HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY 2019 CANADA!

My homemade apple pie. PKSenagore 9/28/19. All rights reserved

 WHILE AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES MAY THINK THEY HAVE A LOCK ON THIS HOLIDAY, our neighbors to the North began expressing gratitude for survival in the New World over 40 years earlier.  The official day has been moved around a bit, and the second Monday in October has been designated for the national celebration. This year it falls today, on October 14!
 
For runners and walkers training to participate in a Turkey Trot before feasting later in the day, (in the USA in November, or in Canada today), a reward, like a pie for dessert, might be part of their motivation.
 
To honor their culture and contributions to harvest banquets, Earned Runs is posting a pie crust recipe (below in image) provided on the container of a Canadian product, Tenderflake™.  In a recent quest to make my own perfect homemade crust for summer fruit pies, and my husband’s favorite lemon meringue and family Thanksgiving pumpkin pies I discovered and tested it myself.  The results were amazing.  Vegans might outright reject Tenderflake* (its lard made from rendered pig fat), and butter lovers view it with disdain, but old-fashioned flaky-pastry lovers may embrace it’s use. 
 
I am not a prolific pastry-baker, so on the special occasions that arise in which a I want to make a memorable and delicious homemade pie, about 2-3 times a year, the results obtained with Tenderflake make it a strong contender for pie crust shortening.
 
The news about lard isn’t as frightening as I imagined, as it contains no trans-fat (like hydrogenated vegetable products) and a bit less saturated fat (40%) as butter (54%), the darling of today’s cooking shows. Still, it’s not a health food, like any fat, and moderate use is advised by experts.
 
I combine it with another North American product, King Arthur brand unbleached, all-purpose flour, made in Vermont. I like that the protein content is listed on the packaging of its different flours, and that KA’s all-purpose flour is a bit higher (11.7%) than others (10.4-10.5%) according to information on the company’s website, but not as high as its bread flour (13%).
 
It is not a coincidence that the Earned Runs ‘Finisher’ sticker image posted each week shows pumpkin pies. To me this treat is symbolic of a bountiful harvest and my thankfulness for the sustaining food that our land and workers provide. And a reminder of the responsibility resting with me and others to protect the earth’s environment. 
 
Happy Thanksgiving today to Canadians; we in the US will be following your lead next month, ready to run, walk, and then feast!
 
 RUN & MOVE HAPPY!

 https://www.countryliving.com/life/travel/a28679479/when-is-thanksgiving-in-canada/
 
https://www.kidzworld.com/article/2614-canadian-thanksgiving

https://www.mapleleaffoods.com/news/non-hydrogenated-tenderflake-the-perfect-recipe-for-pastry-lovers/
 
https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/nutrition/2013/05/14/why_lards_healthier_than_you_think.html
 
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/05/02/151868208/lard-is-back-in-the-larder-but-hold-the-health-claims
 
https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2015/06/10/10-things-about-king-arthur-flour
 
* can be purchased through Amazon.com

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