I am looking for something new to add to our Thanksgiving meal.  What are some of your unique traditions?  One of ours is that we always have from scratch cherry pie instead of pumpkin. 

we always have saurkraut salad on thanksgiving.  Doesn't sound real tempting, but it is delicious and haven't found anyone who don't like it!!

This is our menu for this year.  Mom and I just went over it yesteday!

Turkey

Stuffing

cranberry

olives

mashed potatoes

cheesy potaotes

hubbard squash

lima beans

green beans

noodles

oyster dressing

broccoli salad

rolls

french chocolate silk pie

pumpkin pie

 My sister does Enchaladas for Thanksgiving and Taco's for Christmas eve!!  LOL  Her husband doesn't like turkey or ham.

Paige, would you share your recipe for oyster dressing? Is it savory?

I would like to know how to make saurkraut salad.  My DH won't touch it but the rest of my family would probably like it.  My husband has an aunt that makes homemade tamales for Thanksgiving.  They are great.

We're having:

Turkey

Stuffing

Roasted garlic mashed spuds

Noodles in chicken broth (to go over the mashed spuds)

Cranberry sauce

Deviled eggs

Cheesy vegetables

Autumn apples

Gingerbread/pumpkin trifle

A pie for those who don't like gingerbread or pumpkin (cheating here, it will probably be a frozen pie)

Luckily, I don't have to cook Thanksgiving dinner.  My SIL has taken over that job.  But the first time she had Thanksgiving dinner she made a cauliflower gratinee that was the best thing I had eaten in awhile.  The recipe is in The Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook on page 305.  I rarely make it because it is so rich but I can't wait to get to her house.  I requested that it be a tradition.

We'll be having:

Fried Turkey, injected with creole butter

Bacon wrapped green beans

baked sweet potatoes, the real ones, not from a can

cornbread dressing

sliced cucumbers in italian dressing

buttered corn

being that we will be at my husband's grandmother's house, we'll probably also have pot roast w/ rice and gravy.  and maybe, cabbage cooked down with bacon.

Pistachio pie

she usually gets the cheesecake tray, too.

I guess that's all, or whatever else we may bring.

Our traditional turkey this year will have Baked SpiralHam with Bourbon Glaze( my other half does)

Then Mashed whipped potatoes

Candied carrots and candied yams

Green beans-fresh w/ ham

Apple-Raisin Stuffing and turkey Gravy

Fresh bread

Pumpkin Pie- Cherry Pie and Rum Cake

Ice Cream

I'm hungry already

This is a traditional side dish we ALWAYS have at Thanksgiving and Xmas.  The kids are all appalled but the adults love it.  When I was in England several years ago, we had mashed or steamed rutabagas in all the pubs.  Yum.  It's kind of like a big yellow turnip. 

Peel rutabaga(s) and cut into one inch chunks.  Use a sharp knife.  Cover with water and boil until fork tender, like a potato.  Drain.  Return to put with LOTS of butter, salt and pepper.  Mash.  Serve.  Fabulous.

One other thing, at my mom's house, rolls are NOT ALLOWED.  Don't ask me why. 

Leslie, My hubbies granny makes it.  I will ask her to write it down for you.  Yes, it is savory.

Crystal, here is the recipe we always use for saurkraut salad

1 qt.saurkraut drained

2 green peppers

2 red peppers

2 cups celery

1/2 cup onion

chop all the above fine and mix

dressing:

2 cups sugar

1 cup vinegar

boil and cool.  Pour over vegetables and mix.  (celery seed and pimento may also be added)

This is best if after you mix the dressing with the salad, that you refrigerate for about 24 hours.  One of those dishes that get better if it sits a few days

Meta,

Thanks for the recipe.  I think I will make it Friday to eat Saturday.  My parents are moving and this sounds great to have already made.

Crystal, you are welcome, let me know what you think of it when you try it.

I always make this salad and there is never any left.. this is a serving of 6 .. of course, the usual turkey, stuffing, green beans, mashed taters and sweet potato casserole ...

Cranberry Pecan Salad

• 1 cup pecan halves
• 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• freshly ground black pepper to taste (optional)
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 cups mixed salad greens, rinsed and dried
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• crumbled feta cheese
   

It is fun to read all the menus.  My family includes a strawberry jello salad with a sour cream layer.  I think it is a very Midwestern thing.  It is one thing the kids actually look forward to along with the mashed potatoes and rolls.  I also make a graham cracker pie, which is basically a custard pie, baked in a graham cracker shell with a meringue top.  Delicious!

I like to have the traditional foods----turkey, dressing, sweet potatos, lots of pickles, cranberry relish, something green, plus others---but try to find different preparations so it's more "special."

My biggest problem with traditional southern T'givng dishes is that they all tend to be soft and casserole- or pudding-like: dressing, potato or spinach souffle, casseroles, etc etc. I'm always looking for ways to provide some texture!

I get to cook again this year - we're having:

Turkey

Stuffing

Mashed potatoes w/gravy

Sweet potatoes with marshmallows

Potato Salad (family tradition/special recipe)

Watergate Salad

Deviled eggs

Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Butternut squash

Green Bean casserole

Cranberries

Rolls

I think that's it!

OK!!

She said she doesn't have a recipe. This is what she does:

Toast up at least 6 slices of bread, or use the cubes.

Put in bowl

Chicken Broth to Moisten

sage, just a bit

celery

onion

Oysters in broth

mix all together. Butter your pan, put in pan and dab butter on top.
Bake until browned, but not dried out. Don't cook it too long. You just want it hot.

We are having:

turkey + bread stuffing + cornbread stuffing (long story)

twice baked potatoes

creamed peas

rolls

corn

sweet potato casserole

gelatin salad of some sort

tapioca fruit pudding

pumpkin pie

Hmm I feel like there's more but I'm not looking at my list.

I think the best part of Thanksgiving is celebrating the fall vegetable harvest - squash of all  types, apples, onions, roasted veggies of every color of the rainbow!

Sue

The Colorful Plate - www.colorfulplate.com