My sister makes mashed cauliflower (I don't like it, its weird).
I did steal her sweet white cream corn casserole recipe tho.
One year, when the kids were teenagers we did turkey chili and turkey tacos for Thanksgiving.
Alone, there were a few years where I had a turkey TV dinner as my Thanksgiving meal.
Lately, last few years, I'm conservative with the amount but try to do a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We always send some to my GF's parents.
As a matter of fact, I tend to cook extra on weekends so she can take some to her parents. I love to cook.
I usually make a small turkey and a big ham.
This year I now have an instapot. Can't wait to find out how my apple cider ham comes out in a pressure cooker!
I like using Sarah Lee's dinner rolls. I used to get those Hawaiian sweet rolls but the Sarah Lee rolls are much better in my book. They also make super ham and turkey sliders.
My smoker finally rusted out beyond repair. When I had it I did smoked pastrami using corned beef. I also did smoked turkey legs and wings one year.
Years and years ago, I did a few years having deep fried turkey. Its too much hassle now, besides, I gave away my deep frying pot and burner.
Thanksgiving is about abundant harvest and social celebration. Its about good food and good friends. The pandemic puts a damper on the social aspect but good food can celebrate the year's abundance.
I'm curious about what others put on their relish trays.
I try to include...
Sweet and dill gherkins
Green & black olives
Cherry tomatoes
Quartered radishes
Baby or sliced carrots
Baby corn cobs
Salad shrimp
I also try to do a tray of cream cheese and peanut butter celery bites.
Instead of crackers I like to toast up and put out onion bagels in bite sized pieces. I also try to make up at least two dips. One basic onion dip using Lipton onion soup mix and one hot & spicy dip using local mixes for Cajun recipes (Habanero/Cyan w/Cajun seasoning like Slap yer Mama, Bait or Monster seasoning). Since my recent surgery, I won't be able to do hot & spicy this year...awww.
Recently is more about the variety than the quantity. Since Thanksgiving is an all day munch fest, lil snacks are best till the final meal then ya gotta leave room for dessert and pie later that night.
I'm toying with the idea of trying to make homemade Cherry Crisp this year.
My apple crisp is traditional and everyone looks forward to it but also having cherry crisp might be nice. I've done peach crisp and while it was good, it was work intense. I've switched to peaches and cream using Dream Whip. Gotta find cans of pitted cherries, The local grocer stocks them but they are expensive, gotta find the best price.
I always look forward to those ham and turkey midnight sammiches. I also like making Hot Turkey sammiches with leftovers.
Crusty bread (Italian), leftover turkey, heated turkey gravy, leftover mashed potatoes (heated).
Cut the bread in half, put one slice on the plate with the halves spread apart, cover the bread with turkey pieces and spoon some mashed potatoes between the bread halves, place the other two halves of bread on top to make it a sammich, sprinkle some turkey on top of everything and cover it all with hot turkey gravy.
Oh, since my boys all have families of their own, I get the hot turkey skin when it comes out of the oven. We used to race for it, we all love the crispy goodness!
I used to make Green Bean Casserole but not anymore. I do use French's crispy fried onions on top of my cream corn casserole tho. Love the crunchy goodness.
