As a result of my research into sustainability, nutrition, and a general interest in food my parents have become interested in following the same practices. This also comes from living in Vermont where almost the entire population appreciates the environment. The reason I brought this up is because our meal last night was filled with seasonal and local food.
Nothing is more delicious, seasonal, and traditional than the Thanksgiving meal. Stuffing, cranberry relish, pie, and of course turkey all fight for attention at my Thanksgiving dinner. Most of the dishes were provided by our host but I was graciously allowed to bring my home made apple pie baked with apples from Kimball farm in Pepperell, MA and a butter crust with cinnamon-orange filling. Almost everything we ate last night came from farmers in the New England area. I made sure to ask my hostess where they bought their turkey and was delighted to discover that it was raised and slaughtered by Cloudland Farm in Woodstock, VT and cooked with herbs from our host's back yard. I am obviously not a vegetarian but will refuse to eat meat unless I know where it was raised and how the animal was treated during its life. Our host also made a delicious whole wheat bread stuffing with currents and herbs as well as a turnip dish, mashed sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and butternut squash which are all seasonal veggie options for the New England area. My mother provided our favorite pear and cranberry relish from the Woodstock Farmer's Market. Then came the second installment of our meal, DESSERT! Along with my apple and pecan pies, our host made a mind blowing pumpkin mouse pie with enough brandy in it to make my dad question his driving capabilities. We had a perfect evening filled with food that was not only delicious but we could feel good about eating because of our attention to sustainability and growing practices.
