Story By: Trudy Crowson
MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and be thankful for the blessings in your life. Most people celebrate by taking part in a feast with either family or friends.
The feast can be simple or elegant. It can also be an experiment in trendy new foods or a time to follow family recipes that can be handed down for generations that are a comfort to the heart and the belly.
Let’s start with traditional classics.
Classic comfort food dishes
- Dressing
A dressing is a casserole dish that combines bread, vegetables, meat, and broth that is crowd favorite.
Some recipes are carefully guarded family secrets that are passed down, generation to generation. A good dressing is definitely something that gives a home cook bragging rights.
There are various choices that you can make with creating your dressing. Some of the choices are:
*making exclusively with cornbread
*using leftover bread
*using onions
*using celery
*choice of meat/meatless
*using boiled eggs
“Turkey has long been the star choice of meat for the main dish on Thanksgiving. It even has a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”
Trudy Crowson
- Mac and cheese
Yet another crowd-pleaser and something that even the pickiest of eaters love to eat, mac and cheese is, at it’s most basic form, a dish made of noodles, cheese, milk and butter.
Some, who usually buy the cheap box of macaroni may splurge for the deluxe box during this time of feasting, whereas others will make such an indulgent dish, that a delighted moan leaves your lips with the first taste.
- Meat
Turkey has long been the star choice of meat for the main dish on Thanksgiving. It even has a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but you can choose whatever your crowd will enjoy. Options abound about prepping your turkey and even the method with how you will cook your turkey. If you choose to deep fry your turkey, make sure to follow the safety guidelines.
Ham, whether salty or sweet, is another favorite that is very popular amongst the feasters, however, you can opt for a non-meat main if you would like.
- Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is relish that you serve to go with your turkey and dressing. You can easily make it ahead of time (it does require chill time), or you can opt for buying a can of sauce that is premade from the store and chilling it. This dish adds a pop of color to your Thanksgiving plate that is also a delight to the tongue.
- Sweet potatoes and yams
Sweet potatoes and/or yams are a sweet and delicious side to add your menu. Even though most people interchange these two freely when discussing them, they are not the same and cannot be interchanged when making recipes.
Dishes that you can make are:
*baked sweet potato
*sweet potato casserole
*sweet potato pie
*candied yams
*baked yams
“Deviled eggs are a definite fan favorite…These little goodies easily disappear from the table quickly.”
Trudy Crowson
- Potatoes
Potatoes are another great option for a side with a plethora of choices on which dish you choose to make. They help you to feel full and satisfied after partaking in them.
Some of the favorite ways to prepare potatoes are:
*mashed potatoes and gravy
*potato salad
*baked potatoes
*boiled new potatoes
*fried potatoes and onions
- Deviled eggs
Deviled eggs are a definite fan favorite. They even have special carrying trays or dishes in which to transport and display your edible delights. They all start the same, with a peeled boiled egg cut in half, but after that, the variety and creativity begins. These little goodies easily disappear from the table quickly.
Trendy Non-Traditional Dishes
- Pumpkin soup in mini pumpkin bowls
This dish will be a special treat for both the eyes and the tongue. The creamy warmth of the soup will make even chilly nights seem not so harsh. The cooking time is only one and half hours making this a definite contender for a new item to your menu.
- Baked brie with cranberries and pomegrante
Here we have another dish that will warm up those chilly Thanksgiving nights. Made with warm gooey brie, this dish would be an excellent appetizer. The colors from the cranberries and pomegranate pop, giving your guests a visual treat.
- Fall vegetable pot pies
An excellent choice for an intimate crowd, these little pot pies are a great way to utilize the wonderful Fall harvest. The flaky crust is the delicious box that holds the warm goodness inside. Do be careful when to make sure your bite is not too hot when you eat it.
What will you choose?
Whether you choose to go totally traditional, trendy non-traditional, or a hodgepodge of both, enjoy your meal with the people in your life. Make special memories of the food and most importantly, the company with which you share this special day.
Vallo Vision News 