What Will You Serve For Thanksgiving?
Dressing or stuffing
Some of you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving but here in the US this is probably the biggest food holiday of them all, it’s also a time to remember how much we have to be thankful for. For me the Thanksgiving meal is steeped in tradition. Every year I make the same meal, I have tried adding something different but in the end, the best is always the tried and true recipes.
Do you try new recipes or stick to the tried and true?
Is it Potluck or do you do all the cooking?
What do you make, or do you go to someone else’s house for the meal?
I bake pies for friends, this year I am making apple, pumpkin and pecan for both my table and for my friends. I have will have 6-8 people over, family and friends.
How many will be around your table?
Photo by James Ransom
Thanksgiving 2014
Butter and herb roast turkey– compound butter under the skin and steam roasted
Dressing– cornbread and bread with a lot of other things. My signature dish.
Mashed potatoes- Yukon gold, sour cream and butter. I like super creamy smooth potatoes so I use a food mill.
Corn
Brussels Sprouts- I am going to make this recipe this year from my friend Bevi, it’s a Food52 contest winner
Gravy
Cranberry orange sauce (see recipe below)
Just out of the oven
Pecan Pie
For Dessert
Pumpkin Pie
Apple pie right out of the oven
Cranberry Orange Sauce
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice + 1 tsp orange zest
1 12-ounce package Fresh or Frozen Cranberries ( I always buy Ocean Spray)
Combine sugar and juice in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil; add cranberries, return to boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate until serving time. Makes 2 1/4 cups. Optional- add the zest of 1 orange for a stronger orange flavor. I always make a double batch because I must have it for the leftovers.
The Wine
Can’t forget the wine, this year I have a magnum of Christian Bernard Select Black Gamay (A beaujolais), I also have Rioja, 2001 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia, Pernand-Vergelesses 2008, premier Cru Sous Fretille (Grand Vin du Bourgogne) I’ll pop the bubbly with dessert and serve coffee too. What are you drinking?
apuginthekitchen 
A perfect Thanksgiving meal. It will just be 2 of us this year, so I’m wondering how energetic I want to be…
If it were only 2 I wouldn’t be energetic at all. Happy Thanksgiving.
It sounds as if you will have a delicious meal to present to your guests, Suzanne. I’m with you on the traditions – tried and true recipes all the way!
Yep, it always works and it’s what is expected. Thanks Nancy.
Greetings Suzanne, gosh, I believe the count is up to 32 people (family and friends) I do all the cooking. As you like traditional I do too, so that fare wins out!!! I hope you have a wonderful, safe and Joyous Thanksgiving. Cheryl
Cheryl, WOW, 32. You do all the cooking, my hats to you my dear. Amazing and I know it is a great meal you put together. I hope you blog about how you organize such a huge endeavor. I would love to learn from you.
Suzanne, I have a large family (5 young children), the Husband, 4 brothers (all married with children-7 nieces and nephews) Both set of Parents, two couples (friends) of my In-laws, their 2 children, few people from our church (widows/widowers) and I know I am forgetting someone?! My home is very large (thankfully). I usually cook two 20 lb turkey’s, Spiral Ham, 25 lbs of potatoes (for creamy mashed), 11 lbs of sweet potatoes, got to have green bean casseroles,
2 other vegetable dishes, cranberry sauce (a few different preps on that dish), gravy, rolls, pies, cakes. Phew, I am exhausted already, hehe. I love every minute of it truly. Then I do it again on Christmas! By the New Year I have fully recovered. Your Fl. Bud, Cheryl.
I feel like that skit Mike Myers and Dana Carvey did you know the basement rock show, can’t remember the name of it but they would bow and say “we’re not worthy” well I bow to you and your organization skills,the joy you have in doing this major meal and how you do it all again on Christmas. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Ha Suzanne, yes, it is Genuflect! C.
I like the idea of baking pies. Nice. Your menu looks fab. This year I’m actually baking bread. I have yet to have a Thanksgiving in my own apartment. For now we leave it to our parents’ generation and I’ll take the honor in due time. But I don’t like to show up empty handed.
Homemade bread will be a real treat for everyone and I love that you are spending the day with the relatives. My Mom lives in the midwest and cannot cook a big meal so she goes to her brothers house for Thanksgiving. Cooking a big important meal is fun but so much work and it’s over in a flash. Thanks Amanda and a very happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too. It’s been a real pleasure getting to know you 🙂
And you Amanda, thank you.
Wow – pumpkin, apple and pecan pies and they all look bakery perfect, amazing! I guess thanksgiving is coming on the 21nd? But then maybe I am wrong as you have everything ready already, wishing you all the best and enjoy the wonderful food and of course the company of your family!
Oh gee no, Thanksgiving is the 27th this year those are pics from last year. I will start prepping this weekend and do the majority a day or two before. Thank you so much.
aha that makes more sense 🙂 enjoy the time leading up to tg then!
Thank you!
I tend to make the same “stuff” but this year I asked my husband if there wasn’t some dish he’d like – of course, he asked for yams with marshmallow topping – sigh…He’ll get it, but I’m skipping the rolls and mashed potatoes. Happy Thanksgiving xo
Oh wow yams and marshmallows. I remember that, candied sweet potatoes I really really disliked it and never ate it. Well its good the husband is getting his fave. Happy Thanksgiving Liz, I know it will be a tremendous feast you are preparing.
Hi Suz, I’ll be in Italy with my sister and she really wants to do a small American TG. She’s ordered a turkey and we’ll probably make our family rice dressing (she doesn’t like the cornbread version). I always make something with Brussels sprouts and we average a pie a person! I just made my first batch of Nanny’s Cranberry Sauce as that is a MUST-have on the table! Hope you have a great one!
Are you all going, T, J and Ol? It will be so nice being with your sister and that adorable squishy little baby for the holiday, What fun I am so jealous that you will be in Italy!! Happy Thanks giving.
Just me! Too expensive to bring everyone, and as part of my reason for going is to help Elia, being alone will make that possible! 🙂
Oh how nice, can’t wait to see pics and read about it. Have a great time.
Everything looks delicious! I kind of wish we were celebrating Thanksgiving here too!
It’s such a great holiday for food. I love Thanksgiving meal so much. Thank you Katerina.
Dang, girl! I’m heading up to your house. All that looks divine! But i might need a kitty bag. 🐱
Come on over, short train ride right? LOL, kitty bag will be waiting.
Oh, everything looks and sounds delicious!! Would love to join you, if only I could……Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Would love to have you! Thank you so much.
It all looks amazing! We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving and I really didn’t know much about it until I joined blogworld, it’s wonderful to see all of your dishes 🙂
As far as I know only the US and Canada celebrate Thanksgiving and Canadians already had their holiday. It is a really nice day celebrating family, friends, reflecting on how much we have to be thankful for and all the delicious food. Thanks so much Elaine.
It sounds lovely, taking time to be thankful sounds good to me xx
I would like to be at your Thanksgiving table, Suzanne! Our family alternates between my mom’s and mother-in-law’s and when it’s at my inlaws I don’t bring anything. She’s a retired home ec teacher and guaranteed we’ll have all the classics. If I’m at my mom’s, I usually bring rolls. Do you have a favorite course?
I would love it if you were at my table. Sounds like a great meal no matter where you are. I think my favorites are the dressing and the rolls but must have the gravy and cranberry. Thanks Liz and happy Thanksgiving.
I have been looking this year for the recipe for that orange cranberry sauce… Can’t wait to try your recipe! The photos look so good, it made me hungry. This year we are celebrating thanksgiving early since we will be with all our kids’ families. Always a special day for me since it was my Mom’s favorite holiday. Happy early Thanksgiving to you 🙂
The recipe is from the package of cranberries, except I use orange juice instead of water and add orange zest. It’s never failed and produces delicious cranberry sauce. Thank you and I hope you and your entire family have a lovely early Thanksgiving holiday,
those piesssss 🙂 mmm
Thank you so much!
I am loving your spread Suzanne! We normally do thanksgiving between the 4 members of our family or sometimes with friends with cultural potluck. Many a times we are away from home, vacationing and thanking each other’s company in our lives :). This year too we are gone for the vacation and my daughter is requesting a pre thanksgiving dinner ;). I cook for my family which includes mash potatoes, Italian herbed and lemon chicken drumsticks, lasagna rolls or lasagna and crumbles for dessert !
I might do something this weekend to cheer the thanksgiving spirit up!
Sounds great, it actually sounds similar to what I had growing up. My Mom always made some sort of pasta dish, usually homemade pasta of some sort, she made a roasted capon and some of the traditional Thanksgiving stuff. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Holiday,
Thanks 🙂
Now you know you’ve gone and made me hungry with your menu lol. I love what you’re serving. This menu will be epic. Love a traditional Thanskgiving with new recipes added
I can’t wait to eat Thanksgiving meal, makes me hungry thinking about it Thanks so much and Happy Thanksgiving,
Oh my Suzanne they look terrific… and as always you say wish we were neighbours and it would have been fun to share our foods and recipes… amazing dear Suzanne… enjoyyy
I too wish we were neighbors. Thank you so much your kind words and encouragement mean the world to me.
I try to throw in one or two new dishes at Thanksgiving, but my family always wants the same “Old Faithfuls” that we’ve has for as long as we can remember, so I usually end up eating the newbies by myself. Oh well. More for me.
Your menu looks awesome, Suzanne, thanks for sharing with us 🙂
I used to include a new dish all the time and no one ate it, it gets discouraging so I just gave up and said it would be tried and true and nothing else. Everyone is happy with it so I’m ok too. Thanks Jess, I can just imagine how wonderful the spread is at your holiday table.
I love Thanksgiving! I’m starting to get excited now that I saw your post Suzanne! I love making cranberry sauce. Doesn’t it smell wonderful on the stove? I add a cinnamon stick to it too.
I love making cranberry sauce, you are so right, it smells so good. I have my cranberries in the freezer and I will make the sauce on Tuesday, can’t wait. Thank you so much. A cinnamon stick, yes that would be wonderful.
Thanksgiving is my all time favorite dinner, love having family and friends over to eat!! 🙂 We will have 14, maybe 16 this year. Everything sounds so good Suzanne and I also like tradition! I purchased two turkeys, 14 lb. and a 15 lb. and I plan to roast them along with green beans, mash potatoes, mac and cheese (homemade starting with a roux, not many people do this any more!) corn, asparagus, homemade dressing, gravy and yeast rolls. For desserts I will be making two sweet potato pies, chocolate pecan pie, cheesecake and my double chocolate chip cake!! I can’t wait!!! Happy Thanksgiving Suzanne!! 🙂
Wow Michael, it all sounds fantastic. You really cook a ton of delicious food and those desserts, love all of them. A very happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Love to have the variety, you have to when you have kids and grand children that have not acquired taste!! Can’t wait to eat! 🙂
Hi Suzanne, this year we are having 2 Thanksgivings. It’s my favorite holiday so I’m in heaven. Happy Holiday to you!
Oh lucky you, 2 Thanksgivings. It’s my favorite food and I look forward to it every year. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday.
Woe amazing recipe collection.. Perfect for holiday
Thank you so much.
It’s such a wonderful celebration Suzanne! It’s not something Australians would normally celebrate, but after living in the USA we’ve been getting together with a couple of other families who lived there at the same time and having our own special Thanksgiving Dinner – lots of fun! Unfortunately we won’t be doing it this year, but hopefully will continue our own little tradition next year… 🙂 Hope you have a fabulous dinner with your family and friends next week – I know for sure that the dishes you prepare will be amazing!
That’s a great combination of dishes. I especially like your desserts, they look perfect. With what dish is the cranberry sauce usually served, just as a dip for anything?
The cranberry is eaten eith the main course, turkey, dressing, potatoes snd vegetables. Its delicious. Thank you so much.
So many great recipes. I make pretty close to the same thing every year. We look forward to these comfy dishes. We have a small gathering this year, only 8. We will definitely be serving a little wine too. We definitely have so much to be thankful for! Thank you for sharing your dishes! Your pies are just beautiful!
Thank you, 8 is a manageable number. Thank you so much, we do have so much to be thankful for.
Beautiful menu and palette of delicious food, Susan 🙂 I would love to try the Pecan Pie. Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Oh Linda, the pecan pie is the best.it’s very rich and sweet but oh so delicious. You must try it. Thank you.
Looks Amazing!
Flora
Thank you very much.
Hi Suzanne!
I am thrilled you will be making my brussels sprouts! My friend Dot and I have made Thanksgiving dinner at her house, with a few exceptions, for over 40 years. There are many cooks in the kitchen, and we all contribute. It’s a great gathering, with new, young cooks coming up the ranks. We wind up with about 2 dozen side dishes, and about 6 desserts. Our birds are done on a charcoal Weber and a gas Weber, and I start prepping as soon as I get back to VT tomorrow. We print up a menu, and I will send you a copy of it. Kim’s daughter, Sofia, is going to make butternut squash gnocchi with a sage brown butter sauce. She is a chef and is responsible for all handmade pasta at 2 restaurants outside of Boston. So we will have at least one Italian style dish on the buffet table!
Have a wonderful holiday and hopefully we will see each other soon!
I am thrilled to be making your brussels sprout dish. It sounds just too good not to make and every year I do the same thing with them, this year will be a bit different. Sounds wonderful your holiday plans, love that you do the turkeys outside, all the side dishes and all the cooks working together. It sounds fantastic. Happy holidays to you and yours and yes I do hope we see each other soon.
We have always gone to my parents for Thanksgiving for the most part. I have done Thanksgiving here a couple of times, but since we longer eat turkey, I don’t hold the huge gathering. Although, this year, both of my parents have some serious physical ailments and I don’t think my mom can do it all, so it looks like I may be stuck doing it all, hahaha! That is a stressing thought because we ALWAYS do Christmas at my house each year and I don’t like to do both, it’s a lot of work!
Oh wow, it would be a feast at your table, your fluffy mashed potatoes with the awesome gravy, you have a zillion amazing and delicious recipes. Vegan or not it would be a delicious feast. I totally get it though. I do Thanksgiving every year and don’t do a big thing for Christmas or New Years. Thanksgiving is it for me. Have a wonderful holiday Brandi whether you go to your parents or in-laws or cook yourself.
That’s it – I am coming to your house for Thanksgiving, Suzanne! I adore pie – and you are having 3 beauts! We never celebrated Thanksgiving growing up – these days I go to a friends home or sometimes work in a shelter – Christmas is when we do our major cooking and eating!
Thats funny, we do the opposite. I cook like crazy for Thanksgiving and for Christmas, it’s leftovers or whatever I have laying around, sit in my pjs and watch A Christmas Story marathon. LOL, love Christmas Day I do nothing. You are so welcome to come, all the way from where you are to Brooklyn for Thanksgiving.
We don´t celebrate Thanksgiving in the country but I wish we would, to be able to cook any of your delicious recipes, Suzanne! Loved the pies and Bevi´s recipe. I wish you enjoy your Holiday with those you love and that your meal turns out a real success, as I am sure it will!
Thanks Viviana, I have been making this meal for many years and am always insecure and nervous regarding the outcome. I always hope it turns out well and it usually does. I don’t use written recipes for several dishes, It’s in my head. Each is tried and tested many times over and are delicious. I so look forward to Thanksgiving meal.
Yum! I’m in charge of desserts so I’m doing a Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Lasagna!
Ok Sarah, chocolate lasagna, I think that sounds amazing. I hope you post that recipe, Thank you. Do you use nutella by any chance???
Holy pug! Your holiday dressing looks so good. At first I was like “what’s a dressing? Like ranch?” then I realized you were thinking more along the lines of stuffing. :] // ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲
Holy pug, LOL, yes I don’t call it stuffing because I don’t put it in the bird so I call it dressing but either way it’s the same. Thank you, this stuffing/dressing is really really good. Thanks so much.
It’s probably a bit early to say Happy Thanksgiving. But there I have just done it. As you know it’s not celebrated here but I love looking at images of other people’s Thanksgiving meals. I love, love stuffing for me it’s the best of part of Christmas dinner – your version for Thanksgiving looks delicious. 😉
Thank you, it’s not too early it will be upon us in what seems like a minute. Agree totally the stuffing is the best. I make enough to feed and army but everyone takes some home they love it too.
Your menu sounds perfect and the pies look great! I’m just making a few traditional sides and, but of course, a pumpkin pie to bring over to my in laws. I’m still developing the menu, but so far I have sausage and sage stuffing (my absolute fav), green bean casserole (or my daughter will disown me), red wine cranberry sauce with honey and ginger (this one’s new this year, but it just sounded so good!), marshmallow-topped, maple-candied sweet potatoes (or my other daughter will disown me), and some sort of Brussels sprout dish (to make hubby and my father-in-law happy)…any suggestions? Have a fantastic Thanksgiving, Suzanne! xo
Hi Suzanne, what a lovely thanksgiving collection, I like them all. 🙂
Tell you something, I just came back from hospital, I felt so lucky that my family doctor ask me to have a test of my body, and found out something in the early stage, and the hospital got rid of it now, thank god! Don’t know what will happen if it is delay. I am resting at home now! :
Are you ok? Oh no I am so sorry you had to go through that but so thankful that it was found early and they were able to remove what was the problem. Please take care of yourself and get well. Be kind to yourself and I hope you have someone there to help you Take care.
Thanks Suzanne, my hubby with me to look after me, I will get back to my daily routine asap.
I’m glad the husband is taking good care of you. My thoughts are with you wishing you a speedy and full recovery.
Mouthwatering menu! Not that any of your readers will need my testimonial, but I’m going on the record that Suzanne’s pies are out of this world to die for good.Like, really really really really GOOD! Happy Thanksgiving Suzanne!
Oh you make me blush. Thank you Azita. I will save you some pie.
Happy Thanksgiving, Suzanne. Your pies look absolutely amazing. Usually my sister cooks the whole thing. When I take a dish to her house, it is always something different to add to her traditional table.
Thank you Fae and happy Thanksgiving to you also. Hope you have a wonderful day with your family.
I’d love to be at YOUR house for Thanksgiving! Wow! This year my daughter, husband and I will join friends around the corner as my son will be with his grandparents in Michigan. I don’t usually try new recipes, and as usual will be bringing my Grand Marnier cranberry sauce and dessert for dinner. I will make my Pumpkin Cheesecake with Chocolate Mousse Topped with Chocolate Ganache and either a pumpkin or apple pie. Or maybe all 3! 😉 Happy Thanksgiving, Suzanne!
Sounds wonderful Christina, that cheesecake sounds too good. Happy Thanksgiving Christina!
Wowee that really is a feast you have made me hungry. I’ve never heard of potatoe rolls will you be sharing that recipe? X
Thank you, the rolls are amazing posted it last year here it is https://apuginthekitchen.com/2013/11/26/potato-dinner-rolls-3/
They are pillowy soft and delicious, highly recommend the recipe. Thanks so much.
Wow that sounds great i must try it i love bread i love potatoes so cant see how i could not like this x
The mashed potato give the rolls such a great texture and pillowy softness. Love those rolls.
A day late but wish you a happy thanksgiving and hope you had a great time with your family and friends Suzanne! 🙂
You’re not late sweetie, I was early. Already planning for the big day. Thank you so much. Thanksgiving is this coming Thursday so this week will be crazy busy.
Oh yes..i’m just losing track of time..so sorry.. 🙂
Hope you have a great time. 😀
Thank you!
OK, it took me forever to scroll down past so many comments to have my turn!!– What a fun post Suzanne!! Fun to see you Thanksgiving menu. LOVED those pies. Pecan is my absolute favorite. I’m not cooking this Thanksgiving– heading up to stay with our kids in SF and my daughter-in-law, who can do anything, will summon up the meal (I’m hoping I can get a chance to help…) Hope you have the sweetest time with the people around your table on Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for you and all the encouragement you give…
What fun Rhonda, nice that you will with the DIL in SF for the Holiday. Hope you and your family have a wonderful, delicious Thanksgiving. Thank you so much.
Happy cooking to you too Suzanne– hope it’s a day full of blessings.
Happy soon to be Thanksgiving!!!!! I love your recipes, I need to try to make at least one. We are having a potluck plus catered meal, we are going to my sister”s house…. 🙂
Hi Daniella, hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving, sounds like a feast. Thank you so much.
Aaah, this is the holiday that I miss the most in Finland! It is a normal day here and since there are no tinned pumpkins it does require a bit of an extra effort. I usually do make a Thanksgiving style dessert or something special for the day…but usually not an entire turkey dinner. Everything looks wonderful!
I think I would surely miss Thanksgiving if I lived outside of the US, it’s my favorite meal of the year. I am sure your Thanksgiving dessert will be delicious. Thanks so much,
I made these brussels sprouts for our pre-Thanksgiving feast and LOVED them!! Thank you! 🙂 I’ll post a link soon….
I love brussels sprout recipes. Can’t wait to see it.
So glad you loved it too. It’s amazing!!