Governor Bradford Would Be Proud: My Thanksgiving Weekend

I spent my Thanksgiving weekend differently than most. I packed up my stuff (some of it anyway) and moved out of my house and into an apartment (more like a small cottage, really). My mom and dad were expecting me to arrive in Virginia by train for Thanksgiving dinner. I called them and told them that my plans had changed. I was moving out. On Thanksgiving. In hindsight, that probably wasn't very considerate of my family's feelings. "Where's Trailer Trad? I thought that he was arriving on the 3:30 train?" "Uhm... turns out he's moving out of his house and into an apartment this weekend and won't be able to join us. -broccoli casserole?"

The Old

But you know something? I'm glad that I moved on Thanksgiving because that's what Thanksgiving's all about. If the pilgrims had thought about it the way that we do now, they would have spent the feast telling the Indians (sorry) about how awesome England was and how great it would be if everyone could pretend that they were still being persecuted and killed for their religous beliefs.

They didn't do that. In fact, the first Thanksgiving was a humble offering of thanks for what God had given them. Pestilence, death, said indians, fear, uncertainty along with hope and the ability to move forward in their new life. They spent Thanksgiving not looking back but looking forward with hope, gratitude and courage. Happy Holidays from Trailer Trad.

The New

Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.

Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.

--William Bradford

Ye Governor of Ye Colony

Trailer Trad Thanksgiving: Oyster Stew Breakfast Tradition

Thanksgiving is about tradition and memories. For me, my family's best Thanksgiving tradition is oyster stew for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning. This we have done my entire life and my mom probably has had oyster stew for Thanksgiving (and Christmas) breakfast since she was a little girl. Why oysters? Why breakfast?

 Virginia has a proud oyster producing history and, no doubt, the succulent bi-valves have made their way up the Rappahannock River by flatboat to the rest of the state for hundreds of years. Even more than that, oysters were one of the few 'exotic' foods available in the country because they were canned early on and so where available in country stores when other things (like overnight shipped lobster, free-range filet mignon, etc.) were not available. This is just a guess but I'll bet that my grandfather Troy picked up a gallon before Thanksgiving because they were special. Making oyster stew out of them made them more special. How could you up the anty any more than that?

By serving oyster stew for breakfast. Having the sea tang of oysters serves as a fine counterpoint to another Old Domion delicacy- country ham. Don't know about 'country ham?' Before people connected sodium with negative health consequences, folks in Virginia (and North Carolina) enjoyed ALOT of country ham. It's very salty and delicious. Now, it's a treat to maybe have a few times a year. You combine country ham, oyster stew and my mom's homemade biscuits and you have perhaps the best meal that you will ever eat. I know that it is probably mine.

In addition to how well it compliments biscuits, a few eggs-over-hard, country ham and the rest, there is something about walking into the kitchen with frost still heavy on the windows and wood smoke in the air. Autumn. Another steaming bowl of stew with oyster crackers and pepper please. And just one more biscuit.

Trailer Trad's Family Recipe for Oyster Stew

12oz. oysters & liquid (or 'liquor')
3 tbsp. butter
3 cups milk
1/2 tsp.salt
1/2 tsp. celery salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. paprika

Simmer oysters & liquid in butter for 3 minutes or until edges begin to curl.
Scald milk in separate saucepan over low heat, add oysters & seasonings.
Serve hot but do not boil.