Thanksgiving is the most American of holidays. The first Thanksgiving set the tone for sharing the bounty of the earth with family, neighbors, and friends. In some ways, not much has changed over the years. These days the food may not be home grown but families still take great pride in putting a bountiful spread out on the dining room table on Thanksgiving.
It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the turkey. A turkey is the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving table. While turkey is delicious and there is nothing quite as delectable as a crispy brown turkey, it would be a pretty sad meal without all the wonderful side dishes.
Every family has its own traditional side dishes to make the Thanksgiving meal complete. The ones that you consider to be the best depends a great deal on your family expectations and also where in the country you live. There are dishes which are more common in some areas of the country than others.
Cranberries in some form are almost always on the table. It may be that you like the cranberry jelly with or without the whole fruit or it may be that you prefer to make a cranberry relish that combines orange with the cranberries. No matter which form your cranberries are served under, they add a fruity tartness to your Thanksgiving meal.
Potatoes are also an almost universal side dish. Potatoes especially mashed or whipped ones are the perfect accompaniment to turkey and gravy. The potatoes beg to be enjoyed with a ladle filled with rich turkey gravy. If you prefer something a little more decadent, potatoes dauphinoise, scalloped or au gratin would all be delicious.
Turkey without gravy would be a sad meal. There are many ways to prepare gravy, some families prefer a more golden gravy while others a darker color. The table would be incomplete without the gravy boat.
Turnip is a perfect side dish at Thanksgiving. Turnip is a root vegetable that is at its best in the fall at just around the time that you will be celebrating Thanksgiving. It is usually served mashed with a knob of butter melted on it.
Creamed pearl onions are a rich and delicious side dish for Thanksgiving. The little onions are cooked separately and then placed in a white sauce with a light dusting of ground pepper.
Sweet potatoes are a traditional side dish as well. They can be simply baked and served half or whole or they can be candied and have pecans and brown sugar added. Candied sweet potatoes can be served mashed in a casserole.
For many families, it isn’t Thanksgiving without the green bean casserole. These beans are mixed with a creamy soup and onion rings and baked in the oven. You can add a variation with green beans and bacon.
Butternut squash is another of the fall vegetables that are a perfect complement to the turkey and the other sides.
Salad has a place on the Thanksgiving table. It can be a simple green salad, a wedge, or the classic Caesar. The more modern salad with fresh pear, Gorgonzola cheese and walnuts is a perfect side dish to add a lighter touch.
Don’t forget the bread or the rolls for those guests who love to eat their turkey in the form of a sandwich and if the commercial is true you really must have crescent rolls.
The last but not the least important side dish is the dressing. Every family has their own dressing recipes, some like a cornbread stuffing and others like to add things like chestnuts, giblets, potatoes or sausage to the bread. Fruit can also be added as well as nuts, whatever your family enjoys. It can be cooked in the bird or out according to your preference.
Thanksgiving is a day to serve the bounty of the season to the ones you love and all of these side dishes will add to the feeling of a feast. Try to save room for some of the desserts that are waiting on the sideboard, it’s not Thanksgiving without the pumpkin pie and whipped cream.
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