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What The Pilgrims Ate
UnsolvedMysteries.com ^ | Nocturnal By Nature

Posted on 11/21/2007 8:09:11 AM PST by DogByte6RER

What The Pilgrims Ate

FIRST THANKSGIVING

In 1621 the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is now known as the first Thanksgiving. While cooking methods and table etiquette have changed as the holiday has evolved, the meal is still consumed today with the same spirit of celebration and overindulgence.

WHAT WAS ACTUALLY ON THE MENU?

What foods topped the table at the first harvest feast? Historians aren't completely certain about the full bounty, but it's safe to say the pilgrims weren't gobbling up pumpkin pie or playing with their mashed potatoes. Following is a list of the foods that were available to the colonists at the time of the 1621 feast. However, the only two items that historians know for sure were on the menu are venison and wild fowl, which are mentioned in primary sources. The most detailed description of the "First Thanksgiving" comes from Edward Winslow from A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, in 1621:

THE PILGRIMS' MENU

Foods That May Have Been on the Menu:

SEAFOOD: Cod, Eel, Clams, Lobster

WILD FOWL: Wild Turkey, Goose, Duck, Crane, Swan, Partridge, Eagles

MEAT: Venison, Seal

GRAIN: Wheat Flour, Indian Corn

VEGETABLES: Pumpkin, Peas, Beans, Onions, Lettuce, Radishes, Carrots

FRUIT: Plums, Grapes

NUTS: Walnuts, Chestnuts, Acorns

HERBS AND SEASONINGS: Olive Oil, Liverwort, Leeks, Dried Currants, Parsnips

WHAT WAS NOT ON THE MENU:

Surprisingly, the following foods, all considered staples of the modern Thanksgiving meal, didn't appear on the pilgrims's first feast table:

HAM: There is no evidence that the colonists had butchered a pig by this time, though they had brought pigs with them from England.

SWEET POTATOES/POTATOES: These were not common.

CORN ON THE COB: Corn was kept dried out at this time of year.

CRANBERRY SAUCE: The colonists had cranberries but no sugar at this time.

PUMPKIN PIE: It's not a recipe that exists at this point, though the pilgrims had recipes for stewed pumpkin.

CHICKEN/EGGS: We know that the colonists brought hens with them from England, but it's unknown how many they had left at this point or whether the hens were still laying.

MILK: No cows had been aboard the Mayflower, though it's possible that the colonists used goat milk to make cheese.

Nocturnal By Nature


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: 1621; americancolonists; bonappetit; godsgravesglyphs; history; menu; pilgrims; plymoth; plymouth; recipes; thanksgiving; turkey
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To: Slapshot68

“We’re having prime rib for Thanksgiving this year....yum!”

For us it’s always Turkey for Thankgiving and for Christmas my Wife cooks up a Kosher Salt Encrusted Prime Rib - cooked Rare of course.


21 posted on 11/21/2007 9:23:47 AM PST by NavyCanDo
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To: DryFly

” “ENFORCE?” Boy, you can find biblical support for anything if you’re willing to change the text.”

I fully support english being the first language of the USA.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Fufil;

1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises.
2.To carry out (an order, for example).
3.To measure up to; satisfy. See Synonyms at perform, satisfy.
4.To bring to an end; complete.


22 posted on 11/21/2007 9:33:31 AM PST by Para-Ord.45
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To: Para-Ord.45

Ok, so long as you’ve now admitted to changing the text to suit your needs.


23 posted on 11/21/2007 9:35:40 AM PST by DryFly
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To: DryFly

” Ok, so long as you’ve now admitted to changing the text to suit your needs.”

Text substitution did NOT alter orignal meaning.

Now if only others would admit their ignorance of the

english language.


24 posted on 11/21/2007 9:43:23 AM PST by Para-Ord.45
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To: Para-Ord.45
I'll remember that the next time I get a ticket from the local Parking Fulfillment officer. Or better yet, when I watch Clint Eastwood in, The Fulfiller.
25 posted on 11/21/2007 9:53:02 AM PST by DryFly
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To: Slapshot68

I am in Fallujah, KBR will probably do a great job tomorrow.....those evil bastards! ha ha ha


26 posted on 11/21/2007 10:08:33 AM PST by ThunderStruck94
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To: DogByte6RER
This great-great... grandson of John Alden will be eating a few traditional Thanksgiving items like, kielbasa, stuffed mushrooms and deviled eggs. Yummy.
27 posted on 11/21/2007 10:09:37 AM PST by HenpeckedCon (Can I please freep just a little while longer Dear?)
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To: Slapshot68

That sounds awesome my family however would have a snit over no turkey.


28 posted on 11/21/2007 10:10:39 AM PST by ThisLittleLightofMine
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To: Domandred
I gotta ask...what else do you do with a Pig besides butcher it and eat it?

Use it to make more pigs?

29 posted on 11/21/2007 10:12:33 AM PST by Bubba Ho-Tep
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To: DryFly
I'll remember that the next time I get a ticket from the local Parking Fulfillment officer. Or better yet, when I watch Clint Eastwood in, The Fulfiller.

I think I will get in touch with the Drug Fulfillment Agency. I need some prescription refills.
30 posted on 11/21/2007 10:18:11 AM PST by FreedomOfExpression (Dime: a dollar with all the taxes taken out.)
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To: Para-Ord.45
Do not suppose that I have come to do away with the law or the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, BUT TO ENFORCE THEM.”

Matthew 5:17 -- Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Fulfill - pleroo (Strong's Number G4137 matches the Greek πληρόω (plēroō). )

1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full a) to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally 1) I abound, I am liberally supplied 2) to render full, i.e. to complete a) to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim b) to consummate: a number 1) to make complete in every particular, to render perfect 2) to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking) c) to carry into effect, bring to realisation, realise 1) of matters of duty: to perform, execute 2) of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish 3) to fulfil, i.e. to cause God's will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God's promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfilment

31 posted on 11/21/2007 10:31:12 AM PST by OB1kNOb (Support Duncan Hunter for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee. He is THE true conservative candidate.)
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To: Jeff Chandler
I’ll have one of those “swanels”. That’s a swan stuffed with an eagle stuffed with a crane. Delicious.

LOL! Don't let PETA know!

32 posted on 11/21/2007 10:32:51 AM PST by 6SJ7
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To: FreedomOfExpression
Well I head a few women say a man's live is not fulfilled till he marry... so...?

Guess in along the lines a man is not complete till he's married.... then he's finished

33 posted on 11/21/2007 10:33:45 AM PST by tophat9000 (You need to have standards to fail and be a hypocrite, Dem's therefor are never hypocrites)
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To: ThunderStruck94

Thanks for your service. I hope KBR serves a great meal to all of you serving over in Iraq. You all deserve lobsters in my opinion.


34 posted on 11/21/2007 10:38:35 AM PST by mickey finn
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To: Domandred
Unlike today, when we have refrigeration, hogs were only slaughtered after the weather turned consistently cold enough to keep the meat fresh until it could be processed for storage, e.g. brined, smoked, etc.. If the first Thanksgiving was held at this time of year, then the weather might not have been sufficiently cold enough to ensure the pork’s longevity. If so, butchering of hogs might have occurred after the thanksgiving festival when the weather turned colder.
35 posted on 11/21/2007 10:40:40 AM PST by Surtur (Free Trade is NOT Fair Trade unless both economies are equivalent.)
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To: Para-Ord.45
To bring to an end; complete.

Paul seems to think that this definition was the appropriate one (see Galatians).

I'll think I'll go with Paul on this one, not you.

36 posted on 11/21/2007 10:41:56 AM PST by L,TOWM (Liberals, The Other White Meat)
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To: OB1kNOb

Christ fulfilled the law. The law was established to tell us right from wrong. In order to be perfect with God, we must keep the law. No one CAN keep the law, however, so all stand condemned before God. Christ, who WAS able to fulfill the entire law (and the only one who has ever kept the law), paid the penalty for our sins, and therefore...he fulfilled the law, so we are no longer condemned under it.

This is the meaning of that text.


37 posted on 11/21/2007 10:44:40 AM PST by freepertoo
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To: Surtur

Makes sense. I was thinking of all the times I’ve been to a hog roast and there wasn’t enough meat left to worry about preserving it.


38 posted on 11/21/2007 10:46:38 AM PST by Domandred (Eagles soar, but unfortunately weasels never get sucked into jet engines)
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To: freepertoo
Christ, who WAS able to fulfill the entire law (and the only one who has ever kept the law), paid the penalty for our sins, and therefore...he fulfilled the law, so we are no longer condemned under it.

"We" - meaning those of us saved by His grace through our faith and trust in Him. Agreed.

39 posted on 11/21/2007 11:08:39 AM PST by OB1kNOb (Support Duncan Hunter for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee. He is THE true conservative candidate.)
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To: L,TOWM

” I’ll think I’ll go with Paul on this one, not you.”

I`ll go with the original meaning and not the “ mehh, the Bible, the Constitution, it is whatever i think it is” crowd.

Matthew 5:17-20, James 2:10, Matthew 19:17; Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 22:14, John 14:15-23, John 15:10; Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:15, ROMANS 3:31, James 1:22-25, Romans 8:5-8, 1 John 2:3-7, 1 Cor. 7:19, 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6; Matt. 11:29,30.


40 posted on 11/21/2007 11:14:32 AM PST by Para-Ord.45
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