Happy Almost Thanksgiving!
This year we’ve been invited to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving and I’m in charge of bringing just one dish. This is perfectly compatible with my level of cooking ambition right now.
I’m looking forward to the holiday season. I’m ready to embrace all things warm and cozy and festive and bright. I’m eagerly awaiting the scent of pine in my home.
But I’m also tired.
The kids and I are still coughing and sniffling our way out of yet another virus that got us last week. I’m behind at work, I’m behind at home, and just getting dinner on the table each night feels like a monumental effort. So a holiday that revolves around cooking all day long wasn’t sounding so great.
But bringing one recipe and a bottle of wine to someone else’s house? That sounds perfect.
I’m also thinking of maybe ordering a few dishes from our neighborhood market and stashing them in the fridge for the day after Thanksgiving. That way, I can still dig in to leftovers on Friday without having actually cooked a turkey and mashed potatoes. Is that crazy? Or genius?
I hope you’re able to find a similar balance so you can enjoy Thanksgiving, eat well, and not completely exhaust yourself doing it. Here’s a few simple recipes to help you out!
Brussels Sprouts & Sweet Potatoes with Maple-Dijon Dressing
Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes are roasted to crispy perfection with maple-dijon dressing drizzled on top.
Brioche Stuffing
A fluffy, buttery brioche stuffing that is rich in the middle and delicately crispy around the edges.
Kale Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
A bag of chopped kale is shredded in the food processor and topped with tart cranberries, sweet pecans and a creamy poppy seed dressing made from Greek yogurt.
Kale Apple Slaw with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
An easy kale apple slaw with a perfect balance of earthy and sweet flavors. Shredded kale, crisp apples and crunchy pecans are tossed in lemon poppyseed dressing.
Dinner Last Week
I’m always curious about what other families are eating. Aren’t you? Here’s what my crew ate last week. The kids and I were in various stages of congestion and sore throats so the week started out strong and then ended with canned soup.
Monday: One Pan Farro with Tomatoes from Smitten Kitchen, plus salmon and salad
Tuesday: Instant Pot mashed potatoes (a recipe I’m working on that will probably come out in December) plus roasted mushrooms and Trader Joes gravy. Three of us enjoyed the meal and one kid refused to eat anything…I think she had a few pieces of toast for dinner.
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Canned soup
Friday: Homemade chicken soup
Reading
A few Thanksgiving inspired cookbooks you might enjoy!
Art of the Pie, by Kate McDermott
Thanksgiving: How to Cook It Well: A Cookbook by Sam Sifton
How to Cook Everything Thanksgiving, by Mark Bittman
Please note that book titles in this section are Bookshop.org affiliate links. Your cost for purchasing the book is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to me and help support my work. When ordering from Bookshop.org you’ll also be supporting independent bookstores.
Enjoy your weekend!
Jenny