Thanksgiving in America is a nostalgic time where we pause and think about all the blessings that we are thankful for: family, home and our fellow gaming buddies. I created a Skyward Sword themed Thanksgiving dinner that Legend of Zelda players can host for their fellow Hylians to show their gratitude for their friendship. I incorporated some of my favorite elements from Skyloft into my table setting to create a fun and enjoyable night.
Pumpkin soup is a fall traditional entree but it’s also a staple in Link’s diet. In Skyward Sword, the Lumpy Pumpkin bar is a memorable dish. This Lumpy Pumpkin Soup Recipe from Spice Kitchen & Bar is a basic one that can be altered however you want. Feel free to add some veggies or hot spices to make it fit for a Goron, if you so desire.
Lumpy Pumpkin Soup:
Serves about 5
2 Cans of Pumpkin Puree
1 Quart of Chicken Broth (or Veggie Broth)
Black Pepper to taste
1 Cup of Half n’Half
Half a Teaspoon of Dried Onion Flakes
A bit of Parsley
A Tiny Pinch of Salt
Mix the pumpkin puree with the chicken broth into your soup pot. After you’ve blended them together, turn on your stove top to medium heat. After it begins to simmer, add in pepper, onion flakes, salt, and a bit of parsley before stirring. Lastly, add in the half & half and make sure it fully cooks by watching it bubble on the top. The color of the soup should be a creamy orange. It’s vital to not let the soup sit on the stove top and to keep stirring it- otherwise the bottom of the soup will scorch. Serve into bowls while it’s still hot and add chopped parsley to the top before serving to your guests.
To complement the soup I made Faron Woods Salad:
Spinach Leaves
Sliced Carrots
Cherry Tomatoes
I wanted the salad to be plain so it wouldn’t clash with the soup. You can add some mushrooms or peppers to make it more like a salad made in Faron itself, if you so desire.
Next I made some Crunchy Croutons to top both the soup and the salad.
Crunchy Croutons:
Parsely
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Pepper
Olive Oil
5 Bread Slices
Take the bread slices (I used basic sandwich bread) and cut them into cubes. In a bowl, mix two tablespoons of olive oil, Parmesan cheese, a pinch of pepper and chopped parsley. Then place all the bread cubes in the same bowl and coat them with the mixture by stirring with a spoon or your hands. Cover your baking sheet with foil and spread out the croutons. Place in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Croutons can easily burn so keep an eye on them! Serve the Crunchy Croutons in a bowl with a spoon for your guests.
Since this is dinner is supposed to be easy and stress-free, I bought a loaf of bread that had the old-world look that very well could have come from the Knight’s Academy kitchen. Plus, I purchased fruit juice to take the place of health potions.
I choose a Groose-berry pie to serve for dessert. You can make your own berry pie from a favorite recipe or just buy a baked one. Pies should be a traditional treat in Skyloft and Hyrule with all the Chuchu jelly available. You could also make jello by pouring the mixture (before it sets in the fridge) into short clear drinking glasses to make it look like a potion made from defeated ChuChu.
No Thanksgiving in Skyloft would be complete without the proper table setting. Use green and white table clothes to represent both Link and Zelda, or add a color from each region of the surface world or from each of the various tribes of creatures. You can also ask your guests to bring their favorite Legend of Zelda amiibo or figurine to create a collaborative Skyloft tablescape.
Since windmills are so important to the good people of Skyloft I decided to make some pinwheels and have them on the table as a decoration and a party favor. After painting a wooden treasure chest found in my local craft store I added some plastic wrap to the inside and then filled it with colorful candy to symbolize the plethora of rupees waiting to be found. When hosting your own Skyward Sword themed dinner make sure to keep it simple and memorable by letting your friends know how much you appreciate them both in the gaming realm and real life.
Happy Thanksgiving from Skyloft!
