Thanksgiving

I've heard from a few people on UKY it's around but haven't had the chance to find it yet. We live in a small village and only shop is the Co op (they don't have it). Were going shopping tonight in the "big city" about 30 min away. I will have a wonder round and see if I can get my hands on a few cans tonight.

I saw it at our local Sainsbury's about a month ago. I remember remarking to my husband at the time and laughing about it because when we went to the US last year for Thanksgiving and we took my MIL and the only thing that she brought back to England with her was a can of Libby's pumpkin because she couldn't find it here.

This was at the Kingsway Sainsbury's in Derby.

And I didn't find it this year -- they're carrying a brand called "Paula."  

I just bought a can of the Paula brand last night. I figure how different could tinned pumpkin brands really be? I mean they're just pumpkin puree in the end, right?

I just bought a can of the Paula brand last night. I figure how different could tinned pumpkin brands really be? I mean they're just pumpkin puree in the end, right?

That's what I figured, too.  Although, WTF, one of my friends just looked at her can of Paula and it says "pumkin and squash puree" in the ingredients.  It's 70% pumpkin, 30% squash.     I just checked mine and it says the same.  On the Ocado site (where I ordered it last week) it said it was 100% pumpkin.  WAAHHHH.  Well, at least they've got Libby's now.

That's what I figured, too.  Although, WTF, one of my friends just looked at her can of Paula and it says "pumkin and squash puree" in the ingredients.  It's 70% pumpkin, 30% squash.     I just checked mine and it says the same.  On the Ocado site (where I ordered it last week) it said it was 100% pumpkin.  WAAHHHH.  Well, at least they've got Libby's now.

That's terrible!!  Totally false advertising!

^^ I sent them a cranky email.  While I suspect nobody cares but me, it's irritating to be sold one thing and discover it's another.  And now I can't get Libby's to come up on the Ocado site.  It did a few minutes ago, and now...nada.  Boooo.

I just bought a can of the Paula brand last night. I figure how different could tinned pumpkin brands really be? I mean they're just pumpkin puree in the end, right?

Even with squash mixed in, it should taste the same, I'd think. Please report back, Anne! 

I thought of this thread this afternoon, when I walked past Butler & Co. deli in St. Andrews and they had a huge pyramid of Libby's pumpkin tins in the window!

So I pretty much got looked at like I was from outer space tonight at Tesco. I asked where I could find the canned pumpkin at.  It was a joke  The guy said he never heard of it. I walked around that store for far to long and couldn't find it 

Why didn't you say? I could have sent you some Libby's as well LOL

Why didn't you say? I could have sent you some Libby's as well LOL

Damn it!  I'm hoping to go to Lincoln which is the biggest city near me and find it there. I went to Boston tonight and only checked Tesco so I haven't given up yet.

I've never seen it at Tesco, but I wish they had it.  It is much easier to get to the big Tesco than Waitrose.

What about cranberries?  Does anyone know where to buy actual, not dried, cranberries for making cranberry bread?  I've been looking online at Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose and can't find them.

I'm cooking a full-on turkey dinner for my "in"laws (my BF's parents) and two other relatives... I'm just worried there aren't going to be enough people to do justice to all the leftovers, since his parents are then leaving for the weekend... Still, I am really excited!

Re. the canned pumpkin dilemma - oh come now. A pumpkin is a squash, right? In many countries they don't even differentiate. Now, if they were substituting sweet potato or something that would be bad, but I think most of the flavor in a pumpkin pie comes from the spices anyway!

(That said, I'm making a mental note to bring a can from here, sounds like it's hard to find!)

What about cranberries?  Does anyone know where to buy actual, not dried, cranberries for making cranberry bread?  I've been looking online at Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose and can't find them.

Cranberries tend to make an appearance, usually in bags, in the veg section toward the end of November, so don't give up!



If you reallly can't find it in a shop, you can get it here:

http://www.americansweets.co.uk/libbys-solid-pack-100-natural-pumpkin-a-thanksgiving-essential-386-p.asp

I've used them before, for eggnog.



My best mate was always intrigued by the lack of commerciality about Thanksgiving and, a few years ago, asked if I would "do" thanksgiving for them. I did, with all the trimmings, and we took a moment before tucking in to pause for thought and talk about the things we were grateful for in our lives.

She loved it so much that we've done it ever since.

She even made pumpkin pie from the recipe on the tin of Libby's, never having even SEEN one before, and it turned out beautifully.

Even with squash mixed in, it should taste the same, I'd think. Please report back, Anne!  

It looks like pumpkin (albeit a bit darker - it reminds me more of an organic brand I used to buy in the US than of Libby's), it smells like pumpkin, and it tastes like pumpkin. I've got a loaf of bread in the oven that so far appears to be behaving, so for all intents and purposes I'd say it's absolutely fine and wouldn't be at all worried about it not being 100% pure pumpkin....

ETA: it's out of the oven and more or less cooled and it's yummy!!