The First Thanksgiving Menu

         The First Thanksgiving was celebrated at Plymouth Colony, Massachussets by the pilgrims in 1621. Many of the pilgrims died during the terrible winter of 1620-1621. By Autumn 1621 the survivors of that year of sickness and scarcity had a successful harvest to celebrate and then 90 Wampanoags (local native Americans) joined the 53 Mayflower Pilgrims. The celebration lasted for several years.
         The menu is said to have included clams, oysters, lobsters, fish, waterfowl, wild turkeys, rabbits, venison, beans, squash, turnips, carrots, salad, wild grapes, hasty pudding, thin cakes of bread and popcorn.
          So if you want to have a real Thanksgiving this year, forget about the mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pies, cakes and beer. Instead serve venison, dried beans and pumpkin. And no football games on TV, either.