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By Vicki Clark
It’s that time of year again…when we gather with family and friends to stuff ourselves with turkey and other good things, enjoy each other’s company, watch or perhaps play some football or other games, and most of all to give thanks for what we have been given.
When I sat down to talk with a group of Ray Primary students this week, they not only seemed to have a handle on the meaning of the holiday, but they also gave me a glimpse of what would be happening during the day and also offered some cooking tips for the star of the show.
First they all agreed that Thanksgiving Day is “celebrated to give thanks to people and was started many years ago by the Pilgrims who wanted to thank the Indians for helping them get through a rough winter.”
I agree with that, but they all had more to say.
Tracon Naranjo is the son of Stephen and Sarah Naranjo of Kearny and is in the third grade.
He’s going to his grammy’s in Mammoth for dinner where turkey and pumpkin pie, his favorites, will be on the menu. He said he will probably be watching T.V. (Sponge Bob, Scooby Do, Goodluck Charlie, Austin Ally and maybe some football) while waiting for dinner and after.
He added that his grammy usually has everything ready when he and his parents get there, but sometimes his Mom helps out.
When asked how to cook the turkey, he offered this advice, “I’d get the frozen turkey and put it over the sink and if it still has ice on it, I would bang it on the counter and then put in the oven for 30 seconds at 40 degrees.” He added that he would then cut it open with a knife, put stuffing in it and put it on the table.
He will be most thankful this year for his family and pets.
Alley-Michael Hing is a fourth grader and the son of Michael and Michael Hing of Superior.
He and his family will be gathering at his Grandma’s place in Superior where he will meet up with his cousins. They plan on watching T.V. and playing video games like Halo, his favorite, while dinner is cooking.
On the menu will be turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, root beer and his favorite pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
He said his grandma and aunts do all the cooking but he offered his take on cooking the bird. “I would put it in the oven at 35 degrees F. for 40 minutes, put gravy, stuff it and put in on the table.”
He added that he is thankful for his life and T.V.
Amariz Ochoa lives in Dudleyville. Her parents are Rene and Mitzi Ochoa and she is a third grader.
She will be at her Grandma’s house in Dudleyville for the day with her aunt, uncles and cousins where she will be playing Contra Four.
Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and pumpkin pie will be served along with stuffing that is stuffed into the bird. She likes the turkey and pumpkin pie the best.
He grandma and Mom do the cooking, but she also had a recipe for the turkey. “I’d put it in the sink so the ice will come off, stuff it with stuffing, take a thread and needle to sew it up, put it the oven for 30 minutes at 35 degrees. Take it out and put it on the table.”
This year she is thankful for her family, her pet Lolo, new born bunnies, food, video games and T.V.
Faith Hinojos is in the fourth grade and is the daughter of Abel and Cheryl Hinojos of Kearny.
Her family will be going to her Tia Monica’s home in Kearny to celebrate along with her aunt, uncle and cousins.
The menu will feature turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and apple pie which her favorite part of the meal.
She doesn’t know what she’ll be doing while her Mom and Nana do the cooking, but she hopes to be playing some board games, which she loves.
Her take on getting that turkey to the table includes, “wrapping it in plastic wrap and putting it hot water in the sink…take off the plastic and put stuffing in, take a string and tie the legs together, then put butter, salt and pepper on it.” It would then go into the oven for 40 minutes at 40 degrees.
Food, school, home, family and her brother are among the many things she’s thankful for.
Ashiya Varley is in the third grade and is the daughter of Teri Varley of Kearny.
She will be celebrating the day at his own house with her aunt, uncle, cousins, grandma, her other Mom, her brother and her dog.
Dinner will offer turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and “that thing made out of green beans with crunchy things on top.” Her favorites include mashed potatoes, gravy and the little rolls made by her Aunt.
She said everyone helps get the dinner on the table but she also plans to be playing on her trampoline, and playing Clue and Pictionary.
When asked how to cook the turkey she said, “I don’t really know, mostly they cook it, I just stuff it!”
She is thankful for a home, her family, her brother, her dog and the fact she’s the youngest in the family.
Kacy Molar lives in Kearny, is the daughter of Gilbert and Tana Molar and is in the fourth grade.
She will be going to her Grandma’s house in Riverside for the day along with her two brothers, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
They all will be playing games which are different every year and watching movies which are also different each year while having snacks before dinner.
Dinner will include mashed potatoes, turkey, fruits and vegetables, cookies, cupcakes, along with pecan, apple and pumpkin pie. The potatoes and pumpkin pie are her favorites.
Her Grandma, her aunt and her Mom will be doing the cooking and although she wasn’t sure about how to cook the turkey, she offered this, “I defrost it with hot water in the sink and then stick it in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.”
She said she is most thankful this year for her house, family, her dogs and anything that helps us in life like food and water.
So there you have it…some cooking hints and good thoughts to help get us through the holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone and be safe.
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