Canadian Thanksgiving

Sunday, October 9, 2011

We’re enjoying a picture-perfect long weekend in southwestern Ontario.  I know my American friends celebrate Thanksgiving in late November, but our early-October celebration allows us to enjoy harvest weather and the beauty of leaves as they change colour.

It’s hard to believe that just last weekend I posted a recipe for hot chocolate cookies because the weather was so cold.  Yesterday, Andrew and the girls had a spirited game of football.  (I'm not sure how three people play football, although I'm told that my oldest daughter quarterbacked both teams.)  Today it was warm enough to sit out on my mom’s back deck in our short sleeves.  My sister and her family visited too, and we all enjoyed a fabulous meal of turkey and the trimmings.  I’m pretty sure we won’t need to eat again until Tuesday. 

At least, all of us except my youngest. After our enormous noon meal and a few hours of chatting, my mother specially prepared her some leftovers before we drove home.  On the way back, my daughter asked what we were going to have for dinner.  When I said that none of us really needed more food, she asked in alarm, “You’re going to send me to bed without dinner?”  For the record, I made my famished 14-year-old a bacon and cheese sandwich when we got back.  I trust that will tide her over until breakfast.

So, among many other things, I’m thankful for the love of good food.  I’m also thankful that my husband was able to photograph my butternut squash salad while I was helping my mom put a turkey dinner on the table. 

Warm Butternut and Chickpea Salad with Tahini Dressing

For salad:
1 medium butternut squash (about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds), peeled, seeded and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
1 medium garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp ground allspice
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt
one 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (1 1/2 cups)
1/4 of a medium red onion, finely chopped

For tahini dressing:
1 medium garlic clove, finely minced with a pinch of salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 – 4 Tbsp well-stirred tahini
2 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine the butternut squash, garlic, allspice, olive oil and a few pinches of salt.  Toss until squash pieces are evenly coated.  Roast them on a baking sheet for 25 minues, or until soft.  Remove from the oven and cool slightly.

Meanwhile, make the tahini dressing.  In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic and lemon juice.  Add the tahini and whisk to blend.  Add the water and olive oil, whisk well and taste for seasoning.  The sauce should have plenty of nutty tahini flavour,  but also a little kick of lemon.  Add more tahini to taste, or more water to thin out.

To assemble the salad, combine the squash, chickpeas and onion in a mixing bowl.  Either add the tahini dressing to taste and toss carefully, or you could serve the salad with the dressing on the side.  (Note:  I used the dressing sparingly and had quite a lot left over.  Next time I’d either cut the dressing recipe in half or save the remainder for another salad!)

I prepared everything ahead, because I knew the turkey would be dominating my mom’s oven this morning.  I simply reheated the squash mixture for 15-20 minutes at 325 degrees right before the meal, added the dressing and served.

50 comments:

Reeni said...

This sounds like something I would love! What a great combination. Your daughter sounds like me - I like to have a turkey sandwich late on Thanksgiving night since we eat so early. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Tasha said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you. I've made this wonderful dish many times, and it is probably my most favorite butternut squash recipe. I think you've just reminded me to make it again soon. The story about your daughter is too cute!

Janet Johnson said...

Ah, to have the appetite (and figure) of a 14-year-old again. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Beth!

I hope that you had a wonderful day with your family. Your 14 year old daughter had me cracking up - I can only imagine that anyone would be thankful to snack on a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich :)

Joanne said...

lol, that you won't need to eat again until Tuesday! It sounds like a bountiful and beautiful holiday was had by all :)

Anonymous said...

Ooh, what a tasty way to use pumpkin!

Jess said...

I've been looking forward to your Thanksgiving post, being the foodie that you are :) That salad looks fabulous!

Miriam said...

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Sounds like you had a great one :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Sweet And Crumby said...

This looks so unique and heavenly! I am so glad you posted this and can't wait to try it! Have a Happy Thanksgiving Beth.

Saji said...

Happy Thanksgiving Beth!

Susan said...

This looks like the perfect dish for autumn.

Thanks for stopping by my blog - I love the design of yours.

Belinda said...

Happy Thanksgiving!! What a beautiful meal!

Katerina said...

Such a beautiful salad and I am sure you've enjoyed a very warm Thanksgiving weekend with your family!

Cakelaw said...

What a beautiful salad - I love chickpeas and butternut squash.

Valerie Gamine said...

Happy belated Thanksgiving Beth!
Autumn weather can be so fickle, luckily delicious things like tahini and butternut squash are consistently delicious this time of year. :D

Barbara said...

So glad you had a lovely Thanksgiving with family, Beth, and were able to enjoy the fall colors and weather as well.
I don't know why, but even after a huge turkey dinner, I'm always hungry 4 or 5 hours later...so I'm in agreement with your daughter. However, I often think it's because I did all the cooking, didn't eat enough during dinner because I was thinking about everyone else's needs and never got around to mine. (that's no excuse for your daughter though!)

Joanne said...

Happy Thanksgiving chica! It has definitely been unseasonably warm here also...80 yesterday! I've made this before and it is absolutely my favorite use of butternut squash. I make it at LEAST once every fall!

Elaine said...

It sounds like you had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving. The salad looks perfect for fall. The weather has been just crazy everywhere this year, but sitting outside with short sleeves on Thanksgiving sounds pretty good to me.

Unknown said...

Oh, this looks so good. I just happen to have squash on hand, too... I think I might be hungry. lol!

Heather said...

Happy Thanksgiving! Your youngest daughter sounds just like my kids. Since they are such picky eaters, I always figure it's because they don't fill up on all the good stuff, like I do! The squash recipe looks delicious!

lisa is cooking said...

Happy Thanksgiving! Sounds like you had perfect weather and great day. I think I enjoy butternut squash more each fall. This salad sounds great with it!

Stina said...

Yum!

We spend part of our Thanksgiving in Banff national park this weekend. It was gorgeous and a wonderful temperature. :D

Happy Thanksgiving, Beth!

Bonnie said...

I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving! The recipe looks divine! I love butternut squash... oh my, I actually have one on hand! Happy Thanksgiving to you! Bonnie

Ilke said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you guys! We have to wait another month for a long weekend!
I really like lemony tahini dressings. Always had it over meat, will give it a try with the veggie version.

Ryan said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! It sounds like it was a great day and this salad sounds wonderful! So perfect for fall!

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Beth! Football & food are Thanksgiving requirements--whether or not you play along. That salad looks amazing! I like the addition of chickpeas.

Jill | Dulce Dough said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Your salad looks wonderful, and it sounds like you had a beautiful day to celebrate!

Mary said...

This looks great, Beth! Happy Thanksgiving to you!!

Anonymous said...

Happy belated Thanksgiving!

That salad is enticing.

Have a great week.

shaz said...

Happy belated Thanksgiving Beth! My goodness, the appetite of teenagers scares me :)

Beth said...

Me too, Shaz!

Anna @ The Littlest Anchovy said...

Happy Thanksgiving! Even though we are heading for warmer weather here in the southern hemisphere, part of me wishes that it was chilly enough to enjoy all the festive holiday food you have in the north at this time of the year.

Jeanne said...

Happy Thanksgiving! This is such a perfect warm, hearty dish. If only the weather would cool off here, it would start to feel like Thanksgiving. Luckily we still have a few weeks to go.

Claudia said...

The butternut squash is sitting on my kitchen cabinet. Beth. It was waiting for this. I love that the Canadian Thanksgiving is in October. Ours seems to get lost in Christmas. Your 14 year old daughter has a lot in common with my family - who expect something in the evening even if they grazed away the day!

Ashlea Taylor said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you! I just bought a butternut squash and was unsure what I would do with it. I am going to have to try this. It looks delicious!

Rita said...

IT was a perfect Thanksgiving weekend in northern Ontario too; Love this butternut squash salad; thank you for dropping by.
Rita

Angie's Recipes said...

A perfect autumn dish. Butternut squash is my favourite pumpkin.

Jill Kemerer said...

Your dish looks so scrumptious! Mm-mm! Happy Thanksgiving!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

What a wonderful sounding Thanksgiving you all enjoyed! I just watched Ina Garten prepare a Butternut salad and planned on making it for a friends birthday lunch in a couple of weeks. Your recipe sounds good too!

Keep that little girl of yours filled up so she can continue playing great football :)

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Mmmm! I love butternut squash. What a delightful Thanksgiving you had!

Amy

Angela said...

Your posts always make my mouth water.

laurie said...

I'll have to try your salad in November for our Thanksgiving!

Kitchen Riffs said...

When I said that none of us really needed more food, she asked in alarm, “You’re going to send me to bed without dinner?”

Love it! I used to resemble that appetite. Nice recipe, and as always love your writing. Belated Happy Thanksgiving.

Anonymous said...

Is it wrong that I started drooling at the thought of a bacon cheese sandwich? Win!

Amie Kaufman said...

Oh yuuuuuuum. I think I'll have to make this and call it my tribute to thanksgiving! Pumpkin's my all time favourite vegetable (yes, I have one).

grace said...

i'm very excited to see tahini used in something other than hummus! great salad, and happy thanksgiving to you!

nancy at good food matters said...

synchronicity--I am cooking and blogging about butternut squash too. I love your recipe with the tahini dressing--very creative!

Unknown said...

Happy Thanksgiving! This dish looks superb! How comforting and perfect for the fall.

Patty Price said...

Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving with the family;-) I love your butternut squash salad- it's such a unique way to serve a traditional Thanksgiving dish.

Anna said...

Thanks for stopping by our blog! Happy belated Thanksgiving to a fellow Canadian :) This looks like a unique and delicious side dish, I love butternut squash!

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