Thanksgiving Menu

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 In less than 48 hours, the big will gorge-fest Day of Thanks will be upon us.  Some people get nervous when cooking for an event or for a group of people, rightfully so, but since it’s just the three of us for Thanksgiving, there’s no one to get nervous for and I’m also going to try not to make enough food to feed an army.

I’ll be making:

Turkey and Stuffing with mixed vegetables.  Same as I did last year.

Possibly some Mango Ginger Maple Tofu

Mango Ginger Maple Tofu

Ginger roasted sweet and white potato fries

Ginger roasted sweet and white potato fries
Ginger roasted white potato fries

Cranberry & Orange Ginger Mango Chutney.  The potatoes and the chutney will both have ginger and I think will pair nicely.

Cranberry & Orange Ginger Mango Chutney

And I should make up some more Caramel Pumpkin Whip Dip

Caramel Pumpkin Whip Dip with crackers

Scott would love a batch of Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds.  The rosemary from the nuts would complement the rosemary I plan use on the turkey.

Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds

Dessert will not be a Vegan/GF No-Bake Pumpkin Pie

Slice of pumpkin pie with ice cream
Slice of pumpkin pie with ice cream

It may be Pumpkin Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars (Vegan, GF)

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Or I may hit up my freezer stash of treats…

like Stuffed Dark Chocolate Chococlate-Chip Cookies

Stuffed Dark Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies with strawberries

Or make Caramel Apple Bars (GF with Vegan adaptations)

Caramel Apple Bars stacked

Or be totally non-traditional and make Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze

Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze

I’m all about breaking bread breaking traditions at times.

Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze in half

If you need a roundup of Thanksgiving Recipes, the one Jessica put together is amazingly comprehensive and if this is your kind of holiday and your menu is still not set in stone, that’s the ticket.

What’s on your menu for the holidays?  What’s a must-have or something you just can’t wait to have? 

Are you cooking or just helping out with the eating part?

I’ve mentioned before that Thanksgiving food doesn’t really excite me.  I despise stuffing, I don’t eat turkey, I am not a big fan of mashed potatoes and gravy; it’s just not my thing.  But it’s definitely Scott’s thing and he excited for his big feast.

His eyes lit up when I told him yes, don’t worry, I am cooking.  Every year he thinks I may not cook because I’m not going to eat most of it.  I’ll help eat the dip and dessert but the rest of it, it’s all his.

I like to cook and I like to make him happy.  And Skylar will eat anything, she’s easy; seeing the joy that a home-cooked meal gives the two of them is well worth it.  That’s what I am thankful for:  My family, cooking for them and we have food on our table, that we’re healthy and have a roof over our heads, and that we’re together.  That’s what matters most to me.  Not really the food.

Ok, the desserts matter.

I really don’t want leftovers for ages so am not going to go too overboard with things.  It’s all for Scott and a four year old:  Turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, vegetables, nuts, a dip, dessert.  That’s plenty!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for the Reusable Bamboo Bottle Giveaway entries!

 

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Comments

  1. Have a lovely family time together! I know that lots of people prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas because it has that emphasis on family and togetherness.

    I’m still in Israel tomorrow, just starting my trip home, so I miss ‘Thanksgiving” proper, but Phil’s bday is right after, so I’m sure we’ll be partying all over again…

  2. Ooohhh I definitely love my Thanksgiving meals! Obviously I make it vegan, but we already had our (Canadian) Thanksgiving in October. Dallas’ family came over, and I got to host a vegan/gluten-free meal! Tofurky was the only thing with gluten, but we had stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, homemade cranberry sauce, roasted yams & carrots, brussels sprouts, cheese sauce…and his momma brought a BEAUTIFUL homemade fruit salad with soy ice cream for dessert! :) I love sharing a home-cooked meal with family. Enjoy your Thanksgiving with Scott & Skylar! :)

  3. My family is just sticking with traditional, we’re each bringing something – my contribution is the Shepherd’s Pie with mashed cauliflower topping and cranberry sauce. The sauce is all me, because I’m the only one who likes it. :D

    I remember when you posted about the turkey a couple years ago (was it that long ago?!?) and I remember thinking that it was awesome that a vegan was making her husband a gorgeous turkey. I know you aren’t vegan anymore, but it is still awesome!

    1. Yes it was 2009! Crazy, huh! Time flies. Don’t know what I’d do without you :)

      “I remember thinking that it was awesome that a vegan was making her husband a gorgeous turkey.” <– thank you :)

  4. I want everything you’re making! It all sounds so good. Especially the donuts. :) I hope you and your family have a good Thanksgiving!

  5. You sound like me. I never cared for Thanksgiving. You spend all day in the kitchen, so people can scarf down the food in 5 minutes. This year it’s my Husband and I, and he brought home a 10lbs. Turkey for the two of us, is he kidding me? He wants mashed potatoes and gravy, but not me, not my thing. The problem e have is I want sweet potato’s, butternut squash and stuffing. He just wants jellied cranberry sauce, regular mashed potatoes and the dam turkey that takes how many hours to make? It’s a pain in my butt! I told him I want to go out, and he said but your in the kitchen all the time. Yah, I am, making things I like and quick things to, well except those darn cupcakes. lol So I feel yah! I’ll be thinking of you when I have my dessert and wine. Oh and get this, he doesn’t want dessert. What the heck? Who doesn’t want dessert, I don’t get why I married him.

  6. I’m somehow making 3 side dishes tomorrow (and working a full day among a million other errands!) for the big day. My parents are hosting but we’re all trying to help out more than usual since my mom is working tomorrow and has to work early the next morning. Hosting is tiresome!
    I love the look of that chutney!

  7. Well, I just got over a month of bronchitis and now I have a cold. SO I have no energy for anything, and I turned down 2 invites.

    We’re roasting a chicken on a bed of root veggies, my spouse is making his grandpa’s famous cornbread stuffing, and I’m steaming some green beans. That’s all we’ve got energy for. I will be napping all weekend.

  8. It all looks great! Loved Jessica’s round-up too. I’m working Thanksgiving so I’m doing a mini-one for hubs and I and baby tomorrow. I bought turkey legs so I don’t have to cook a whole turkey :) Then we’ll do the big family thing later. Have a terrific Thanksgiving Averie!

    1. I think you were probably featured in her roundup…all your eats are great.

      Happy TG to you and your fam!

  9. can i have thanksgiving at your house, please?! i’m literally dying over those stuffed cookies (um, not to mention the donuts).

    1. I’d love to have you. I commented below you on Heab’s blog re Maggiano’s. That place…so many memories of the OakBrook Mag’s for me back in the day!

  10. Your menu sounds tasty and fun! This year, we stepped out of our comfort zone and ordered a smoked turkey pre-cooked online and a cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. They’re both supposed to be delivered tomorrow–supposedly. Hopefully. :)

    The rest will be all traditional carb overloading. Potatoes and stuffing and sweet potatoes and string beans and bread and whatever else fits on the table. May need to annex the coffee tables to feed a family of 3 and my mom isn’t much bigger than Skylar, haha.

    1. I live one mile from the CCFactory! Wish I could just pick one up for you! And I love the “traditional carb overloading” and annex the coffee table…you need to write a book or something. Seriously girl. You crack me up!

  11. I’m making your rosemary chipotle almonds for a Thanksgiving appetizer :) I’m feeding a bunch of male Marines so we’ll see how they like it! hehe

  12. I’ll be doin’ the eating! Well, and maybe chopping an onion or something, but mostly eating!

    Have a wooonderful break!

  13. LOL not a T-day food fan either even more so b/c my dang bday always got “celebrated” on T-day. Whooopeeee (rolling eyes). The one unique thing is that my dad’s side (Italian) always does spaghetti and meatballs. While I don’t do meatballs any longer, he does make sauce just for me.

    I’ll be finally, for the first time ever hosting my mom for Thanksgiving. For me, this is huge b/c I can finally make everything I want. Screw the dressing, screw the potatoes ;-)