Balancing A Thanksgiving Meal, question

[leighbythesea2]

Curious here. I've spent the last 15 plus years pursuing the best version of sides, and the best turkey or chicken preps I could find, for Thanksgiving. Have really gotten to a nice place. However, the traditional sides tend to not include anything a)crisp b) acidic. I've added my grandmothers cranberry relish. But that is sweet too.
Are there any great sides you all like, in general, and for balance?

My go to sides so far are,
Mashed potatoes
Stuffing (bobby flays, has wild rice, chorizo, goat cheese)
Corn casserole (lots of cream in this)
Green beans and bacon or brussel sprouts.
Have added mushroom soup (ina gartens) as a starter but can be used like gravy too.

You see the issue. All yummy. But needs something....

[luvs2sing]

1. I've never done it, but..

I always want a simple green salad, something like kale with an olive oil and lemon vinaigrette, with the big dinner.

[Wawannabe]

4. Second this for acid

And the sides listed don't include a salad.

Sea salt lemon and EVOO is all ya need poured over chiffoned kale leaves. Let it marinate and the lemon sort of cooks down the kale a bit. Be sure to take the spines outta the kale leaves before cutting.

[luvs2sing]

6. Exactly! Delicious!

[leighbythesea2]

8. Nice

How long does it need to sit/incorporate?

[Wawannabe]

16. An hour to several is fine

Kale is hearty so the dressing won't wilt it too bad if you make a few hours ahead.

Adding more fresh lemon juice before serving would add the brightness again.

Could make attractive with sesame seed sprinkled on top. And this reminds d me of a seaweed salad that would've awesome too!

https://www.japancentre.com/en/recipes/1113-seaweed-salad

[leighbythesea2]

24. Ok great

Can be done while things are in oven. I like this a lot.

[leighbythesea2]

7. Was wondering if kale

Could be an answer. Thank you!

[japple]

53. I love kale salad and could eat it every day. Lately I've been doing as you mentioned with

EVOO, lemon juice, a bit of honey or maple syrup, finely diced green onion, and thinly sliced tart apple. Sprinkle with toasted walnuts and curls of parmesan cheese if you want.

[leighbythesea2]

64. That

Sounds delicious thank you!!

[japple]

66. I got the recipe from Epicurious several years ago but can't find it on their site.

I did find it on another site. It is to die for.

https://www.thegardenofeating.org/2013/07/shockingly-addictive-citrus-massaged.html

[leighbythesea2]

67. Thanks

The variant recipes at bottom look good too!

[leighbythesea2]

76. I made this

Mom liked it, as she is a big salad fan. I could eat a salad everyday. I added sliced pear too!

[TygrBright]

2. Traditional in our family: Sweet and sour red cabbage

Omnommy.

Gonna go down and make some for lunch. There's a whole variety of ways to make it, including the slow cooker way that turns it out almost candied (too sweet for me but very popular with some).

I prefer the skillet method:

1. ribbon-slice the red cabbage
2. heat olive oil in a skillet, and add the cabbage, stir until it changes color and starts to go limp
3. add red-wine vinegar- a good drollop, experiment to your taste, toss/stir well
4. turn down heat, cover the skillet, let it cook about 10-15 minutes
5. uncover skillet, add brown sugar (again, experiment to your taste), toss/stir
6. turn heat back up, cook stirring regularly for about another 5 minutes, should be no liquid left and a glaze-y consistency
7. sprinkle with salt and enjoy

When making big batches for a holiday meal I use an oval electric roaster and extend times accordingly, cook it down a bit more and make it a bit sweeter, 2-3 medium heads of red cabbage takes a couple of hours.

helpfully,
Bright

[leighbythesea2]

9. Ohhh my grandmother made this i think

That brings back memories. Funny how it takes a prompt to remember these things!
I love cabbage. Im going to try this this weekend. Thank you.

[Blue Owl]

3. Sounds to me like you have all the bases covered!

Maybe some gourmet dinner rolls with butter, to mop up the plate before going back for seconds?

https://thestayathomechef.com/the-best-homemade-dinner-rolls-ever/

[leighbythesea2]

13. Thank you

Gosh and am i a sucker for "the best ever"---- in a recipe title.
America's Test Kitchen reels me in like no other..

[leftieNanner]

5. Your items look lovely

But I would absolutely crave a simple salad. Maybe consider just steaming the green beans and top them with a light vinaigrette.

Enjoy!

[leighbythesea2]

15. Good idea!

Keep that from getting so rich. I've got rich covered.

[Laelth]

10. Cucumber salad.

Made with a white vinegar and oil dressing— little chunks of tomato for color (a little salt, pepper, and sugar). Yum.

:

-Laelth

[leighbythesea2]

17. Love this idea

Also dish my grandmother did quite often. I love this suggestions as it adds an item my mom would appreciate even more so.

[Laelth]

19. That's a go-to in my house. n/t

-Laelth

[leighbythesea2]

26. Remember a

tupperware gadget with a sliding strainer portion. You put cucumbers in and added vinegar and water and salt and pepper. Stayed in fridge. Why am i not doing this daily? Lol. Starting now. Thanks.

[Laelth]

28. n/p

-Laelth

[Freddie]

11. I always serve coleslaw

The local grocery’s version is better than anything I can make (I’ve tried countless times) so I’ve gotta get there before they sell out of it.

[leighbythesea2]

18. Cabbage

Seems really logical now. Have to add a cabbage based side.

[stevil]

12. Red Cabbage

Julienned, blanched al dente and heated up in a sauce pan with butter and raspberry vinegar reduction. Add a little sugar or honey if you want to serve a sweeter version.

[leighbythesea2]

20. Vote count goes up

For cabbage.

Gotta add it. And a kale salad.

[Lunabell]

14. As a southerner I couldn't imagine Thanksgiving without

Sweet potato casserole!!

[leighbythesea2]

22. I JUST started researching sweet potato sides

Must admit, i have no background working with this dish. Any suggestions?

[SheltieLover]

29. Easy & quick!

Can use fresh sweet potatoes or canned.

If fresh, nuke or oven bake, then peel into large bowl.

Add butter, vanilla, cinnamon, marshmellos, nutmeg to taste.

Any combination works great!

For me Madagascar vanilla & butter are essential.

Great dish for everyone because easy to add marshmellos to make a separate, sweeter side for kids or those who like sweet dishes.

Just sprinkle small marshmellos on top & nuke for a short time, until melted.

[leighbythesea2]

51. Like how easy

This one and one below are.

It helps because bobby flay stuffing is no joke as far as steps. The test kitchen chicken or turkey also some stay-on-top of it instructions. Finally Ina's soup, its worth every step---and luckily can be made ahead.
I need these adds to be bit easier and everything suggested in this thread has been very reasonable.

[SheltieLover]

54. Me too!

All about making things easy & quick, so long as quality isn' compromised.

I just popped a can of yams - 5 min can to plate. 👍

[eppur_se_muova]

37. THIS. Praline-topped casserole -- you'll never go back to marshmallow cream again.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/15633/gourmet-sweet-potato-classic/

[JDC]

21. Something perhaps on the sweeter/acidic side

Fresh cranberry salad w citrus zest perhaps? It's light and would offset some of the heavy.

[leighbythesea2]

23. For sure

Its funny how i forget obvious dishes enjoyed in my youth. My grandmother made a fresh, tart version of this. Completely forgot about it until last year. Now need to tinker around on it.

[eppur_se_muova]

43. Cranberries baked in an acorn squash ?

I love the idea of adding orange marmalade.

Baked version: http://heirloommeals.com/recipes/loring-barnes-acorn-squash-stuffed-with-cranberries (my memory tells me they covered it with a foil tent for the second baking, to keep the marmalade, etc. from overcooking)

Microwave version: https://www.pegshomecooking.com/cranberry-stuffed-acorn-squash-recipe/

[leighbythesea2]

45. Oh!

I love acorn squash. With cranberries looks really nice.

[SheltieLover]

25. Vinegar cole slaw? Delicious!

Everyone loves this. I always take this as my dish to pass.

1 head cabbage finely chopped

2 packets dry Zesty Italian salad dressing

Cider vinegar

Olive oil

Finely chopped inion, to taste

Finely chopped green pepper to taste

[leighbythesea2]

27. Love!

Fresh, crisp, acidic, going to try this as a practice run too. This weekend. Thank you.

[SheltieLover]

30. You are most welcome!

If you have Kroger near you, they have the generic dry zesty Italian dressing.

This goes great with turkey, ham, beef dishes, chicken & fish.

Enjoy!

Pls let us know what you think.

Can also add a pinch of sugar to cut the tartness a bit.

[leighbythesea2]

35. Do have a Kroger

Closest store. Will get this.

[SheltieLover]

38. $2 for box with 4 packets

[SheltieLover]

32. Try with herbs de provence & citrus turkey (lfood network)

Honestly, most delicious thing I have ever tasted.

[leighbythesea2]

34. Checking that out

My chicken is same style, but Americas test kitchen. So I believer in this flavor/style big time.

[SheltieLover]

36. It is so delicious, tender & juicy!

Enjoy!

[SheltieLover]

39. I improvise spices

Hard to believe, but I cannot buy fresh herbs or even a jar of herbs de provence here.

So "Italian" spice mix with extra oregano & rosemary works well.

[leighbythesea2]

40. Have 2 little live herb pots now

On window sill. Challenging times with herbs.
Attempting to keep myself in some fresh ones.

[SheltieLover]

42. Great idea!

Ty!

(Sadly, this is the norm for this area.)

I went shopping yesterday for staples.

6 can limit on tuna.

Paper products wiped out in each of 4 stores, covering a 30 mile radius.

I got lucky to get laet bag of World's best cat litter (ground corn)

Zero auto brake cleaner at wal mart.

[leighbythesea2]

46. Sadness

With the choices.
Typically plants would need to bark, meow or make noise to keep my attention for watering. We shall see how i do.

[SheltieLover]

48. Maybe if you talk to them...

[leighbythesea2]

50. Read

They love it

[leighbythesea2]

75. I did this

Delicious.
We then had to go get the items for fish tacos, and used slaw on them. 2x!
My mom loved the slaw. And then the tacos.

I have more cabbage around to try other recipes here in this thread. And kale.
Tomorrow.

[Retrograde]

31. Something green and leafy

Last edited Sun Nov 22, 2020, 04:07 PM - Edit history (1)

a simple tossed lettuce salad, or some sort of brassica: cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower (there are green varieties - or purple ones to make it look festive!). You mention you're considering brussel sprouts: have you thought about making them into a slaw (grate or chop, add a vinegar-based dressing).

Or a fruit salad. Apples are in this time of year, so a Waldorf salad (apples, celery, walnuts, maybe grapes, lettuce optional) would be a sweet counterpart to the heaviness. Or add some firm persimmons if you can find them and dried cranberries to a green salad. Or a cranberry relish - I sometimes make one by putting seeded jalapenos, a whole orange cut into wedges (or you could just use the pulp with some orange zest added), and a bag of cranberries in a blender: it's sweet and tart and a far cry from canned cranberry sauce!

I like sweet potatoes, but your menu seems starch-heavy already with potatoes, rice, and corn.

[leighbythesea2]

33. What is this jalapeno

Orange cranberry-ness you speak of? Huge tart-mild hot fan here.
That's going to happen now for sure.

Have never done a brussel slaw, like this idea a lot.

Have never used persimmons that way, lovely.

Very helpful. Thank you.!

[Retrograde]

58. I got the recipe from a friend over 30 years ago

It may have come from Sunset magazine. If you google cranberry jalapeno relish you'll find a lot of variants - most seem to use orange zest these days rather than adding a whole orange. If I make it this year, I'm considering using my last home-grown habenero in it.

[leighbythesea2]

61. I will look

My sis gave some from her garden too. Long gone but i think I'd make relishes at other times of the year with them now that Im aware if this idea..

I use orange peel and green apple currently in the relish. Am excited to spice it up.

[fierywoman]

41. Raw fennel finely sliced with orange slices, classic vinaigrette.

[leighbythesea2]

47. Fennel

Is so wonderful. Have only ever roasted it. Good idea.

[fierywoman]

59. Have you tried steamimg it (already cut up) until tender, then roasting with

heavy cream and parmesan cheese (maybe some onion, too) ?

[leighbythesea2]

60. No

That sounds great. It's such a nice flavor I'd like to do more with it.

[eppur_se_muova]

44. Hmmm ... Brussels sprouts ... sauteed or roasted ?

https://www.wellplated.com/sauteed-brussels-sprouts/
https://www.wellplated.com/oven-roasted-brussels-sprouts/

We had two bags of sprouts when we first made this recipe. They were so addictive I ate most of them myself! That's when I learned that sprouts can give you major gas if you eat too many! With that caveat, these are certainly a tasty side dish.

[leighbythesea2]

49. Hazelnuts

On that sauteed recipe would be nice. The cheese, balsamic and nuts together. My table could use crunch. So if i do a cabbage dish, a kale, and this, the textures would get more varied. & acidic.

[eppur_se_muova]

56. Now that is an interesting idea. I love hazelnuts, just can't get them at my usual grocery store.

And feta or chevral also sounds intriguing.

[leighbythesea2]

65. Both cheeses sound good

Hazelnuts are not the easy to get. Then i find them raw & have to roast! But a favorite.

[spinbaby]

52. Definitely needs something light and acidic

A green salad is the obvious choice, but I see some other good suggestions in this thread.

[japple]

55. What about caramelized pearl onions. Just saute in a pan with butter and a small

shake of Worcestershire Sauce. Extra good for folks who are cutting carbs. We also usually have steamed broccoli or oven roasted cauliflower. So many people have food issues these days and it's nice to have something kind of plain and simple.

[leighbythesea2]

62. Like this

I've been on keto almost 2 years. But Thanksgiving usually is a cheat day. Always, always looking for low carb ideas as i will be on it longer. Prob some low carb wesion for a long, long time.

[dem in texas]

57. Fruit Salad

Can Fruit cocktail, drained. chopped orange, chopped apple and banana slices - that's it. Fresh, sweet, tart.

[leighbythesea2]

63. Definitely

All the items Ive worked through are very nice, but i need that texture, crunch, acid item or two, in the mix.

[Lars39]

68. I really like a good broccoli salad

at a big spread.

[leighbythesea2]

69. It would

Guarantee the crunch part. I havent found a great recipe, but maybe I could adapt a cauliflower one I've used. Itd be nice for the color add too.

[Baltimike]

70. A Baltimore, MD tradition that I would welcome you to try is saur kraut

with pork (I use Ostrowski's sausage) or without pork will give that balance you are looking for

[leighbythesea2]

71. My love of sauerkraut

Is deep. My uncle made is own but i never learned it from him. But theres a brand from detroit i really like. Can get some.
Im also prepped with cabbages here for suggestions above. (And kale, and cucumbers). I have no problem adding several items!

Whic also reminds me, my grandmother (big frame of reference for family cooking) used to put 10 plus dishes on the table at a meal. It was great!

[Baltimike]

72. My Grandmom did too! I HAVE to have her stuffing, green bean casserole and saurkrat

with sausage or pork all because of her.

[leighbythesea2]

73. I miss some of her items

Because I was young but very involved in her household, have memories of dishes I loved, but have never attempted myself. This thread has reminded me of a few. Its good, I can research it a bit, and see if i can hit that flavor memory I have!

[Baltimike]

74. It's amazing how it brings you back. I hope you find her memory in those recipes. nt