*** The Little Turkey That Wasn’t is a warm, whimsical short story that explores family, tradition, and creativity through the lens of culinary innovation. While it is a holiday story on the surface, it operates on multiple levels—highlighting themes of adaptability, the intersection of heritage and modernity, and the joy found in playful experimentation. *** The Little Turkey That Wasn’t By Harry Arabian (Featuring Vegan Chickpea Kibbeh Patties on the Saj) On the morning of Thanksgiving, the kitchen smelled nothing like turkey—but that was exactly the point. Lina stood at her counter, sleeves rolled to her elbows, hands deep in a bowl of mashed chickpeas, bulgur, caramelized onions, and warm spices. Cumin, cinnamon, allspice—little puffs of Levantine comfort rising into the cool November air. Her saj pan, dented from years of travel and stories, sat warming on the stove like a loyal companion. This year, she’d promised her family something new. “A turkey!” her nephew ...