It Is Officially GOURD Season!
Today we mainly use gourds for decorations on our holiday tables, crafts for wreaths, in centerpieces or table garnishes. Experiment with the various shapes, sizes and colors to see which ones look best for your festive décor!
Veterans Day, November 11th
Veterans Day is celebrated every year on November 11, regardless of the day of the week. It is a federal holiday, which means schools, banks, and many businesses are closed.
Veterans Day is celebrated to honor our Soldiers, old and new. Originally, Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day and was created to signify the end of World War l. It was a special day dedicated to honoring the Veterans who fought in the war. It was later changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all Veterans, and that is how we know it today.
What is the true meaning of Thanksgiving? We gather with family and friends to celebrate the harvest and our blessings from the past year. We give thanks for everything.
History tells us that originally, Thanksgiving was a three-day feast, giving thanks by the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony who safely survived a brutal winter. This feast provided food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Native Americans. Today's Thanksgiving feast has many similarities in the foods served: berries, fruit, pumpkin and squash.
Melissa's wants to celebrate with you by offering some serving suggestions to enhance your Thanksgiving Day feast. Trends are leaning toward healthier gatherings, and new items such as fresh jackfruit, legumes and grains are making their way into kitchens nationwide. Try mixing grains with your favorite stuffing recipe to add fiber and nutrition; add fresh or dried cranberries, and you have a delicious healthy side. Another fun appetizer is dragon fruit slices placed on top of a star fruit slice, then topped with a Greek yogurt dollop. Try simple Melba toast rounds topped with Melissa's Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto mixed with cream cheese. Everyone will love it, and it is fast and simple to make.
Charcuterie boards are a popular pre-meal hors d’oeuvre. Enhance your meat and cheese grazing board with our honeycomb, dried fruits, nuts and Clean Snax®. Garnish with pomegranate arils and guava paste. Serve with your favorite crackers.
Planning is vital for a successful holiday meal. Prepare your turkey early in the morning and cook it all day to get the aroma in the air. Use a turkey "bag" to ensure a juicy turkey, which basically takes care of itself (no basting). You can even toss your veggies into the bag with the turkey. Use plenty of Dutch Yellow® potatoes, pearl onions, and baby carrots to serve as a tasty side dish.
For another easy side, delicious and creamy organic baby yams are always a hit, served casserole-style and topped with marshmallows. Fresh cranberry sauce and roasted potatoes will be perfect sides, along with the green bean casserole everyone loves and looks forward to every holiday season. Make it simple and easy but tasty and filling.
