Thanksgiving is probably the most anticipated meal of the year. A celebration of indulgence in plate after plate of some of the world’s most delicious homemade food, when diets are set aside for the day, and the enjoyment of a meal reaches its pinnacle. It’s the Oscars of Eating. In 88% of households, the main character of the celebration is the turkey, according to the National Turkey Federation, who we assume would know. More than 46 million turkeys are eaten on the holiday. But the truth is, the ideal Thanksgiving meal is an ensemble cast, with side dishes making the whole production of the holiday special. Today, let’s look at the best supporting side dishes of the Thanksgiving Holiday Meal.
Stuffing
There are so many ways and special family recipes for Thanksgiving stuffing, and none of them are wrong. There are two bases, regular bread or corn bread. From there, ingredients can vary greatly. This author has seen stuffing with diced apples, breakfast sausage, bacon, giblets, boiled egg, doused with turkey gravy or basted in turkey juices, with onions and celery and caraway seeds, etc. There’s really no wrong way. Inside the turkey or outside, homemade, bagged or even bachelor-friendly boxed Stove Top Stuffing. In the end, stuffing is one of the most celebrated sides to Tom Turkey…so much so that it may not feel like a holiday without it.
Potatoes
Let’s address potatoes for Thanksgiving with a wide lens (and in a southern way) to include those that are sweet and those that are unsweet. With regular potatoes, there are those who prepare them as twice-baked potatoes for a great visual, or in hash brown casserole (with or without cheese) form, or probably the most popular way, mashed, with an inner cavity bowl created by a spoon to be overflowing with thick, creamy turkey gravy. The sweet side brings us sweet potatoes or yams, baked with cinnamon and/or brown sugar, butter and marshmallows toasted on top, or presented condensed and with a crust as a sweet potato casserole. Sweet or unsweet, this spud’s for you!
Pies/Other Sweets
When it comes to desserts, we could create a whole blog of specialties that bless us after we loosen our belts from the big meal. But the one kind of pie that always seems to top every list is the Pumpkin pie. It’s basic but hard to beat with a nice big dollop of whipped cream on top. If you haven’t had your fill of potatoes, there’s always the sweet potato pie option as well. Apple, peach and even cherry pie options can creep onto the dessert table too, but don’t get the love, attention or thanks that pumpkin pie does for Thanksgiving. The holiday pretty much brings the pumpkin spice season to its conclusion, while ushering in the month-long peppermint/candy cane Christmas era.
Rolls
I would categorize rolls as a sleeper hit of Thanksgiving. They can be any kind of roll too, from crescent rolls, dinner rolls, sour dough, potato…it doesn’t matter, there’s no wrong answer here. Homemade or store bought, on a tray or from a tube. They go with every side dish, are amazing to sop up turkey gravy with, and they are essential for Thanksgiving Day 2, which is unofficially Turkey Sandwich Day. As a popular southern restaurant used to advertise… “Don’t forget the rolls!!!”
Casseroles
There are so many casserole options for Thanksgiving, so we’ll only cover the most popular ones, starting with Green Bean Casserole. Fresh, frozen or canned beans, cream of mushroom soup, a little milk, fried/dried onions and/or cheese, and pepper to taste. Super easy and savory. There’s the aforementioned Sweet Potato Casserole, Corn Casserole, Potatoes Au Gratin, Mac and Cheese bake, Broccoli Casserole, Hashbrown Casserole and many more. I need to stop for now because the hunger is setting in…
Wait – Something’s Missing
By now, someone is thinking… “What about cranberry sauce?” Well, there are those who love it. However, a recent survey showed that 82 million Americans, 31%, do not want cranberry sauce for their Thanksgiving dinner. Oh, and the healthy pre-meal relish tray? That’s cute. It’s kind of like having your mega-calorie meal with a diet soda, isn’t it? If you want to try something, leave these two offerings off the table this year and see if anyone notices…just to be safe, you may want to have a can of cranberries in the cupboard for those few who can’t imagine Thanksgiving without it.
Rolls, casseroles, potatoes, stuffing and pies for dessert. It all seems a bit carbohydrate heavy, doesn’t it? It’s no coincidence that Americans consume, on average, 3,000-4,500 calories on Thanksgiving. But it’s a holiday and everyone deserves to live a little. Plus, who doesn’t need a New Year’s Resolution?
On behalf of everyone at Parkview Independent Senior Living, we’re thankful for you. Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for reading.
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