Too early to start talking Thanksgiving menu?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's interesting is there is a discussion... Deviating from our usual menu in my family would result in mutiny! There's always ham, turkey, chicken and dumplings, candied yams, corn casserole, dressing, Mac and cheese, cranberry sauce, pole beans, giblet gravy, rolls, red velvet and 12 layer cake and pumpkin and chocolate and lemon pie. You can add things but they may be regarded with suspicion. You may not remove any of these from the lineup.

Our house is the same. I could get by with adding some things. But I could never take anything away.

[Anonymous]

^^^

I agree. I think most families are this way.

I'm surprised at how big mac and cheese seems to be, and at how little people are talking about the stuffing. In our family the type of stuffing is what people fight over. It used to be just traditional sage bread stuffing, a sacred and inviolable tradition. Now people compete and we usually have 3 flavors. I think I'm ahead with my cornbread stuffing, that people now ask for year after year.

[Anonymous]

OP, you need a cranberry sauce, a gravy, and IMSHO, some sort of squash dish--roasted squash would be fine.

I'll be over by 2pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a grave dislike of sweet potatoes so don't use them at Thanksgiving. For me it's all about the turkey, Gravey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Anything else is just fancy extras.

Amen.

[Anonymous]

A grave dislike of sweet potatoes!? That is so sad. A plain baked sweet potato with butter is one of the best things on earth.

[Anonymous]

We also have a pretty standard menu, but sometimes we mix it up a bit. We always like to talk about new twists, but somehow end up with our old favorites.

Appetizers - veggie tray, mixed nuts, etc

Turkey - normally roasted, occasionally braised or BBQ
Stuffing- traditional sage stuffing with chopped celery and onions
Sweet potatoes - mashed with orange juice and maple syrup, topped with mini marshmallows
Mashed potatoes
Steamed green beans
Cranberry sauce - regular berry/sugar/water recipe, sometimes with add-ins like diced apples or mandarin oranges
Gravy
Sometimes we'll add a green salad or fruit salad

Pies - pumpkin, pecan, apple
Some years I substitute a pecan shortbread dessert for the pecan pie

Wine. Lots of wine.