Favorite Thanksgiving Foods

Thanksgiving is a holiday devoted to expressing gratitude for all that we have. Most of us do this by gathering friends and family for a huge feast. Here are some resources for planning your Thanksgiving meal and deciding your menu.

Foods for Thanksgiving

The turkey is the iconic centerpiece of the Thanksgiving feast.  Turkey should be cooked for about 15-20 minutes per pound.  This site offers extensive resources including preparation tips, recipes for Thanksgiving turkey, recipes for leftovers, and storage tips.  Even more recipes are on Food Network.  Here is my recipe for “Delectable Turkey of Gratitude” using olive oil and herbs.

Remember to save the bones and scraps for making stock!  One picked-over turkey carcass plus leftover vegetables is enough to make a nice batch of turkey stock.

Ham is another popular main dish for Thanksgiving.  Here is my recipe for “Amazing Mango Ham,” which uses fruit enzymes to tenderize the meat.

Save the ham bone, any big hunks of skin or fat, and meat scraps for making “Ham and Beans” later.

Cranberries are often served for Thanksgiving.  You can buy jelled cranberry sauce in cans at the supermarket, which is my favorite kind; simply cut the ends off the can and slide the jelly out whole onto a plate for slicing.  There are also many recipes for using cranberries in sauces, dressings, or desserts.

Other popular side dishes include bread, potatoes, yams, and squash. Recipes for Thanksgiving vegetables are here.  You might also enjoy my super-simple recipe for “Baked Potatoes” with suggested toppings.

Pie is the traditional Thanksgiving dessert.  Favorites include pumpkin pie, apple pie, and mincemeat pie.  Check out my recipes for “Caramel Apple Cobbler” and “Ginger Gold Apple Pie” (you can substitute Granny Smith instead of Ginger Gold apples).  Would you like that a la mode?  Top with storebought vanilla ice cream, or make your own “Coconut Ice Cream” or “Vanilla Ice Milk.”

What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving foods and recipes?