Did you know that we have writer Sarah Josepha Hale to thank for Thanksgiving?  In all my years of this bounteous celebration with family and friends gathering from afar, I never really knew that someone was responsible for making it happen. I guess I thought it was carried on since the Pilgrims and the Native Americans joined together and made a feast.

Sarah was born in Newport, New Hampshire in 1788, where she grew up and learned to read even though she didn’t go to school. Among her many causes, she believed in Thanksgiving and wanted passionately to make it a national holiday. Sarah composed letters requesting her desire for this public holiday to five different presidents:  Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, and Abraham Lincoln.

In the long run her determination paid off and Lincoln was persuaded by her cause, delivering the following proclamation on October 3, 1863: “The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible.” He declared that on the last Thursday of November the national holiday, Thanksgiving, would be celebrated.

I read about this story on Garrison Keillor’s The Writer’s Almanac—I subscribe online for free and look forward to this entertaining and informative daily publication.

I am glad that we have this national holiday. Tomorrow I am celebrating with 20 family members and friends here at our home. Each person brings a dish for the feast and it truly is that. We try to keep it seasonal with vegetable side dishes ranging from mashed potatoes with garlic, spiced winter squash puree, greens, sauerkraut, cornbread stuffing, cranberry and orange relish. I grew up with sauerkraut being a traditional dish to be served with turkey, though some people think it is strange. I am leaving you with a recipe for it–perhaps you’ll try and make it to go with your leftover turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Sauerkraut with Onions

This recipe lends character to straightforward sauerkraut. My Irish grandmother always put the turkey neck in the sauerkraut pot and let it cook over low heat on the back of the stove while she prepared the rest of the dinner. Traditionally, our family never had turkey without sauerkraut—I believe it is a regional thing. If you don’t make your own, look for fresh sauerkraut packed in plastic bags in the meat department of the supermarket, rather than canned. I serve this kraut with mashed potatoes, stuffing and mushroom gravy and look forward to leftovers for Reuben sandwiches. This dish is from The Onion Book by Carolyn Dille and Susan Belsinger, Interweave Press, 1996.

Serves 10 to 12

1 large yellow or white onion
1-1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1-1/2 to 2 pound bag sauerkraut
1 teaspoon bruised caraway seed
5 or 6 juniper berries
About 1 cup white wine; dry, but a little fruity

Peel and quarter the onion lengthwise; slice the quarters crosswise into thin slices.  Melt the butter over medium heat in a large non-reactive sauté pan. Sauté the onions over medium low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Drain excess liquid from the sauerkraut and add it to the onions.  Add the caraway and juniper berries and stir well.  Add the white wine, stir, cover, with the lid slightly ajar, and cook over medium low heat for 20 to 30 minutes.  Reduce the heat if the sauerkraut is simmering and the wine is evaporating.  Add a little more wine if necessary, stir and taste for seasoning.

You can keep this over low heat for awhile or reheat it before serving.  Remove the juniper berries before serving.  Serve hot.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Revised and Updated Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.

Buy at Amazon

Fiskars Garden Tool Caddy with Removable Small Tool Storage for Indoor and Outdoor Gardening Use, Made with Recycled Plastic

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Fiskars Gardening Tool Caddy stores tools and supplies for easy access and transportation from indoors to out. Body is made of durable, lightweight, resin with 20% post-consumer recycled plastic. Spacious toolbox includes a removable bin with holes for wall mounting and is the perfect organizer for snips, pruners, and more. Handle locks in place for one-handed carrying, or use side handles for two-handed carrying. Lifetime Warranty.

Buy at Amazon

Plant Covers Freeze Protection 10 ft x 30 ft Floating Row Cover 0.9oz/yd²

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Lightweight and Breathable MATERIAL Good for protecting Plant: the plant frost cover material is 0.74 oz/sq non-woven polypropylene fabric, which is lightweight, breathable, and durable. The plant blanket frost protection allows sunlight reach the plants, perfect for protecting plants from the damage of freeze or frost. Wide Application In your Garden Work. The plant row cover not only can work as a barrier against frost, but also can be a great tool for germination and good for rapid seedling growth. By using the fabric plant covers over your plant, you can start the plant earlier in the spring and extending the growing season of your plants. How to Use the Plant Covers: you can cover the plant covers for freeze over your the plants loosely directly and then secure the plant frost blanket with soil, stones or staples. You can also support the floating row covers with a hoop, make enough room for plants to breath and grow. You could also cut the plant covers into different sizes for different purposes.

Buy at Amazon