Ringbind1

Prologue
Traditions are the roots of our heritage and culture. They give us
a fast foothold in the unknown, the changing, and that which is
different. They are a manifestation of who we are and where we
come from, and we can take them with us wherever we venture
in life. As we experience the world and meet new people, our traditions
will be enriched with new experiences. They will change
and we will grow, and from there our roots will also grow.
This book, En Route, is a journey to explore the many influences
we have in our lives that nourish our roots - the ones that form
the core of our identities and act as cultural markers. It is also my
own journey of self-discovery, traced through the food cultures
and rules of etiquette that I grew up in.
One of the most defining elements in a society is its food heritage
and culture. That is as true for nations as it is for individual families.
Food unites the few and the many, and it tells a story about
traditions that link us to a certain place and time.
En Route is an account of my personal story seen through the
lens of one of the most important holidays of my youth - Thanksgiving.
It is a holiday I have carried with me across oceans into
adulthood in a changed but recognizable way.
My wish in writing this book is three-fold. First and foremost,
this cookbook is a gift to my children and my Danish niece and
nephew. It is an embodiment of hope that they will carry our
family traditions with them always, no matter where in the world
they venture. I also hope to give my entire family on both sides
of the Atlantic - even those who have taken me in just for a short
time - a book of beautiful shared memories and insights into how
those moments have shaped the life I live today.
Secondly, for my American friends, Thanksgiving is no stranger.
My hope is to give some perspective on why I took this tradition
with me “across the pond” and offer inspiration for your next
Thanksgiving Day meal.
Lastly, for my Danish friends, I hope to share with you an introduction
to one of the American traditions that I celebrate to this
day with my Danish family. American holidays like Halloween,
Black Friday, and Valentine’s Day have wiggled their way into the
Danish calendar, but Thanksgiving hasn’t. Maybe it’s too closely
tied to U.S. history and culture, but a day of thanks with family
and great food certainly feels like a perfect fit for the Danish love
of hygge.
Love, E lke
Both miles and years have influenced the Thanksgiving recipes in
this book. Familiar dishes have been spiced with new traditions,
adapted to changing taste buds, flavored with new ingredients
when traditional ones could not be found, and infused with an
abundance of inspiration from my multicultural life.
When living a life like mine, holding on and reaching out go hand
in hand. To thrive, the “why” in everything you do becomes very
important. So does learning how to invite others into your life
when you want them to grab ahold of traditions that are yours
and could be theirs. After all, without a community to keep them
alive, traditions fade.
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