The first turkey pardon ceremony started with President Truman in 1947, (however, the Truman Library and Museum disputes the notion that he was the first to do so or even if he pardoned the bird.) In December 1948, Truman accepted two turkeys and remarked that they would "come in handy" for Christmas dinner. Uncle Joe practiced his skills when he pardoned two turkeys Peach and Blossom, on Tuesday. (I wonder whom else he will be pardoning in the near future.
Remember, it's about 20 minutes per pound for a frozen turkey and 15 minute for a fresh one.
Ah, the feast of Thanksgiving—a glorious indulgence in food, family, and tradition. As you gather around the table, just imagine the mountain of delicious dishes in front of you. The spread you described sounds like a calorie-loaded banquet that perfectly captures the essence of this American holiday: excess in all its buttery, sugary glory. Let's break it down a bit, though, as you opine on this festive overindulgence:
* Turkey – You’ve got a solid chunk of protein here, but it comes with the skin, which brings in extra fat. And 2 turkey legs? That’s more than most people eat in a week! But hey, it’s Thanksgiving.
* Mashed Potatoes and Gravy – Oh, mashed potatoes, made with butter and whole milk? That’s comfort in a bowl, but it’s also a hidden calorie bomb, especially when topped with rich gravy.
* Cornbread Stuffing – This classic adds a nice bit of starch, but also plenty of butter and oil to give it that mouthwatering texture.
* Canned Cranberry Sauce – A nod to nostalgia and sweetness, though not exactly the health-conscious option on this menu.
* Candied Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow – This is probably the sweetest, most decadent dish on the table. Sweet potatoes are healthy, but once you add sugar, butter, and marshmallows, well, it's like dessert before dessert.
* Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts – Okay, a tiny nod to health here! Brussels sprouts are packed with vitamins, and walnuts offer a little healthy fat. But let’s be honest—those walnuts are likely swimming in butter or oil.
* Green Bean Casserole – This side dish brings a mix of green beans and crispy fried onions, drenched in cream of mushroom soup. It's comfort food with a creamy, crunchy twist.
* Crescent Rolls – Who doesn’t love a soft, buttery crescent roll? But they're basically the epitome of empty carbs, designed to fill you up and keep you munching.
* Pie, glorious pie – Pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream, pecan pie with whipped cream, and a slice of apple pie. Dessert overload, for sure. But the combination of sugar, butter, and crust makes for a truly indulgent end to the meal.
Now, here's the thing: You could theoretically consume over 5,100 calories on Thanksgiving day, depending on how much you dig in. But, like you said, “all that too shall pass.” The food coma kicks in, and those calories are forgotten as you settle down to nap, watch football, or argue over the best pie.
Is this much food necessary? Definitely not! But it's part of the tradition, and it's what makes the day feel extra special. Plus, that 1.3-pound weight gain is a small price to pay for a day of food, family, and fun. And who’s counting when there’s pecan pie involved?
So, pass the mashed potatoes (with extra gravy), and enjoy the moment because, well, all that too shall pass.
It's National French Toast Day
Eating your French Toast (Pan Perdu) as you are served it, is always the best bet.
Enjoy
November 28, 1951 -
The British film Scrooge (aka A Christmas Carol,) starring Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley, Mervyn Johns, Jack Warner, and Patrick Macnee, premiered in NYC on this date. (One of our favorite versions.)
Changes to the screenplay from the Charles Dickens book were made, mostly in the Christmas Past sequence. Among these changes are: reversing the birth order of Scrooge and his sister, so as to add that Scrooge's mother died giving birth to him; creating a character named "Mr. Jorkin" and flashbacks of several incidents in Scrooge's past (his sister's death, meeting Jacob Marley, taking over Fezziwig's warehouse, and Marley's death) which do not appear in the book.
November 28, 1969 -
The Rolling Stones released their eighth British album Let It Bleed on this date.
It is the follow-up to 1968's Beggars Banquet and the last album by the band to feature Brian Jones as well as the first to feature Mick Taylor.
November 28, 1974 -
John Lennon makes his last-ever concert appearance when he joins Elton John on stage at Madison Square Garden, reciprocating for Elton's appearance on Whatever Gets You Thru The Night and making good on a bet he lost: Elton wagered that Whatever Gets You Thru The Night would hit #1 in the US, and when it did, Lennon owed the appearance.
The pair perform that song and also do The Beatles' I Saw Her Standing There and Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds that evening.
November 28, 1978 -
Atlantic Records released the album Briefcase Full of Blues, the debut album by The Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi) on this date.
The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 and went double platinum. It is among the highest-selling blues albums of all time.
November 28, 1981 -
The short-lived series (only 12 episodes were shot), Open All Night, starring George Dzundza, Susan Tyrrell, Sam Whipple, Bubba Smith, Jay Tarses, and Bever-Leigh Banfield premiered on ABC-TV on this date.
The US TV version of the show was somewhat based on the hugely successful British sitcom, Open All Hours which ran for four seasons on the BBC. The American series was cancelled after 10 episodes.
November 28, 1984 -
Prince releases the song, I Would Die 4 U, on this date
On the Purple Rain tour, this was a showcase song for Sheila E., who served as Prince's opening act and also joined him on stage. Her live percussion on I Would Die 4 U compensated for the beats that couldn't be generated outside of the studio, due to Prince's use of a drum machine to create the rhythm on this track.
November 28, 1985 -
Ahmad Rashad proposed to Phylicia Ayers-Allen on live TV during NBC's halftime coverage of the Detroit Lions-New York Jets football game, on this date.
Ayers-Allen, was in New York for NBC's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, was rushed to network's New York studio and looked at Rashad over a video monitor and simply said, "Yes." On December 14, 1985, at the Church of the Master in Harlem, Ahmad married Phylicia. The marriage ended in divorce in 2001.
November 28, 1987 -
Coming out of the surprise hit film Dirty Dancing, the Jennifer Warnes' duet with Bill Medley (I've Had) The Time Of My Life, went to No.1 on the US singles chart on this date.
Most pop songs don't start with the chorus, but this song had to fit some specific criteria for the movie: it had to start slow, finish fast, and have a mambo beat.
November 28, 2012 -
Peter Jackson's first of the Hobbit film series, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, starring Martin Freeman and Ian McKellen, premiered in Wellington, New Zealand on this date.
In The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the scale illusion was accomplished by placing Hobbit or Dwarf actors and actresses further away from the camera than Ian McKellen, but still live on the same set. This time, however, the illusion had to be accomplished by having the other actors and actresses on a completely different set, while McKellen performed his part, all alone, on a greenscreen set, with only an earpiece connecting him to the performance being provided by the rest of the cast. McKellen ended up feeling lonely and frustrated. To cheer him up, the cast and crew snuck into the tent in which he stayed during breaks and decorated it with mementos from the Lord of the Rings films (mainly old props and tapestries from Rivendell and Lothlórien), as well as fresh fruit and flowers.
It's here - Welcome to the start of our 17th Annual Holiday Spectacular.
History Today -
November 28, 1895 -
The first American automobile race, The Chicago Times-Herald race, took place over the 54 miles from Chicago's Jackson Park to Evanston, Illinois. Frank Duryea's Motorized Wagon won in approximately 10 hours. (The average speed was 7 mph. )
Sponsored by the Chicago Times-Herald, the race was held in Chicago, attracted 80 entries but only had six starters: four cars and two motorcycles. The race created considerable publicity for the motocycle, which had been introduced in the United States only two years earlier.
November 28, 1922 -
The first use of skywriting for advertising happened when Captain Cyril Turner of the Royal Air Force flew over New York City, spelling out, “Hello USA. Call Vanderbilt 7200,” on this date
(Sorry boys and girls but it's not all a pleasant day OTD) -
November 28, 1942 -
A fire at the overcrowded and sleazy Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, killed 491 people on this date. Flammable artificial palm trees aided the spread of the fire.
The numerous dead were crushed, burnt, and asphyxiated, all within minutes.
There's a lesson here boys and girl - sleazy nightclubs kill!!!
November 28, 1943 -
Randall Stuart Newman, singer/songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist was born on this date.
Newman has been nominated for twenty Academy Awards, winning twice. He has also won three Emmys, five Grammy Awards, and the Governor's Award from the Recording Academy. (Even though it is his birthday, he didn't murder anyone (as far as we know) then eat their liver with a fine chianti. He probably shouldn't be listed here today.)
November 28, 1953 -
Frank Olson, government scientist, has a particularly bad dream and jumped to his death from the Statler Hotel in New York City on this date.
It was later revealed in 1975 that Olson had been administered LSD by Dr. Sidney Gottlieb in a CIA experiment.
That really must have been one bad trip.
November 28, 1962 -
I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land.
Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz, comedian, television host, political satirist and formerly, America's most trusted newscaster, was born on this date.
November 28, 1966 -
One of most famous parties of the 20th century, Truman Capote’s Black & White Ball was held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on this date.
The masquerade ball was held in honor of The Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham and cost Capote a total of $16,000. The Black and White Ball was credited with starting an immediate upsurge in masquerade and costume parties.
November 28, 1981 -
A drunken Natalie Wood toppled off her yacht near Catalina Island and drowned. Her husband Robert Wagner and melodramatic friend Christopher Walken, were on board and unaware of her predicament, apparently having some sort of argument in the cabin -
possibly about whether or not a drunken Natalie Wood could float (you know that's still an awful joke.)
November 28, 1994 -
Jeffrey Dahmer was beaten to death with a broomstick by inmate Christopher Scarver while cleaning the prison bathroom.
Dahmer's brain was to be preserved in formaldehyde at the request of Mom, but a court ordered its destruction in late 1995.
There's yet another lesson here boys and girls, dirty prison bathrooms kill!!!
Before you go: We're going to take a short break from our usual look into the cupboard to facilitate the holiday spectacular. But don't worry we'll be back peeking into the cupboard soon enough.
And so it goes
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