Thanksgiving

Our annual day of thanksgiving has universally come to mean a day of feasting on turkey with all the trimmings. The traditional menu is roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing or sage dressing, mashed potatoes and giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, candied yams, a selection of vegetables such as peas and carrots, green beans, squash, various relishes, fruit salad, hot rolls and a choice of several pies, the most popular being Pumpkin, Apple, Mince, Pecan and Chocolate Meringue. Apple cider is often served.

In homes across America the women who prepare these holiday dinners give a great deal of time and thought in planning and cooking these turkey dinners which is similar to the dinners served on Christmas day. The difference being the gifts given and received on Christmas while on Thanksgiving, football games dominate.

It is not the custom in the states to carve fruits and vegetables, although attractive arrangements of foods being serving on a plate are made more appetizing using color, shape and design. The craft of carving fruits and vegetables started in China then found it's way to Thailand. Japan also developed an art form called, Mukimono which is the carving of vegetables such as daikon, carrot and eggplant into shapes of flowers, twists and fans and served as garnishes.

The intermingling of cultures has brought the art of carving fruits and vegetables to the U S and many chefs are learning and demonstrating the techniques. There are excellent videos on the internet showcasing Thai women creating flowers and birds using only a sharp paring knife. Other vegetables can be carved too, like a potato or turnip into a white rose, a squash into a vase holding tulips, watermelons into beautiful flowers or an apple slice into a leaf, is an amazing achievement and done with great dexterity.

Because the craft is so appealing to the eye, and relative easy to learn, requiring only a sharp paring knife and lots of practice, I have a hunch that in years to come, holiday dinner tables will be decorated with fruit and vegetable carvings.

10 Examples of Carved Vegetables

10 Examples of Carved Vegetables