A tradition almost 400 years old and an official American holiday for over 150, Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November. It is a time when friends and family come together to celebrate what they are thankful for.
Present at the Thanksgiving table since its introduction has been an array of dishes, ranging from the traditional turkey and mashed potatoes to green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.
As the tradition is continued and celebrated every year, individuals have become more self aware in regards to their eating habits, and search for alternatives to traditional meals. Some are even limited due to health concerns.
Serving as an option for vegetarians is spicy grain soup, similar to a tortilla soup, it contains barley, brown rice and bulgur. According to foodandwine.com, the dish is high in fiber and takes just over an hour and a half to make.
Another spin on the traditional Thanksgiving meal is the roast chicken with butternut squash. To help make the squash brown evenly, it’s important to cut the fat from the roasting pan after removing the breast, according to foodandwine.com.
The roast chicken with butternut squash serves as balance to the smoked pork sausage with hard- cider sauce as well.
A new option for the Thanksgiving menu is wild mushroom lasagna. Taking about two hours to prepare, the lasagna is vegetarian friendly, containing unsalted butter, extra- virgin olive oil, mushrooms and creamy wine sauce, making the lasagna moist.
When dinner is done, gluten free apple fritters work as the perfect dessert. With crisp bits of chopped apples scattered throughout and a hint of glaze, the apple fritters take about four hours to make according to seriouseats.com. Although it may be time-consuming, the dessert will surely pay off following the Thanksgiving meal.
Whether one is going for the traditional Thanksgiving meal or looking for a way to improve or change the menu, food has the ability to become fun and exciting again, only needing a few key ingredients and a little bit of patience.
