Dear, 2012:
Do tell — how it is already T minus 2 days until Thanksgiving? Is it just me or weren’t we just fawning over The Artist as the film of the year? Didn’t Super Bowl just happen? I feel like it was moments ago that I was throwing together every strawberry dessert possible. And surely that never-ending election isn’t finally, actually, really over? I mean, seriously, why did you have to move at such lightening speed toward the end of the year?
Well, here we are and the reality is Thanksgiving is mere moments away. This year, my family’s meal will be an abbreviated, intimate group with just 5 of us as opposed to the normal group of more than 30 diners. And, in that abbreviated style, the focus is less on mounds of mashers and pie (though, of course, there will be both) and more on whole, seasonal foods. Here’s 30-plus recipes that have stood the test of time, that work as well for a crowd as they do for a small gathering, and are all super doable even though we only have 48, 47, 46 hours left and counting.
Appetizers
Mushroom Agrodolce Endive Bites
Sweet Potato and Toasted Sage Dip
Orange Bay and Spiced Brined Walnuts
12 Additional Easy Holiday Appetizers
Salads
Roasted Root Vegetable Salad with Balsamic-Date Dressing
Butternut Squash and Apple Panzanella Salad
Kale Salad with Pears and Persimmons
Spinach Salad with Pears and Pomegranate
Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pepitas and Dates
Turkey
Roasted Turkey with Herbed Cream Gravy
Herb-Orange Turkey with Roasted Pear Gravy
Meatless Mains
Mushroom and Fennel Bread Pudding
Sides
Chipotle and Toasted Walnut Wheat Berry Salad
Crisp Shallot, Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole
Roasted “Candied” Sweet Potatoes
Brown Bread Stuffing with Apples and Cherries
Mashed White Beans and Cauliflower
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Spiced Maple Syrup
Spiced Squash and Toasted Almond Quinoa
Desserts
Pumpkin Pie Custard with Quinoa Streusel
Spiced Apple Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream
Walnut photo by Holly Stewart, Sweet Potato photo by Matt Armendariz, and Persimmon Pudding photo by Chris Rochelle of CHOW
