Forgive my sparse output lately. Apparently, post-election writer's block in an annually recurring condition. Sooner or later, it will back to our irregularly programmed schedule. But for now, we're continuing a yearly tradition by expanding on 2013's "Five Ways to Make Thanksgiving More Delicious by Thinking SCV." Please enjoy and have a great Thanksgiving.
Nine Ways to Make Thanksgiving More Delicious by Thinking SCV
1. ABH: Always Buy Huntsinger
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The Hunstinger name used to carry a lot of weight in this town. Huntsingers were on the Hart and (original) COC boards. But all these years later, this locally-owned turkey farm raises consistently delicious turkeys. They've never let me down, so a few years ago I resolved to never buy anything else. It used to be a thing you'd order at Gelson's or the butcher, but these days, you'll find a few in most local grocery stores. A little pricey, but always worth it. (Pic from their website. I hope they don't mind)
2. Give back and donate to the Downtown Newhall Thanksgiving Meal
When he owned his bike shop in Newhall, Roger Hasper hosted a free Thanksgiving for the community, first in his parking lot, then on Main Street. Roger kept it alive after closing his shop, but he moved to Indiana earlier this year, where he’s still doing great things. Here in the SCV, Newhall’s South Valley Church is keeping the important event alive. There are some changes this year: the city’s traffic concerns moved the event to the Newhall Library parking lot, and the County says they can’t serve food donated by the general public. But you can still help. You can donate money for food, you can donate clothes (clothing drive ends tomorrow), or you can volunteer.
They’re calling it Giving Thanks Giving 2014 and it runs from 9am to 1pm on Thanksgiving, and as always, it's free.
3. Go to the Sunday Farmers' Market at COC
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If you're reading this on Sunday morning, stop what you're doing and go to the Farmers' Market at COC. Buy anything you were going to buy at the store. Everything will be better. It's really as simple as that. Also, Fuji apples are in season. Thanks to Larry McClements for the pic.
4. Invite them over
Do you know someone that doesn't have a place to go on Thanksgiving? Doesn't matter why. Reach out and invite them over. You'll be happy, they'll be happy (and thankful). The shoe might be on the other foot one day.
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5. Make bread that tastes like SCV (if you know)
Nothing says an SCV Thanksgiving like bread that literally tastes like SCV. If you happen to keep a sourdough starter, you're already set, no matter its original birthplace. If you don't have any, you might want to ask around. The delicious labor-of-love/movement/community/inside joke that is Scott Ervin’s Speakeasy Bakery actually had its origin when, for a post-Thanksgiving family dinner, I asked about local pies. Banter ensued and Scott offered up an apple pie, clandestinely. Ever since then, if you know, you know.
6. From her house to yours, or: don't let gluten stop you
I discovered Allison Needham years ago when she wrote food columns for the Signal. She was great, so great that I nearly gave up my first opportunity to be published (food writing for a short-lived SCV weekly) because I thought I couldn't compare. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with celiac disease and she had to say goodbye to gluten forever. This year, she got approval from LA County to open Ginger & Fox, her home-based gluten-free bakery here in SCV. I asked, and she still has a little room for additional Thanksgiving orders, and the menu is right here.
7. Compare with with (thousands of) neighbors
About two years ago, the SCV Foodies Facebook group started almost as a joke, by Todd Wilson. A year later it had 300 members. In the last year, it’s grown to over 3,000 members and spawned a website. Apart from all the general goodness, there’s this thread dedicated to Thanksgiving recommendations.
8. Forage for SCV's native purple sage
No herb says Thanksgiving like sage. One Thanksgiving, I spent the better part of an afternoon in an unfamiliar town searching grocery stores for some fresh sage. My family thought I was crazy, but I couldn't compromise. But did you know that a variety of sage is native to the SCV? I Heart SCV tells us all about it (with all the witty detail you'd expect), including easy directions on where to score some of your own.
9. Reflect on the first SCV Thanksgiving
Years later, still a great read: here's Jeff Wilson's piece on the earliest meetings between Europeans and Native Americans in what we now call the Santa Clarita Valley.
Honorable mention: Make this ridiculously amazing creamed corn with Lombardi's corn
Here's an entry from last year, that I'm including simply because I'm an evangelist for this recipe/gadget. I think Lombardi's has closed for the season, but I haven't been able to confirm. Tapia Brothers isn't selling corn at COC Farmers' Market, but you can get some at their stand in Encino, or you can also try Forneris Farms in Mission Hills. Otherwise, you can probably find corn at some grocery stores. Grocery store corn isn't as good, and we're pretty late into the season, so you'll probably want to add a little bit of sugar to make up for the loss in sweetness.
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What is more Claritan than going to Lombardi's Ranch in the fall? You can keep your adorable pumpkin patch pictures. For me, Lombardi's Ranch is about Thanksgiving. They close for the season on the day before Thanksgiving, where I like to get a bag full of corn and make this very simple creamed corn recipe from the very famous Chino's Family Farm near San Diego. Just corn, butter and maybe a little salt. With some good, fresh corn, your family will be stunned. It works best if you get one of these things.
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