Thanksgiving is a time of food. Hard work in a new world led to success and to this celebration. Every year it's a traditional meal. Turkey, sometimes ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, rolls or bread, pumpkin pie and apple pie, and a variety of other trimmings adorn the holiday table. It's a time when families get together to celebrate history. The food may be similar, but Thanksgiving dinner recipes have as much variety as the colors of the leaves on the November trees.

How about this recipe for a delightful appetizer? Move the pumpkin from the pie to the soup. Heat a tablespoon each of oil and butter over medium heat. Add leaks to saute, only the white portion, until soft. Now throw in some pumpkin puree along with cloves, cinnamon, ground ginger and some salt. Stir that until well mixed, then pour in 32 ounces of vegetable broth. Stir in one quarter cup of brown sugar. Bring it to a low boil then let it simmer for 1 minutes. Cream or half and half are optional, along with a pinch of cinnamon on top of each bowl. Mmmm boy that's delicious.

A turkey can be fried instead of broiled. Don't worry, fried turkey isn't greasy. The oil can't penetrate the skin after the hot oil sears it. Get a big drum and a propane burner, otherwise known as a deep fryer.Check the meat with a meat thermometer and the oil temperature with an oil thermometer. Hot oil may spatter so do this in an open outdoor space. Heat the oil to between 325 degrees and 35 degrees F. Cook it for 3 minutes per pound, until the breast is 17F. Dressing isn't fried inside the turkey, but spices can be injected into it.

Try hazelnut pumpkin soup or a butternut squash stuffing. Other appetizer possibilities also available. Try something different like cheese wrapped asparagus. This calls for both a sliced cheese and a soft cheese spread. A blue cheese spread over slices of swiss can be good. Wrap the asparagus with the slices spread with the soft cheese, then bake until tender at 23C.

Sure wrapping cheese around asparagus turns a pretty healthy food into something a little more fattening. But Thanksgiving isn't a time for a diet. Live a little!