Bring What You Have

Thanksgiving without all the trimmings was refreshing and delicious.

- Sally Parker-Henderson

A few years ago, we were invited to a Thanksgiving dinner with a twist. The idea was to prepare and enjoy a festive meal like the one the Pilgrims had in 1621. The rules were simple: no buying items for this meal. We could bring things we already had on hand, such as canned goods or food from the garden, or we could barter for what we wanted to bring. No matter what we brought, each dish would have a story.

We were fortunate; a friend had given us a few ducks that were now in the freezer. I didn’t know how to cook them but soon poked my nose into a series of cookbooks.