What Are You Thankful For?

Thanksgiving is the most widely celebrated holiday in the United States. For many families, this is the only time during the year that they are together, and they have many ways to celebrate their togetherness - mainly the annual feast. As the story goes, the first Thanksgiving was all about the pilgrims being thankful for the food that had been provided to them by the local Wampanoag tribe, and even today, when we think of counting our blessings, food should be included.

While we all know there are hungry people in villages on the other side of the world, we often forget that we may have neighbors who aren't well provided for. It's easy to take for granted that we can just stop at the local grocery store and buy our food, and leave the trouble of slaughtering animals and toiling in the fields to someone else. Whether it's at Thanksgiving, or throughout the year, we should take a few minutes to savor our food.

At the first Thanksgiving, the pilgrims received the gift of maize from the Native Americans, who considered corn a vital part of their diet and folklore. Here is a recipe for Indian pudding, a popular dessert made from cornmeal, that often finds its way onto many Thanksgiving tables.

Being grateful for the little things - like the food we eat - can help make your Thanksgiving holiday feel more authentic.