Kosher Cuisine with Marcy Goldman

Thanksgiving Envy from the North

I have thanksgiving envy. Here, in Canada, the Thanksgiving holiday never caught on as big as it did in the States – primarily because it is not our holiday. We plastered on a similar holiday in October, which is when Canadians imitate Thanksgiving. Because it is so close to the Jewish High Holidays, Jewish homes in particular, tend to miss Thanksgiving – and it is, as it is this year, a blur of Rosh Hashanah, Succoth and Thanksgiving. The foods are all similar too, which only makes Thanksgiving stand out less! This is a real pity because Thanksgiving is reflective of the themes of Succoth (which is about gratitude and harvests) and the foods of the Thanksgiving table are sublime.

As luck would have it, I mostly write my food features for the U.S. and so I get to create a fresh batch of lovely, kosher, Thanksgiving recipes each year. Invariably, they are recipes I have no trouble testing and no trouble finding volunteers to taste test. This year, I offer some unique but thematic Thanksgiving inspirations from my own kitchen. They are mostly oriented towards pumpkin, all are more than a little harvest-y, all are totally kosher and wonderfully Thanksgiving, no matter when and where that occurs.

Enjoy,

Marcy Goldman

Recipes

Herb Slathered Turkey, bonus recipe
Another perfect turkey -this one takes a short brining to tenderize it and then a slather of oil and fresh herbs paste under the skin makes this a turkey no holiday should be without.
Harvest Pumpkin Challah
What is more appropriate for celebrating U.S. Thanksgiving with a kosher, post-Succoth flair? Pumpkin Challah of course! Add chopped cranberries and raisins if you like.
Cranberry Apple and Apricot Strudel Tart
Kosher filo dough does the trick here in a tart that is European by virtue of the use of pastry dough but American harvest in filling.
Sour Cream Pumpkin Pie Cookies
In-between the big meals and big clean up – this is just a perfect treat. Anything is better with raisins in it – wouldn’t you agree?