Thanksgiving Day Menu
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays … and it is, of course, all about the food! Okay, it’s not totally about the food. Our family has a lot to be thankful for and we celebrate that on this holiday by coming together and taking time out just to be with each other. There will be no shopping for us! In actuality, we have two Thanksgivings … the Thursday holiday will be spent at my house this year with my mom and then we travel over the weekend to MPG’s family.
Traditionally, my mom hosts Thanksgiving at her house … it has always been this way. The guests have changed over the years … my grandparents, sometimes an uncle or family visiting from afar, college students who worked for my dad and couldn’t afford to travel home during the semester break … you get the picture. Now, it’s just us and Mom and it’s a time to remember and be thankful for all we’ve been blessed with in our lives.
This year, Mom is getting a new kitchen. She’s been cleaning out cabinets for the last two days because new ones are being installed just in time for me to host the holiday celebrations. I’m pretty sure she did this on purpose, but she swears not! Hrmmmm …
So, Thanksgiving at my house … I’m 39 and this is the first Turkey Day I’ve hosted.
The Thanksgiving Menu
Now, I can cook pretty well and I’ve had many dinner parties where I’ve served many people. I’ve even cooked a turkey or two in my day. There is just something about this particular meal that puts stress on young wives and first times hosts. Pfft. I say plan ahead and stay organized and you’ll be just fine.
I’m mixing old tradition with some new since I’m in charge. Whew … hope the walls don’t fall down with that statement! I’m also relying on some of my favorite Food Network chefs to help out 🙂
Here it is:
- Rachel Ray’s Butternut squash soup
- A twist on this Fried Turkey
- Ree Drummond’s Cornbread stuffing the sausage and apples
- Pureed Sweet Potatoes – from an old recipe handed to me by a family friend many years ago
- Creamed peas with pearl onions – a favorite from childhood
- Garlic mashed potatoes – I don’t even have a recipe for these! I’ve just always made them like my mama and grandma.
- Roasted Brussels sprouts – simple olive oil and salt
- Cranberry Sauce – here’s a recipe similar to mine from Ree. I use honey in place of her syrup, though.
- Succotash – I LOVE this stuff. I have a heritage recipe from an 1896 cookbook that I’ve adapted … it’s basically creamed corn with either Lima beans or green beans.
- Gravy, of course
- Croissants – I cheat on this one and buy them canned. Making them is just too much trouble!
- Homemade Cranberry Butter
- Pineapples and Cheddar Cheese – Mom will bring this … Grandma made this all the time for family gatherings and potlucks. It’s amazing and so simple.
- Pumpkin pie from Mom
- German Chocolate cupcakes … because my dad’s birthday is this week and he loved German chocolate cake … and so do we!
That’s the list, along with a relish tray, with enough for leftovers and turkey a la king on Friday morning! I’l post photos and other recipes later in the week, I promise.
I’ll shop tomorrow night and start food prep on Wednesday … and keep you posted along the way. By the way, frying the turkey means more room in my oven for all this other yummy stuff! Now, I need to go unearth some ginormous baking dishes!
