If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, or just bringing a dish or a dessert, here are the recipes I’m making this year. We decided to host since my mom was renovating her kitchen and my brother and sister-in-law were coming in from out of state and I wanted to be sure to see them. Normally we go to my mother-in-law’s for a traditional feast. My family’s thanksgiving is less traditional, think pilgrims meet tsoliades (Greek soldiers). While my mother makes a turkey, she also, always makes lamb. There’s always spanakopita and tiropites for appetizers and for dessert, there’s bound to be some galactobourico (or, galactic booty call as my husband calls it). There’s no doubt my mother will be bringing the Greek to our thanksgiving celebration this year, and we welcome it, but here’s our planned menu:
So here are the recipes:
Spiced Maple Bourbon Fizz Cocktail from Half-baked Harvest.
I’m making a cheeseboard featuring some pastry-wrapped cranberry brie and some whipped goat cheese with candied bacon and dates.
Next, we’re doing a vinegar-brined roast turkey and we’re cooking it a day in advance to save time and space in our oven. We’ll reheat in bone broth and gravy the day of so that it’s extra moist.
My mom will bring her Greek roast lamb.
Our side dishes will consist of cream cheese mashed potatoes, crispy parmesan thyme sweet potato stacks, maple ginger glazed carrots, roasted Brussels sprouts with apple cider and maple ham we use this recipe but add hard cider, replace the bacon with ham and add a little maple syrup. My husband makes the green beans almondine and the creamed baby pearl onions. Last year we made Kamala Harris’ cornbread stuffing and it was the best, so we’re making it again.
Coming from a Greek family, we don’t know what to do about cranberry sauce. We found it weird to pair with meat, never had it at our table growing up, but really like the homemade versions. So I make this recipe and it’s delicious.
This year, I’m making a pumpkin pie from scratch and this salted bourbon apple crumble coffee cake. I’m purchasing a blueberry pie and a heavenly cranberry lime pie on a pecan crust from Sophie’s Brewhouse – a divine cafe near my house. Sometimes you have to know your limits and also support your local community.
