The First Thanksgiving

"The First Thanksgiving" by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe (1850-1936). 

Thanksgiving Day 2013

Hope everyone has had a very happy and safe Thanksgiving spending time with those you love. 

Headed South

Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing toward 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 can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,

Secretary of State

Zombie Thanksgiving

Household Cleaning Calendar

This calendar is handy for helping a batchelor or even a housewife or working mom keep up with housework. It is easy to follow and doesn't leave you overloaded with work on one day. 

Iced Pecans

Ingredients 

3 cups pecan halves 

1 cup white granulated sugar 

Small pinch of salt 

8 Tbsp. butter or margarine (1 stick) 

1 tsp. vanilla 

Line a baking sheet with foil. Lightly spray with cooking spray, and set aside. 

In a heavy skillet, use a wooden spoon to combine pecans, sugar, pinch of salt and margarine. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 9 minutes. Sugar will melt and turn a rich brown color. Watch out for spatters. 

Remove from heat and immediately stir in vanilla extract. The vanilla extract being stirred into the hot pecan mixture will make your kitchen smell delicious! Be careful - the pan will be very hot. 

Spread mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and VERY LIGHTLY sprinkle with salt right away while they're still hot (optional). This tiny touch of salt balances out the sweet, buttery, vanilla flavor. Using 2 forks, separate pecans quickly before they cool and stick together; allow to cool completely. 

Stored tightly covered, they will keep for 1-2 weeks. 

Notes: Use only stick margarine for this recipe to be its best. Soft margarine in a tub does not work in this recipe. 

While the pecans are cooling, fill the pan with hot, soapy water and let it sit for a few minutes. The pan should then be very easy to clean. 

Walnuts, almonds, peanuts or just about any other nut can be used in place of pecans. A (16 oz.) jar of lightly salted peanuts is the perfect amount for this recipe.

You can add a touch of cinnamon or cayenne pepper to this recipe. 

Mexican Pizza

Ingredients:

Approx 1/2 lb ground beef or ground turkey

1/2 TBSP taco seasoning

1/4-1/2 cup re fried beans

1/4-1/2 cup salsa ( jarred or homemade)

1/4-1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or your desired flavor)

2- 4in flour tortillas

your choice of toppings, ex: tomatoes, green onions, olives

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown ground beef in skillet. Add in taco seasoning. Drain if needed. Spray baking sheet with non stick cooking spray. Lay one tortilla on sheet. Spread with beans, then, with meat. Cover with second tortilla. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Spread top tortilla with salsa, then, top with cheese and desired toppings. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted completely. Cool slightly before cutting.

BUTTERFINGER FUDGE

3 cups candy corn

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 can 14 oz condensed milk 

2 cups white chocolate chips

Hershey's chocolate baking melts for drizzling

Directions:

Line a 9x13 pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.

Pour in candy corn and peanut butter in a pan and heat on low.

Stirring occasionally.

When mixture looks like a cookie batter pour in condensed milk, stir.

When all mixed pour in white chocolate chips.

Stir until completely melted.

Pour into baking dish and refrigerate until completely cool.

Melt baking chips and drizzle over fudge.

Put back in fridge to let chocolate harden.

Makes 50 1 inch squares.