, but also food consumed: a typical Thanksgiving dinner contains between three and four thousand calories.It is, then, a delightful precursor to Christmas. A preview of what’s to come, even if Brussels sprouts replace yams and stuffing takes the place of various shapes of pumpkin. Still, really the day commemorates the three-day feast celebrated in the early 17th century between the Puritan settlers of the Plymouth Colony and the native American Wampanoag tribe, with Abraham Lincoln making Thanksgiving a US national holiday by in 1863. Here's where to mark that, and where to fill up on all the trimmings, without putting any effort in. After all, the best thing to give thanks for is someone else doing the cooking (and the washing up).
