Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

November 15, 2012 · 2:30 am

Thanksgiving Recipes

Pumpkin Ginger Soup topped with Pepitas

My family is ridiculously traditional, and suggesting an innovative take on a Thanksgiving classic usually warrants more eye rolls than anything else. But little by little, year by year, I’ve introduced a few dishes to the traditional Turkey Day menu that have gone over very well. Below is a list of dishes and recipes that you can try this year to give an untraditional spin to a very traditional meal. My family approves, so yours will, too.

STARTERS
Pumpkin Ginger Soup topped with Pepitas

SIDES
Roasted Kabocha Squash (just leave out the chicken to make this a nice compliment to the Thanksgiving turkey)
Butternut Squash, Leek, and Apple Gratin
Easy Biscuits
 Jalapeno Goat Cheese Corn Bread
Green Bean Casserole (from The Pioneer Woman)

DESSERTS
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
 Sugar Crusted Apple Pie

BEVERAGES
Hard Cider

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November 19, 2010 · 10:25 am

She’s Off!

Dear friends and loyal readers,

I’m about to embark on a week-long vacation to the Adirondack Mountains where I will go to sleep at 9:00 every night, eat mountain favorites like pancakes, babyback ribs, and steamers until my pants literally don’t fit anymore, and hike through the snow-covered hills with a furry dog. It is pure bliss. I will also take on the task of making Thanksgiving dinner! Upon my return, I’ll have pictures and recipes of successes and failures, and a kick off to the great holiday cookie season!

Have a very happy Thanksgiving, kiddies!

The top of Bald Mountain in the Adirondacks

 

If you’re looking for resources to create that perfect meal on November 25, here are a few of my favorite spots:

Epicurious.com

AllRecipes.com (here you can enter in the ingredients you have/want and all the recipes that include those ingredients will come up!)

Pioneer Woman Cooking

Martha Stewart

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November 16, 2010 · 10:41 am

Hard Cider

A quick post today to plant a seed in your brain. An APPLE seed, if you will. I can not stop thinking about Thanksgiving. It is the high holy day of the food calendar and trumps any summer picnic, winter soup, or spring salad you can think of. It is a day dedicated to stuffing your face.

…Oh yeah. And those pilgrims or whatever.

What beverages do you serve at Thanksgiving dinner, friends? My family serves wine. Lots of it. And by the time pie is served everyone is ruddy-cheeked and spilling things in each others’ laps. It’s pretty magical.

This year, why not serve hard cider? It’s delicious, it’s seasonal, and it’ll get you drunk faster than beer. But you didn’t hear that from me.

My favorite is Bulmer’s which is only sold in Ireland, but its alternately-named twin, Magners, can be found in most grocery stores in the US and is worth a taste. It isn’t as sweet as other hard ciders (which I prefer) but still has the apple-y crisp flavor you’d expect. More here on hard cider, from the New York Times.

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November 5, 2010 · 2:00 am

Calling All Turkeys

Dear Readers,

Today I ask your input. I don’t often ask things of you because, frankly, I’m afraid no one will answer. But today I’m asking. Thanksgiving is fast approaching and this year I’m allowed to contribute! WAHOO! In addition to making the pies for my family’s Adirondack feast, I’m thinking I’d like to make something special. Something different. I come from a family that is BIG on tradition, and we don’t really like change. But this year I want to try. Just a little. Just to see how it feels.

I found a recipe for chestnut soup but I’m not sold on it, and I’d love to hear from you! What are your families’ specialties? Any regional dishes? Any recipes brought over from Europe, Asia, Africa, that have since been integrated into the food-fueled American holiday? You don’t have to post the whole recipe, but I’d love to hear about anything that falls outside the realm of Stove Top stuffing and green bean casserole.

Leave ’em in the comments, friends. I do appreciate it.

Love always and forever amen,
Lauren E.

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