I will bet that this does not look like your Thanksgiving plate! But with the exception of mashed potatoes all these foods were available in some form to the Pilgrims. According to Wikipedia, Atlantic scallops were being gathered from the cold Atlantic waters as early as the 1500s. Asparagus was brought over from Europe in the 1600s, and wild leeks and mushrooms were abundant. Only the potato, a new world vegetable from South America, had not yet made it to Pilgrim-land.

Why did we celebrate on Monday? Because that is when the local grocery store has fresh scallops. You do not want to keep your scallops hanging around from Monday to Thursday.

But why not go the traditional turkey route? First, no one here is a big turkey fan, second, this dinner is super delicious, third, our son makes it, and fourth, all of the above.

Happy Thanksgiving!