Americans & Turkeys: A Thanksgiving Match Made In Heaven
If you grew up in the United States, the iconic Thanksgiving turkey is pretty much synonymous with the holiday itself. The image of a table adorned with a cornucopia of foods, a turkey roasted to perfection in the center is a staple of American culture. Have you ever wondered why it’s the turkey, of all main courses, that we enjoy on this uniquely American holiday? There’s a few reasons, and it’s not only because they’re delicious. Of course, nowadays there’s so many different ways to celebrate this holiday - the turkey is no longer a must-have. But for many Americans, it remains a tradition rooted in our country’s history that means time spent with loved ones and holiday cheer.
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Funnily enough, it’s possible that pilgrims did not have turkey on the first Thanksgiving. Although there were wild turkeys in the area, first-hand accounts from the historic meal make no mention of them - just of “wild fowl”, which could easily mean duck or goose. Perhaps the pilgrims ate turkey on the first Thanksgiving, and perhaps they didn’t - either way, countless Americans have enjoyed turkey on this holiday. These birds are native to North America and have been a valuable food source for humans for millennia. There’s evidence that Native Americans raised turkeys for food as far back as 1000 AD. Turkey hunting, of course, spans back much further.
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Turkeys Provide An Abundant Meal
There are plenty of practical reasons that turkeys make sense for Thanksgiving dinner. They’re large enough to feed a crowd, with leftovers on the table for days afterwards. Several chickens would be required to produce the same amount of food, requiring a lot more work. Additionally, chickens are more valuable to keep around because of the number of eggs they produce. Turkey eggs are delicious and nutritious, but they take so long to produce that most farmers don’t bother when they could just keep chickens for the same purpose.
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Wild turkeys are a symbol of abundance. They represent all of the blessings bestowed on us from Mother Nature, making these birds especially appropriate for celebrating the autumnal harvest. Turkeys are a type of pheasant and can grow very large - the heaviest one on record weighed in at 86 pounds. When it comes to eating turkeys, there’s a difference depending on whether you have a male or a female bird. The males taste better the more mature they are, while the hens taste better the younger they are. If you’ve ever wondered about that wiggly bit of loose skin on the turkey’s neck, it’s technically called a wattle.
Don’t forget to participate in the tradition of pulling on the wishbone! Simply let it dry, then two lucky loved ones get to hold one end while making a silent wish. Pull the bone apart, and whoever gets the larger portion gets to have their wish come true (according to American folklore). And yes, there’s a scientific reason for why turkey makes you feel sleepy. It contains an amino acid called tryptophan that tells your brain it’s time to relax and take a nap.
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If You’d Like A Turkey For 2020, Order Now!
We have a very limited supply of Thanksgiving turkeys this year, with an ordering deadline of November 15th, 2020. These turkeys come from the same co-op of family farms that supplies our chicken. They are humanely raised with care and never given any amount of antibiotics, hormones or steroids. Many turkeys (as well as chickens) are injected with saline solutions or soaked in brines to make the meat appear more plump and juicy. This is never the case with our birds, which are naturally delicious without being altered in any way whatsoever.
Our Friendly, Helpful Team Is Here To Support You
At Beck & Bulow, we pride ourselves on our excellent customer service. We’re always here to help if you have any questions regarding your meat, want help making selections, or are just looking for some cooking tips. Every time you call our office, you’ll be directly connected with one of our team members right here in Santa Fe, New Mexico where we’re based.
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Every cut of meat is pressure sealed and flash frozen immediately after butchering at the peak of freshness. We work exclusively with master butchers who make every cut with care and precision. All orders are hand packed at our Santa Fe warehouse, shipped in a reusable cooler with dry ice and delivered straight to your doorstep. Check out our selections of humanely raised chicken, elk, bison, beef, lamb, wild boar and wild caught Alaskan seafood.