Let’s Talk Turkey: We Dish on Our Favorite Thanksgiving Dishes
When it comes to the holidays, no two households, tablescapes, traditions, or menus are ever identical. So when everyone on the Big Spoon team was challenged to name their favorite Thanksgiving Day dish, there was no surprise that everyone’s answers were different!
Kevin
Who doesn't love carbs? And during Thanksgiving, my heart yearns for stuffing - not Stovetop, but homemade specifically with sage, apple, and sausage. It's a special recipe given to me by one of my former managers at Nordstrom. She was very much a mentor for me and I think of her every year when I make it. It's always a crowd pleaser! I also make a mean cranberry sauce (my secret is adding a little spiced rum).
Enrique
My mom's side of the family is from El Salvador and we have a recipe that has been passed down through family members, although our take varies just a bit from this recipe, it's very close to it. It's very aromatic and you get a juicy turkey every time. My friends request this turkey every year for Thanksgiving AND Christmas.
Barb
After hosting friends and family for Thanksgiving for the last 20 years, the most important dish is mashed potatoes. With loads of butter and sour cream, anything from a box is considered a sin. I eat my mash with homemade jalapeno cranberry sauce, yes it includes tequila. The leftovers that keep giving long after the celebration is over!
Karlyn
My favorite Thanksgiving dish is definitely pumpkin pie. Every year my grandma makes three different kinds and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to choose a favorite!
Taylor
I get excited for all of the sides, really lol. However, mac & cheese will always reign supreme. I love the intention that goes into making the perfect pan of macaroni and cheese and I love the suspense and desire from everyone leading up to the day. Everyone is waiting on that one person in the family to bring in their famous mac & cheese lol.
Carla
My favorite dish is a side dish, Green Bean Almondine; especially if it's extra crunchy. My mom taught me how to cook this dish and I always think of her when I make it. This is the kind of dish that I would have seconds over turkey, any time.
Erin
Can I pick two? I love stuffing- I make it with fresh onions and celery slowly sauteed in brown butter with fresh sage leaves. I bake them as stuffing balls on a cookie sheet to get the perfect marriage of texture and flavor- crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. I also make the tastiest onion gravy by letting onions cook over bubbling brown butter and using the immersion blender to make all of the ingredients come together. We use a lot of butter on Thanksgiving!