A Treasure Trove of Holiday Lore, Images and Recipes
Giving Thanks, published in October of 2005 by Clarkson Potter, a Random House imprint, is a treasure trove of holiday lore, images and recipes that will be cherished year after year when Thanksgiving rolls around. Subtitled Thanksgiving Recipes and History, from Pilgrims to Pumpkin Pie, this book by Plimoth Plantation food historian Kathleen Curtin and Food History News publisher Sandra L. Oliver is not only the definitive Thanksgiving cookbook, it is a detailed and fascinating account of the origins and meaning of the quintessential American holiday.The first third of the book is devoted to telling the tale of Thanksgiving, from the Pilgrims first three-day harvest celebration in 1621 to modern interpretations of the traditional feast of thanks. Trivia lovers will discover myriad tidbits with which to regale fellow dinner guests.
The Definitive Thanksgiving Cookbook
Cookbook collectors and those seeking to infuse their Thanksgiving celebrations with new tastes will turn right to Part II, where Curtin and Oliver share more than 75 recipes ranging from classics, such as Roasted Turkey, New England Stewed Pumpkin and Wampanoag Corn Porridge, to more exotic fare, such as Cuban Stuffed Turkey and Cranberry Pear Pie.The one thing missing from the book that would have made a nice addition is a place to record details of your own memorable Thanksgiving menus, guests and stories.
The hardcover book is beautifully illustrated with historic drawings and photos, paintings by American artists such as Norman Rockwell, commercial advertising art and color photographs from Plimoth Plantation, the living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, that preserves the culture of the Wampanoag Indians and New Englands first English settlers.




