Family, friends, and turkeys are the few required ingredients for a successful Thanksgiving get-together. Turkeys in particular are crucial as they are the de facto mascots of Thanksgiving day \u2013 and on and around that day they are everywhere, from Ford commercials and Macy\u2019s parades to pre-heated ovens and classroom walls.<\/p>\n
But what if I were to tell you that there\u2019s more to the turkey than it seems? That they go by different names depending on where they are and who they\u2019re with, not unlike a double agent or a super secret spy.<\/p>\n
Supposedly, we in America call it a turkey because the early Europeans who settled here thought it came from the Turks.<\/p>\n
This would be news to the Turks, as they call the bird a Hindi, as they understood it to have originated from India. They weren\u2019t alone in this either because the French, Italians, Polish, and Russians gave it names that point to their belief that it came from India.<\/p>\n
The Indians for their part know the bird as a Peru, in sync with their impression that the bird came from the South American county of Peru.<\/p>\n
By now, you\u2019re probably eyeing your turkey a bit suspiciously. Maybe you feel a slight sense of betrayal even, like you\u2019ve been hoodwinked by a life-long friend and companion. And if that\u2019s the case, please take the time now to think about the things you love about turkeys. I\u2019ll help you start: they\u2019re juicy, flavorful, aromatic, nutritious, healthy, and they make the best leftover sandwiches.<\/p>\n
And to be fair, with its complicated background, the turkey should should fit right in at your Thanksgiving table \u2013 right between uncle Jerry and your cousin Marty, both with histories of their own but that\u2019s for another conversation (one we\u2019ll have after the kids have gone to bed).<\/p>\n
So this Thanksgiving as you are with your loved ones, I hope you enjoy your turkey with a new found appreciation. Like you, it\u2019s come a long way to find its identity and calling.<\/p>\n
Have a Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us here at Preferred Care at Home!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"