I love planning and preparing Thanksgiving Day dinner. In my family, we pretty much serve the same foods every year. We may use different recipes, but the staples remain the same. Every year my Thanksgiving dinner is a hit. So, to help out any of my readers who are looking for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu, I offer you my Thanksgiving family meal plan for the holiday this year.
Turkey is a must for any traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu. This year my husband and I splurged on a local turkey that had been raised in a pasture and humanely slaughtered. Our turkey cost us a pretty penny but promises to be more delicious than a commercially-produced bird. I will be putting a stick of butter inside the turkey and coating the skin in a butter and herb mixture. I will then cook it in the oven.
Stuffing is also a staple of my traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu. Although my mom always made a boxed stuffing, I like to make my own. I am using the same bread stuffing recipe as last year but am leaving out the apples and raisins.
Potatoes are always included in my Thanksgiving family meal plan. I will make my grandma’s mashed potato recipe using white potatoes. I will also make some sort of sweet potato recipe. Depending on my mood, I will either make the same sweet potato casserole recipe that I used and loved last year or make some twice-baked sweet potatoes. I am dying to try the recipe but have not had a chance yet.
My husband always insists on green bean casserole. Of course, I will use the recipe from Campbell’s Soup with a few modifications. I like to blend the soup mixture in the blender first to get rid of the mushroom chunks. I also put the French-fried onions only on top because I do not like the crunchiness in the actual green beans.
Finally, to add some sweetness to my traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu, I will make my homemade orange cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. I always thought that making cranberry sauce took a lot of time. Last year I discovered that making my own sauce is not only easy but the recipe is super delicious compared to the canned variety. I also like to make a pumpkin pie for dessert using a fresh pumpkin. Canned pumpkin can be used but fresh is just so much tastier!
My Thanksgiving dinner this year looks tasty. Hopefully, my traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu will help any of my readers who were unsure of what to serve this holiday! Happy holidays!
My Thanksgiving Dinner
Image Credits
Planning a Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Menu © 2013 Heather Johnson
Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner © 2013 Heather Johnson
Thanksgiving Dinner © 2010 James Johnson
Thanksgiving Turkey © 2012 Heather Johnson
Seasoned Stuffing © 2011 Heather Johnson
Grandma Nordine’s Mashed Potatoes © 2011 Heather Johnson
Sweet Potato Casserole © 2010 James Johnson
Baked Macaroni and Cheese © 2011 James Johnson
Corn Casserole © 2013 Heather Johnson
Finished Green Bean Casserole © 2011 Heather Johnson
Finished Orange Cranberry Sauce © 2011 Heather Johnson
Baked Pumpkin Pie © 2012 Heather Johnson
Baked Pecan Pie © 2014 Heather Johnson
