How did that happen? One minute it’s October and I’m thinking that I have plenty of time to think about Thanksgiving, and the next thing I know it’s almost here, and I’m afraid I haven’t given it much thought. Yet.
I did think about it a little yesterday. I finally plucked the Brussels Sprouts stalks out of the garden. I cut off all the little green globes, blanched them, and froze them. Oh. My. Goodness. These are the sweetest Brussels Sprouts! Even raw they tasted great! I have three quarts in the freezer, and as I looked over my mountain of little green orbs, I wondered if anyone else at my Thanksgiving table likes Brussels Sprouts as much as I do. Or would it be a waste of their great goodness to dish them up at a dinner with so many other options? I’m not sure on that one yet.
The only certainty is going to be The Turkey. Oh, and Mom’s Stuffing. I suspect there will also be the requisite mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, and plenty of pies. It’s everything else that I’m on the fence about. I do want to use as many of the things that I’ve put by or preserved this year as possible. It just seems fitting for the holiday that the sweet corn I froze in July becomes a part of the Thanksgiving feast. Or that somehow I figure out a way to integrate some of those wonderful canned pears. And do I serve rolls of some kind? That just seems like excessive filler to me. I could certainly make some delicious ones, but is that just too much?
*Sigh*
So maybe you could help me out today! Come on out of lurkdom and tell me, if there is one thing that you want most at your Thanksgiving dinner, what is it? What one thing would you truly miss if it wasn’t on the table somewhere? Is there a particular pie? Or conversely, is there one thing that you always eat out of obligation, but you’d be perfectly okay if it vanished forever? Do share, I’m so indecisive these days.
I too would desperately miss brussel sprouts, I am trying a new recipe from Epicurious this year. The other item is glazed carrots. I love to eat them with a dab of mashed potatoes……it’s heaven….a little sweet…..a little salty…..
There’s nothing better.
Cranberry sauce, dry stuffing
If there’s gravy in my house, there’s bread. But we are carb-aholics around here. 🙂
Green Beans are a must in our family, too. I love the way they brighten up the table compared to the earthy tones of potatoes, turkey and dressing. But it sounds like you’ve got that covered with the brussels sprouts.
How would the pears do in a tart or pie?
What I can do without…rice, cranberry sauce, and jello salad! We must have a pecan pie and with this being the first Thanksgiving without my grandmother (the maker of pies!) I’ve requested the task of making it. I also look forward to dressing.
Jello salads are my all time least Thanksgiving dish. Always liked creamy corn casserole 🙂
These are all great suggestions and mentions- keep em coming!
Whitney, I’m leaning towards making the sprouts
Michelle, I forgot to mention cranberry sauce is a must too. We love it. And stuffing- although ours is technically dressing.
Deborah you have a great point about gravy needing the bread… The pears are in a syrup- a tart maybe?
Claire, you shared your Grandmother’s pie last year, didn’t you. I’ll have to go look at your recipe. Pecan pie is a must for me too. And rice? I don’t think I’ve ever had rice for Thanksgiving. That’s a new one.
Jep, I’m leaning towards a corn dish of some kind too. Maybe a corn pudding?
Anyone else? I love seeing what other people consider must haves- or must nots.
Sweet potatoes, although you already mentioned them. I made Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes last year and they were a hit so I’ll be bringing those again. Kind of traditional with a twist.
yeah…I’m pretty sure I did post her pie last year. For some strange reason, if my dad’s family is getting together, there is ALWAYS rice. Nothing special, just plain white rice. I don’t understand it and don’t ever eat it, but we always have it. If it didn’t show up, I would NOT miss it!
Robyn, I really need to try those chipotle sweet potatoes some time!
Interesting about the rice, Claire. I bet it was something that started once upon a time as a way to stretch a dinner, and it just became a tradition to have rice on the table.
I just stumbled onto your blog. You should check out the cranberry swirl cheesecake on epicurious.com. It’s my husband’s favorite and his one request for Thanksgiving.
Oh my, now that sounds like a temptation! Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake!!