AS its name suggests, Thanksgiving is a holiday centered on giving thanks for the numerous blessings in our lives. During the meal — whether held at lunch or dinnertime — it is tradition to go around and answer the question, “What are you grateful for?”
But beyond the significance of the holiday, it is known as a day for indulging and filling your stomach alongside loved ones and friends. What a Thanksgiving meal comprises of may vary from family to family but there are some dishes that are typically found at the dining table:
Turkey
This bird, whether roasted, baked or deep-fried, is undoubtedly the star of this holiday. On Thanksgiving Day, nearly 90 percent of Americans gather together to carve and feast on a turkey, which is why this holiday is casually called “Turkey Day.” Though several historians have argued that this particular bird was absent from the first Thanksgiving feast, it is said that it became a staple after the Civil War. The size of the turkey is perhaps why the tradition began in the first place: it is enough to feed an entire family. Though the preparation of the turkey takes several hours on average, it is well worth the wait once you start digging in and even better, there is usually enough leftover meat for subsequent meals!
Stuffing
The table spread is also not complete without stuffing, which is made from bread, herbs and other ingredients you wish to include. It has been translated into different versions over the years; some opt to use sausage, oysters or vegetables. It can be prepared by stuffing it inside the turkey, while others make it separately to serve as a side dish, which is called dressing.
Cranberry sauce
In addition to gravy, cranberry sauce is a sweet condiment that surprisingly pairs well with the turkey and the other savory sides. The simplest way to create it is by boiling and mixing fresh cranberries with sugar. Though some may argue against having canned cranberry jelly present at the meal, it has become part of an iconic Thanksgiving meal because of its convenience and cheaper cost.
Mashed potatoes
Whether you use Idaho Russets or sweet potatoes, the spuds in mashed form continuously prove to be a perfect side to the main dishes.
Pumpkin pie
A Thanksgiving feast usually caps off with a warm pumpkin pie. A symbol of fall, pumpkin was not widely used to make pie for Thanksgiving dinner until the 19th century. It is commonly served a la mode with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or with a dollop of whipped cream on top. In addition to pumpkin, other pies popularly baked are pecan, apple and sweet potato. (AJPress)
