An American Pakistani Thanksgiving
Guest Blog Post by APF Leadership Council Member Mifrah Malik
My first Thanksgiving was at my Mom’s friend’s house in the Bronx. I was in 4th grade, and although my memory of that day is not as vivid, I remember that ever since then, we started celebrating Thanksgiving in our home. It is now an annual tradition.
This year was no different. For days till the big day, my Mom and I binge-watch thanksgiving recipe videos to get any new ideas or tips. We plan to prep the day before so we can have enough time to get ready. We still run a bit late though - I know many can relate to this!
There is something so special about bonding over food. Growing up in a Pakistani family, I have so many memories of being at the dinner table with homemade meals.
There is so much culture and history that go into each recipe, and I find it amazing that each one is permanently embedded in my Mom’s memory.
On the day before Thanksgiving, we bake and chop what we can. This year, my cousins joined us, and we wanted to prep everything we could to maximize the big day! My Mom also made some Pakistani dishes since my uncle said he wouldn’t have turkey! I tried persuading my Mom not to roast a chicken, but she went the extra mile for guests and made haleem (beef & lentil stew) and goat karahi (goat dish).
We all wore a mixture of salwar kameez (traditional Pakistani clothes) and American clothes. And to end the night, we enjoyed the pumpkin and pecan pie with masala chai, a black tea infused with mint, cardamom, fennel seeds, and cinnamon.
Although an American holiday, we had a few Pakistani twists and it was loads of fun! From my family to yours, I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving holiday. It’s been a crazy year, and not everyone spent the day the way they usually do, but I hope it was still a day filled with gratitude.