I think we can all agree that Thanksgiving holds a special place in all foodies’ hearts, and our food agenda for this amazing holiday may stretch too far, but it’s better to make too much than not enough. To add to your list, I thought I’d make a roundup of the recipes I want to make for our family’s Thanksgiving, and some recipes that just look totally amazing. If you make any of these, let me know which ones were your favorite!
Entrees:
Perfect Smoked Turkey by The Domestic Man
Switch up the typical Thanksgiving turkey this year, and enjoy it smoked instead of roasted. You can never go wrong with smoked meat, and all your guests will think you’re a genius.
Slow Cooker Kalua Pig by Nom Nom Paleo
Step out of the box and set aside the turkey and ham this year. (Okay, not the turkey, still have that, but let this replace the ham). I’ve been wanting to try this kalua pig for so long, and I can’t wait to do so for Thanksgiving. I feel like this would be the perfect porky addition to anyone’s Thanksgiving meal.
Side Dishes
Maple Bacon Roasted Butternut Squash by Yours Truly
Oh my goodness. I totally forgot about this amazing recipe. Like why haven’t I made it in forever? Probably because every time I did I ended up eating the entire batch in one sitting. Please don’t judge a book by its cover here..I know the picture is far from great, but my taste buds were just as good then as they are now. Just please make this a part of your Thanksgiving meal. You will have no regrets.
Sweet & Spicy Roasted Vegetables by Me
This is another one I completely forgot about. The combination of brussels sprouts with butternut squash and sweet potato is perfect for fall though. Definitely a simple one to incorporate in your meal.
Thanksgiving Brussels Sprouts and Mushroom Gratin by PaleOMG
If you aren’t drooling at this picture, you’re lying. I’m SO excited to try this recipe out for Thursday. I just know I’m gonna love it…I mean c’mon, when do I not love Juli’s creations? She’s my favorite.
Pork Stuffing by Primal Palate
I love that Bill and Hayley made a practical stuffing recipe by using pork instead of bread/biscuits. For those of you prepping a ton of other recipes for your meal, this will save you some time because you won’t have to bake bread or biscuits beforehand. Not only that, but it also sounds super delicious. Definitely gonna opt for this instead of traditional stuffing this year.
Paleo Dinner Rolls by Paleo Spirit
A holiday isn’t a holiday without dinner rolls topped with lots of butter. This year I’ll be making these delicious looking, grain-free ones and topping them off with tons of Kerrygold. Mmm, I can’t wait.
Desserts
Why is it that for Thanksgiving and Christmas we insist on making pies? Like a majority of people don’t even like pumpkin pie, but since I’m an all-American girl who believes in traditions, I will be participating in the pie bandwagon. Extremely sorry about it, but seriously..check some of these out.
Brownie Egg Nog Pumpkin Pie by PaleOMG
I repeat: brownie + egg nog + pumpkin pie. Juli, you’ve amazed me yet again. I’ve been dreaming about this pie all week, and I’m beyond excited to make it today. It is quite possibly the most delicious sounding thing I’ve ever heard.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an apple pie that looked this good. Like ever. Sorry mom, this may have your recipe beat, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Pumpkin Pudding by Against All Grain
This is a perfect, simple recipe consisting of just 5 ingredients. Not only that, but it sounds delicious and I feel like the little kids would really enjoy it!
Sweet Potato Meringue Pie by Slim Palate
Wow. Just look at that meringue. I take back everything I said about pies earlier. This picture made me want pies forever. Pies rule. I want this. Now.
Candied Pecans by Me
Everyone has little bowls full of candy corn and nuts at holiday events. Bring something better to the table this year with these perfectly caramelized candied pecans. Or use almonds, walnuts, or another nut instead. Whatever you do, these are sure to be a hit.
I hope this post helped you all come up with some ideas for your Thanksgiving meal. I know I have a couple more recipes to add to my list now. But if you don’t get that perfect Thanksgiving meal that covers everything you could imagine, don’t sweat it. Take time to remember the true meaning of the holiday: thankfulness. Enjoy the time you get to spend with your family and friends and loved ones. Make sure they know you’re thankful for them, and remind them of it not only on Thursday, but every day. You never know when they’re gonna be gone.
Which brings me to my thankfulness for the day. Today, the 4th day of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all of the opportunities I’ve been blessed with. Whether it be my friends, family, sports, or school, I’ve had some form of success with them all, and that’s more than a lot of people can say. So although not everything will always be perfect, I need to remember that I’m better off than most. I’m thankful for a God who knows what’s best for me, and who will lead me in the right direction when I stray away. And most of all I’m thankful for growing as a person, and being able to realize the preceding gifts I’ve been given. You never know when it’ll be too late until it’s too late, so be thankful now.
Pampered Paleo 