Each year, students that the West Haven Child Development Center, Inc. are asked about Thanksgiving and how the family celebrates it, as well as what they are thankful for during the holiday. The turkeys drawn by some of the students are presented as well as cooking instructions. The following are recipes as seen through the eyes of four- and five-year-olds, related to staff at the WHCDC:
Dominic — “My turkey comes from the dressing room. My mom and dad cook it in the oven for 1 million days. It’s alive, we chase around the house and then it makes a mess and my mom yells at me, I catch it and back in the oven it goes and then it cooks. We have corn, peas, French fries, and mashed potatoes with gravy with our turkey dinner.”
Anely — “Mommy buys my turkey from Target. We bring it home, I wash it with my hands, I cook it in the oven for 19 minutes and then I put it on the stove for another hour and then back in the oven for 2 more hours on high, it’s really hot.”
Nicholas — “My turkey comes from Target, I put some salt on it, I put it on my inside kitchen in the oven with peppers, apples, oranges, and regular corn. We eat turkey with Miley and Peter they are my best friends. It takes a long time to cook, like 12 days, we have apple pie too.”
Silas — “I buy it only on a farm. It’s really big, it doesn’t walk I carry it to Daddy’s truck. We bring it in the house, put it in a pan, ‘Oh no we wash it first’. You put salt on I t cause it’s healthy for your bones not pepper, it’s not healthy. We put it in the oven for 50 degrees for 4.30 hours and then it’s done and we eat a lot of snacks with it.”
Noah — “My turkey comes from a chicken. I clean it in the car with rain water, then I bring it in the house. Put it in the oven, I cook it for I don’t know.”
Isaiah — “My turkey comes from B.J.’s. I wash it with water and then I dry it. I put cheese on it, then frosting. I put it in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 hours and we have potatoes and rice with butter.”
Emine — “I cook my turkey at the house in the kitchen. I have tea with it. I cook it in the oven at 10 degrees for 6 hours, I have cheese with it.”
Bernard — “My turkey comes from the grocery store, it weighs about 25 pounds. It’s heavy, I bring it home. I cook it with Dad. We wash it and clean it with a water pipe. I cook the turkey in the oven with pepper and salt. Stuff with like a brown circle, like sausage maybe, ‘I like meat!’. I cook for 5 hours for maybe 5 temperature. We eat turkey with some skin, white meat, peppers, rice, and pumpkin pie and Ice tea.”
Berat — “I get my turkey from the farm, bring it home, I wash it with butter. Then I take it outside and put it on the grill for 5 minutes then I stuff it with apples put it back on the grill for 5 more hours on low. Then my family and I eat turkey with mashed potatoes, corn, and apples.”
Euhan — “No, tuna, no no”
Emma — “I buy my turkey at the cooking store. I bring it to the sink to wash it. I put it in the bowl, add salt pepper. Put it in the oven to cook for a real long time like 3 minutes and it’s done. We have cream with it too.”
Ava — “My turkey comes from my house. My mom washes it at the sink. She cuts it and then puts it in the oven to cook at 31 degrees for 4 hours. We have meatballs and apples then pizza later if I want it.”
Naila — “My turkey comes from the grocery store. It weighs 70 pounds, It’s a big one. I put salt in it, I put it in the oven for 18 seconds at 425 degrees then I turn it down to 325 degrees for 6 hours. Take it out eat it with pizza and some milk.”
Maylen — “I get my turkey at the shop, wash it in the tub for 20 minutes. Then I put it in the oven at 200 degrees for 4 hours, then 325 degrees for 2 more hours, now it’s done. We have milk, pie, potatoes, carrots, and green beans with it.”
Miguel — “I mom makes my turkey. She washes the turkey on the table. Then she puts butter, salt, and tomatoes on top. She stuffs the turkey with bread, applesauce and carrots. Puts it in the oven for 4 or 5 hours at 400 degrees.”
Phoenix — “I get my turkey from the refrigerator. I smash and stir it. I cook it for a long time.”
Yezinett — “I get my turkey from my car. It’s wide, (y) my turkey is fresh so I wash it with just water. I stuff it with stuffing. I put it in the pan, a big one, cause it’s big. We cook it in the oven 300 degrees for 45 minutes. I have mashed potatoes, corn, peas, and carrots, cranberry sauce, and rolls with gravy.”
Kaleb — “I get my turkey from the farm, I chase it around and around to get it, Oh I got it! I bring it home in my car to my dad’s room and then dad said bring it to the tub. I wash it in the tub with soap. Now it’s all clean, it’s ready to cook, wait mommy said put it in the kitchen sink to rinse off again, now it’s ready. I put it in the ovenator for 12 minutes at 255 degrees then at 325 degrees for 6 hours 10 minutes. It’s nice and big, we have it in the living room with bread, juice, and carrots.”
Imane — “I get my turkey from Shoprite. It’s 12 pounds, I stuff it with chairs, pizza, and bread. I put it in the oven for 1 day at 200 degrees, it’s really hot but not done so I cook it 10 minutes more at 500 degrees. We have turkey, water and 1 bread.”
Brianna — “My turkey runs really fast, but I catch it at Stop and Shop. I bring it home and swish it, then wash it with pepper it runs but I catch it. In the oven it goes for a long time like 100 hours. I smell it cooking so I put water on it, then put carrots, potatoes, and green beans in it. Cook for 1 more day then done. It is yummy, eat ice cream too.”