I had about ten ideas floating around my head, each one fighting to be the topic of my first article until I decided on "the one". I wanted my first article to be a little taste of me, because, trust me, I have a lot of personal crap to talk about. Being half African- American and half Greek, I grew up having different experiences than my peers and holidays were no exception. I was born and raised just fifteen minutes outside of New York City and even though it is packed with every race, ethnicity, and religion, I still felt like the "other" (check My Big Fat Greek Wedding for reference, because young Toula was basically me). I didn’t realize we did holiday’s differently until school one Monday after Thanksgiving. Everybody has memories of the first Monday after Thanksgiving, when you have way too much food left over and your school lunch consisted of food that you’ve eaten every single day for breakfast, lunch and dinner since Thanksgiving. I would open up my lunch tin and surprise -- my Tupperware was vastly different from the other kids. There was dolmades, feta, maybe a little moussaka. You know, just like the pilgrims. Then I had to spend ten minutes explaining to the other kids exactly what was in my lunch. Anyone that grew up in an ethnic household can probably relate.
Most people dread this time of year, mainly because you have to prepare yourself for the barrage of questions you don’t want to answer that your family throws at you, and of course somewhere through the night a political argument is thrown in. While Thanksgiving nights with my family go a little like that as well, it was the food on the dinner table that made and still makes everything unique.
1. Lamb
No, my family does not roast a whole lamb on a spit outside of my Yia Yia’s house, but Thanksgiving isn’t the same if there isn’t a lamb leg on the table, and my mom’s lamb is the bomb.com. I absolutely hate turkey and I don’t eat pork so it was never the Thanksgiving turkey or ham that I had my heart set on for the night. My mom seasons the lamb and stuffs it with garlic (I don’t know the full list of ingredients because it’s the one thing she won’t let me cook). Under the lamb are perfectly sliced lemon Greek potatoes that suck up all the juices from the lamb while it’s cooking in the oven. Hungry yet?
2. Spanakopita
Spanakopita is the BEST thing since sliced bread. Don’t agree with me? Fight me. This is coming from someone who isn’t the biggest fan of spinach. My mom makes it on other occasions besides holidays, but it’s the dish that most of us look forward to. If you don’t take some home with you, chances are, you won’t be able to snag any for leftovers because it doesn't last long. Like gyros (pronounced yee-ros), spanakopita is a popular Greek dish and for good reason. Recipes depend on the region the family is from so some spanakopites have no feta, a little feta, or a lot. My family recipe falls in the last category. My mom and I usually put a pound to a pound and a half of feta into the mixture, while my Yia Yia sits at the kitchen table telling us that we’re putting too much in even though we know she’ll eat it later that night and sneak a bite before anyone comes over.
3. Politiki Gemisi- Greek stuffing
My Yia Yia used to make this traditional Greek stuffing. It has ground meat, pine nuts, chest nuts, rice, all spice and raisins. And more often than not, she would be the only one to eat it. I wanted to start making it again, because I know it would put a smile on her face, but I need to tweak a few things.
4. Tyropita and Kreatopita
Just like spanakopita, these savory dishes are stuffed with deliciousness and wrapped in flakey fillo dough. Tyri in Greek means cheese and kreas means meat. Tyropita has a beautiful cheese mixture inside, we use feta as the main cheese and we usually mix ricotta and other chesses as well. While some people use another popular Greek cheese called Kasseri. Kreatopita has a sautéed meat mixture inside, we use ground turkey, but beef is a nice meat to use as well. My brother and I usually take two or three kreatopites before anyone comes over.
I could go on and on about the main course, but no Thanksgiving meal is complete without the desserts. Apple pie and pumpkin pie can have a seat at another table 'cause I’m about to serve you some deliciousness you probably can’t pronounce.
1. Kourambiethes
If you’ve ever been to a Greek festival or pastry shop, you’ve probably come across these cookies. They’re basically a shortbread cookie that’s covered in powdered sugar and they’re a choking hazard. Don’t worry, once you’ve mastered the technique of eating them, you’ll come back for more.
2. Galaktoboureko
Gala means milk so I guess you can call galaktoboureko a milk pastry. The filling is a semolina custard with some vanilla, and once it comes out of the oven, you coat it with freshly made syrup. Try it warm with vanilla ice cream and thank me later.
3. Baklava
Everyone has had baklava at least once in their lives unless you’re allergic to nuts. I usually make this dish and I make two variations: a traditional pan and one with chocolate.
4. Rizogalo
Last but certainly not least, we have rizogalo, or rice pudding. Every culture has their own version of rice pudding, but nothing tops rizogalo. My mom usually makes two big pots of rizogalo because once it’s gone, it’s gone. I’m usually the first at the dessert table, after my little cousins and niece for this dessert. The kids love it, so much so that my niece wanted it for her birthday. It has a creamy thick consistency and is made with milk, sugar, vanilla and sprinkled with cinnamon once it’s finished.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to embrace what others would call an “unorthodox” Thanksgiving, because it’s a part of who I am. We live in a world where our diversity should be celebrated 24/7 and no one should be made to feel differently. Do any of you readers have different Thanksgiving traditions? Or food that you eat during the holiday that’s specific to your culture? Let me know!
Happy Thanksgiving!
