Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Needless to say, many people will be using this week to finish planning their upcoming celebration. Whether you are hosting or contributing a dish to your upcoming feast, most people want the food they serve to be enjoyed and remembered.
Although Thanksgiving can conjure up images of what we consider traditional dishes, it’s the not-so-traditional dishes that we may remember most. Sure, you may have fond feelings for Mom’s amazingly fluffy mashed potatoes or Uncle Bill’s green bean casserole, but it might be Aunt Martha’s tri-colored ambrosia salad with the mystery jelly candies that you remember most this year.
In a recent Los Angeles Times article, it was reported that 581 million pounds of turkey will be purchased in the United States this year for Thanksgiving, but 1/3 of it will end up in the garbage. So perhaps it really is time to ditch the turkey and all of its traditional fare and opt for something different this year.
We thought it would be helpful to share some less traditional Thanksgiving ideas for those of you who haven’t yet decided what dish to share at your Thanksgiving gathering. Below are four not-so-traditional thanksgiving recipes. We listed the ingredients for your shopping list (click on the name of the dish for complete cooking instructions).
Instead of Turkey: Herb Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Sage
1 (3- to 3 1/2-pound) whole chicken, patted dry with paper towels
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 bunch of fresh sage leaves (about 1/2 cup)
2 teaspoons kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 medium carrots, peeled and halved crosswise, optional
3 celery stalks, cut crosswise into thirds, optional
1 large onion, peeled and cut into large chunks, optional
Instead of Potatoes: Pumpkin Rissoto
4 to 5 cups no-salt-added chicken or vegetable stock or broth
1 teaspoon olive oil
3/4 pound onion, finely chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 cup arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup solid-pack canned pumpkin puree
6 tablespoons coarsely grated Parmigiano Reggiano
1/8 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instead of Cranberry Sauce: Cranberry Chutney
1 cup water
3/4 cup white sugar
1 (12 ounce) package fresh cranberries
1 cup apples – peeled, cored and diced
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Instead of Pumpkin Pie: Pumpkin Crème Brulee
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
2 pinches nutmeg
1 pinch ginger
1 pinch ground cloves
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/3 cup coarse sugar or raw sugar
If you have any non traditional recipes to share, we’d love to see them.
Image via Flickr user martha_chapa95.
