Hi to all of you, I was just curious if those of you, who were born and raised in Czech/Slovakia and moved to the USA later in life, celebrated Thanksgiving and stuffed yourself with a big ol’ turkey this year? Or do you ignore this holiday since it is foreign to the Czech/Slovak culture?
CZ: Ahoj vsem! Zajimalo by me, jestli jste vy, Cesi a Slovaci, kteri jste vyrostli v Cechach/na Slovensku, ale nyni zijete v Americe, slavili Dikuvzdani (omlouvam se, nejak se mi to tu hemzi carkami, takze gramaticky dobre ta veta asi sestavena nebue)? Pecete krocanka nebo tyto svatky ignorujete?
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Mam tu velikou rodinu tak pecu pecu a pecu!
Pockej a co peces? Krocana? Kapra?? Cukrovi????
I am third generation American, so to a large extent this question was moot for me, but I thought I’d share a Czech-American Thanksgiving story with you, and your readers that should bring a smile.
As a child, and even into my teens and 20’s my immediate family did what most Americans in the 1950’s and ’60’s did for Thanksgiving–went “over the river and thru the woods to Grandmother’s house.” In our case, Grandma (and Grandpa) Blaha’s house was in the Czech enclave of Cleveland, Ohio from whence we all originated. We had a “typical” American Thanksgiving dinner–turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc. At least I always pictured it as typical American. It wasn’t until later in life, having Thanksgiving dinner at someone else’s house that I made the discovery that everyone’s Thanksgiving turkey wasn’t roasted covered in caraway seeds like our always were. Grandma always covered our bird in the same kind of seeds she used for the vepro-knedlo-zelo, and I had always seen that as “normal.”.
Haha, Tom, that’s great about the caraway seeds! I put them into everything as well and my husband actually bakes Czech bread where caraway seeds are necessary. Interestingly enough when someone else tastes the bread they say it has weird taste…perhaps because of those weird seeds! 🙂 Oh well, they don’t know what they are missing! Actually I found out why the caraway seeds were put into everything. Taste one thing and also because they are good for digestion…and you need that with knedlo vepro zelo!
We were supposed to have friends over but they couldn’t come so we made only half the turkey and all the trimmings, my husband is the main chef and I just help to clean up 🙂 I actually like the food but have no family around to celebrate it with. Last Christmas my family from CZ came to visit so we made it all for them so they experience the turkey, stuffing, etc. and they loved it!
I celebrated Thanksgiving with Tofu Turkey 🙂 , Czech mashed potatoes, bread stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, green beans, pumpkin pie and hot cocoa with vegan marshmallows.
Eva: Becherovka helps digestion too!
Tom, that’s classic! I am surprised that the recipes for Christmas cookies don’t call for caraway seeds!!
The strange thing to me is that the Americans have the same dinner (thanksgiving dinner) for Christmas too. Or does just my family do that? It’s time to bring out that fried carp recipe 😉
Evi, I am impressed what a nice husband you have – he bakes Czech bread!!!! Awesome..
Right? I know! Awesome! And it’s so good! The thing is that he loves it too so it’s not just for me 😉 Over the years he somehow turned into a chef…so I am definitely enjoying the “fallout”!
To Tanja: Krocana! About a a 20 pounder 🙂
Tome, true about Becherovka…but drinking it after lunch is a bit too early for some people 🙂
Caraway seed is a must! My hubby takes care of the turkey as well, besides caraway seed he also uses bacon for extra drippings:) .
As for digestion the one and only Plzen!
You can start drinking Becherovka in the morning. There is no time during the day that would be too early for it 😀
Yes, I know Becherovka is a medicine 🙂 Actually where I come from slivovica is the medicine of choice 🙂
Hmm, I am obviously late:-) I have an option not mentioned, my fiance’s family is Indian, so not much turkey there, but they really enjoy to get together and make a big dinner. It’s still a nice family holiday, but without the turkey.
Zuzko, I agree, turkey or not, it’s a family holiday when one is formally reminded to be thankful
My favorite American holiday! I do the turkey myself – one hint I learned here is to cover turkey breast during roasting with 3-4 slices of bacon for moister white meat. I use packaged stuffing (cornbread is good), but add sauteed local bratwurst with onion and celery.
My lovely American wife makes pies in advance – besides the required apple and pumpkin, there’s something called “bumbleberry” (mix of fruit I guess), lemon, mincemeat (which I love, but few others will touch) and more.
It’s our tradition now to take a walk in a near park after the feast – and come home for coffee and pies.
Once we had 7 pies for about 12 adults and 7 kids… Afterwards, I take the bones and start the turkey soup 🙂 Long live Thanksgiving!
I think there needs to be another choice, for the YES, but I’m a vegetarian eating tofurky, people.