Here we are staring straight down the barrel of another Thanksgiving. And every year at this time, I find myself asking the same questions: "Who are these people and why must I continue to provide them with nourishment??"
I kid, I kid. These people are my family and I'm happy to provide them with nourishment. The trouble is, my people prefer to take their holiday nourishment in the exact same form every year. Not a single deviation would be welcomed. They want what they want, and the people will have their traditional foods this Thanksgiving ... as they have every other year since the dawn of creation.
Now, that wouldn't be so bad, were I not a food blogger and in need of fresh content! Hello, might we have some lovely crisp-roasted brussels sprouts instead of the green bean casserole? No. No, we can't. So what's a blogger to do?
Provide you with links to my previously posted holiday recipes. Perhaps you're a new reader and you've missed them the first time. Or maybe your people are amenable to a bit of deviation at the holidays. If so, color me jealous. In any case, consider this a "Best of Diva" Thanksgiving style. Enjoy!
Diva Family Thanksgiving Favorites:
Recipe for Make-Ahead Gravy - this one's a time saver and a life-saver.
Herbed Bread Stuffing - my take on a classic.
Cranberry Port Conserve - my all-time favorite cranberry sauce.
Cranberry Sauce with Pears and Cardamom - a close second fave.
Pumpkin Cranberry Bread - a seasonal treat with all the warm spices.
Pork Stuffing - a tender recreation of my mother in law's recipe.
So, tell me about your people. Do you switch up the holiday menu? Or are you part of a traditional tribe? Curious Diva wants to know.
Bon appetite!
We hardly ever switch. I blogged about it yesterday, actually!
ReplyDeleteAt least it makes menu planning easy, right?
same people different menu - my menu changes every year from what kind of bird to what kind of pie - always changing.
ReplyDeleteWait a minute now! I'm all about change! Just because other family members aren't doesn't mean you can't make those great sounding sprouts in small batches were you so inclined, for those of us who might like them. Eh?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to another delicious meal at your table and being thankful for a daughter who loves to cook.
blehhh I can't stand green bean casserole haha I also serve up the roasted sprouts instead!! :D I'm the most nontradition oriented person ever... thanksgiving is my least favorite since I don't like roasted turkey... give me a ham and I'm happy :)
ReplyDeleteJohnny's mom hosts Thanksgiving and also has us at her house every Sunday. I eat a "Thanksgiving meal" about 20-30 times a year, no joke. She goes all out making a brined turkey and all the fixins. I get SO SICK OF IT.
ReplyDeleteThis year is my FIRST year hosting Thanksgiving -- and seeing as she JUST fed us a turkey dinner this past Sunday I'm definitely switching it up. Don't tell any of them, but I'm roasting ducks and making ham. I can't force feed another bite of turkey.
MM - you're right about that. I could write this menu in my sleep. And, sometimes, I wish I could cook it in my sleep too! LOL Glad to know I'm not alone. Thanks!
ReplyDeletedoggybloggy - I'm not surprised in the least. I count on you to shake things up a bit! Enjoy it! ;)
pixelgal - you know there would be a revolt from the other side were the green beans fail to appear. LOL The larger issue is one of time and space. If I had more of both, we'd have more choices! Love you back!!!
Steph - you don't like roasted turkey?! Wow! That's kind of a surprise. But hey, I like ham too. Give me both and I'm be just fine. What time is dinner? LOL
Christina - ya know, I saw a tweet of yours awhile back saying you weren't into Thanksgiving ... now I know why! What should be a treat, is just the same old, same old for you, huh? Roasting ducks sounds like a great solution to me. Enjoy it! :)
My guests like surprises. Last 3 yrs: cassoulet, short ribs, turducken. I believe this year I am making a goose. :)
ReplyDeleteBen - quite whimsical and most intriguing! I have a feeling Papa Diva would enjoy a seat at your table ... he's a huge fan of cassoulet. He might enjoy the turducken as well. Such a shame we're not neighbors. ;)
ReplyDeleteAlmost the same deal here! People want their traditional foods, and if you give them something different, they start wrinkling their noses. :/ You have to find a way to sneak in something new!
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of extended family in the area, so every year it's at a different house, we all bring our dishes. Thought there are some repeat dishes, typically the menu does change every year.
ReplyDeleteDuo - you're on to something with sneaking in the new dishes. Def. the way to go!
ReplyDelete5 Star - ooh, that sounds like fun! I love that you switch up hosting duties and that everyone brings a dish. I'll bet that makes for one fantastic buffet!
I allow my family determine the basic menu, but I always reserve 2 or 3 dishes which are "different" from prior years, and generally they are the first time I've made them. So eat them or don't, the classics are still there :)
ReplyDeleteSuzee - I like that solution! Sounds like a win/win to me! Enjoy the holiday!
ReplyDeleteYour menu sounds awesome!:) We usually go with tradition but we try to add something new each year and toss it if it turns out gross:)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to snag your stuffing recipe this year! We're cooking a 28 pounder, and stick to the traditional menu. Dessert is a different story, like pumpkin cheesecake!
ReplyDeleteI just looked at your blog the other day to see if you had updated it, but it was still that cabbage dish!!! Have a great weekend! : )
We do love our traditonal dishes at the Goss house HOWEVER every year I try out a new recipe for a veggie side this year is a carmelized butternut squash from Ina Garten - sounds lovely and fattening LOL!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Turkey day dear diva and family!
I feel your frustration. My family has certain dishes that MUST be served. There is a bit of wiggle room -- green beans versus peas, carrots versus squash, but over the years I've learned big holidays are not the time for experimentation. People like tradition.
ReplyDeleteSo, it's pumpkin pie... again. And I'm okay with that.
I'd fake my own death to avoid turkey and brussels sprouts, I'm afraid. Last Christmas Day I cooked a ham and made cumberland sauce to go with it. It was wonderful. I've just blogged a couple of very basic Greek recipes over at my place, so if anyone's interested, troll on over.
ReplyDeleteHI
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe in this post and I think there are many people want to make this recipe at home.