[canajanz]

I understand from one of the canadians on this forum that Thanksgiving weekend is coming up again
I know the American version is about 6 weeks later .. sort of a practice run for Christmas dinner :)

For those of you in North America (cuz i cant recall it ever being an issue in UK) Thanksgiving is possibly something you will miss
Harvest festival, which is what it is based on, is of course at the other end of the year (march april)
Turkey is in short supply so is very expensive

Yes I miss turkey ... and all the turkey leftovers ... and resonably priced cranberry ...

On the up side :nice1 the novelty of Christmas on the beach ... a bbq christmas ... or salads and a cold ham ...

[canajanz]

I wonder how many other favourite holidays are not observed here or at least .. not at the same time

father's day is one that comes to mind

[Caniwi]

You bet.....Canadian Thanksgiving is Oct 13 this year. Happy Thanksgiving :)

[kanatakiwi]

Yep... Canadian Club is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this weekend at the Botanical Gardens.... Turkey and all the trimmings.....Yum can't wait.
Americans celebrate Thanksgiving a month later sometime in November, guess its because of a later harvest.

[Ana&Steve]

American Thanksgiving is on the 27th this year; it falls on the last Thursday in November each year.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I think it will be the hardest for me to get over when we move. Not just because of the food (really!) but because of the friends and family that come over all day and watch movies, play outside, and eat eat eat! I love to entertain and cook and I invite the Thanksgiving "orphans" to my house, friends who don't have family close by who would otherwise spend the holiday alone.
We'll just have to make friends quickly in NZ and get used to roast chicken to cut costs!:nice1

[GreenMeansGo]

What about Halloween? We just spent part of the afternoon making some fall and halloween decorations for our house and the girls are really excited about their costumes this year. Haven't heard anything about it in NZ though...

I will miss thanksgiving... oh well, pumpkin pie for easter doesn't sound too bad ;)

[Tia Maria]

What about Halloween? We just spent part of the afternoon making some fall and halloween decorations for our house and the girls are really excited about their costumes this year. Haven't heard anything about it in NZ though...

I will miss thanksgiving... oh well, pumpkin pie for easter doesn't sound too bad ;)

We have quite a big thing round our way that a few of the mums organised a few years back and has grown since then.

All the local streets have a party, they meet at the local park for a picnic and then head off in groups to go trick or treating - leaflets are put through doors to warn houses and signs put up by those that don't want little visitors. Some of the neighbours really get into it with decorations, treats, costumes etc and everyone has a good time. :)

Its odd doing it in daylight though ....

Cheers

Tia

[Bruckner]

We had no problem getting a turkey for our Thanksgiving open house last year. Now trying to get Kraft mini marshmallows for the sweet potatoes is another story.

Emily

[NZ Hopeful]

We have quite a big thing round our way that a few of the mums organised a few years back and has grown since then.

All the local streets have a party, they meet at the local park for a picnic and then head off in groups to go trick or treating - leaflets are put through doors to warn houses and signs put up by those that don't want little visitors. Some of the neighbours really get into it with decorations, treats, costumes etc and everyone has a good time. :)

Its odd doing it in daylight though ....

Cheers

Tia

Oh I am glad about that! One of my kids birthdays is on Halloween so a big party has become kind of a tradition! :clap

[GreenMeansGo]

We have quite a big thing round our way that a few of the mums organised a few years back and has grown since then.

All the local streets have a party, they meet at the local park for a picnic and then head off in groups to go trick or treating - leaflets are put through doors to warn houses and signs put up by those that don't want little visitors. Some of the neighbours really get into it with decorations, treats, costumes etc and everyone has a good time. :)

Its odd doing it in daylight though ....

Cheers

Tia

oh yay! the girls will now happily consent to the move :)

daylight trick or treating might be a bit odd, but I'll sure be glad not to have to go in the SNOW anymore!! :clap

[M-Squared]

My MIL ruined Thanksgiving for me by saying (via a 3rd party) that my parents, visiting from the UK, shouldn't come over for TG as "they're not family". Stuff that, we had it by ourselves at our house, me, hubby, daughter and my parents. :nice1

[Ana&Steve]

We had no problem getting a turkey for our Thanksgiving open house last year
Good to know Emily!:nice1

My MIL ruined Thanksgiving for me by saying (via a 3rd party) that my parents, visiting from the UK, shouldn't come over for TG as "they're not family"
That stinks Marion, family can be so....unpredictable. I hope it turn into a nice holiday.

[M-Squared]

^^ Yep sure did Ana! All the better for not having to see the old trout. :D :nice1 :laugh

[JoJo76]

Thanksgiving sounds fun, all that food drools. I understand thanksgiving is about the Native Americans helping the Pilgrims but has it's message been lost, like Christmas?

In Scotland we celebrate Burns Night with haggis, whiskey and bad poetry:)

[JandM]

My MIL ruined Thanksgiving for me by saying (via a 3rd party) that my parents, visiting from the UK, shouldn't come over for TG as "they're not family". Stuff that, we had it by ourselves at our house, me, hubby, daughter and my parents. :nice1Ouch... Not that Thanksgiving is involved for us Brits, but I feel for you as my m-i-l for most of the 40 years I've been around hasn't actually considered me as officially belonging! We're very lucky in my Kiwi d-i-l's parents, aunts and sisters, who've automatically included us in everything going on during our visits to NZ, refusing to be thanked by saying, 'You're family.'

[Tui2too]

Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday
its all the food, warmth, family, celebration, tradition, time to reflect and feel thankful
..without the stress of gifts and commercialism that xmas packs

I was thinking maybe we'd have to raise a few turkeys in nz eventually
:-)

[kanatakiwi]

Thanksgiving sounds fun, all that food drools. I understand thanksgiving is about the Native Americans helping the Pilgrims but has it's message been lost, like Christmas?

In Scotland we celebrate Burns Night with haggis, whiskey and bad poetry:)

Yes to some extent the original message has been lost, especially in the sense of thinking of Native Americans, or First Nations as we call them in Canada, as the original inhabitants of the land., who took in the settlers and welcomed and fed them.

(This concept is much more acknowledged in NZ where Maori have "Tangata Whenua" status--People of the Land)

However Thanksgiving meets its message about giving thanks, because people always do feel kind of special on Thanksgiving, when all the family gathers, and the food is so scrumptious and abundant--its impossible not to think about how lucky we all area. It really is a wonderful occassion, in some ways I like it better than Christmas.

[Ana&Steve]

However Thanksgiving meets its message about giving thanks, because people always do feel kind of special on Thanksgiving, when all the family gathers, and the food is so scrumptious and abundant--its impossible not to think about how lucky we all are
Yea I agree! It's nice when a holiday changes with the times but still has a nice message.
I love Halloween too but here in the States it's gotten a bit OTT. Michael's had all their Halloween merchandise up in early August; kinda ruins the magic for me:( Let's not even broach the Christmas commercialism!

[canajanz]

We had no problem getting a turkey for our Thanksgiving open house last year. Now trying to get Kraft mini marshmallows for the sweet potatoes is another story.

Emily

OK .. that's something else I miss. I dont care who makes them, i dont care if it says Kraft .. but I would really like to have access to bags of WHITE mini marshmallows. I have a wonderful desert recipe that needs them and it just isnt the same with pink marshmallows. they clash.
I once spent an hour cutting up the big ones but that's sooo not going to happen again.

Everyone here treats them like candy and thus they sell for 8x the price in smaaaallll bags :wah

[canajanz]

Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday
its all the food, warmth, family, celebration, tradition, time to reflect and feel thankful
..without the stress of gifts and commercialism that xmas packs

I was thinking maybe we'd have to raise a few turkeys in nz eventually
:-)

There are lots of turkeys here! Wild .. running around in the hills. Honest!
We jsut need to work out how best to harvest them for the expat community

[cani]

2 1/2 tbsp gelatin
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp vanilla

Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup water in the bowl of an electric mixer with wisk attachment. Let stand for 30 minutes.

Combine sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water in a small heavy saucepan. Place over low heat and stir until sugar dissolves. Using a candy thermometer, raise heat and cook syrup without stirring, until it reaches 244 degrees. Remove from heat.

With mixer on low speed, slowly pour syrup into gelatin mixture.

Increase to high speed and beat until mixture is very thick and white and has tripled in volume, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla and beat to incorporate.

Pour into non-stick 8x12 inch pan (you can line with parchment paper). Spread smooth and let stand overnight.

Turn out onto board and cut into 1 1/2 inch squares.

Of course, you could make as thin as you like and cut size as you need. You could also experiment with flavours and coat if you like.
Enjoy, Kristina

[canajanz]

WOW have to give it a try and hope it is not going to stick like the rice krispie marshmallow squares we used to have

[mcacmartin]

WOW have to give it a try and hope it is not going to stick like the rice krispie marshmallow squares we used to have

Aren't Rice Krispie squares MEANT to be sticky?? :D

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

:laugh