A Half-Indian Thanksgiving (and Giveaway!)

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First of all, Happy Diwali to all my Indian friends and family! B, the girls and I spent Diwali eating puri and a feast of vegetarian dishes with my in-laws (so delicious!). I hope you all had a wonderful Diwali this year.

Now to the point: what does a half-Indian cook make for Thanksgiving? As the family member with the largest house and the most convenient location, I am usually the host for family get togethers, especially holidays like Thanksgiving. And for the most part, I love this arrangement because I love to cook for others (and this way I get to make what I want to!). For the most part, I make traditional Thanksgiving food, but each year I experiment with some new recipes, trying to make each dish both delicious and nutritious. This is not always an easy feat, and some years I have been more successful than others…

An unusually small Thanksgiving dinner last year

This year will be my largest Thanksgiving to date: we’re expecting a total of 15 people! While I have planned a pretty typical Thanksgiving menu, my mother-in-law has offered to bring lamb pulao (seasoned rice cooked with lamb), and her’s is amazing! I’m sure others will volunteer to make or bring something to add to the feast, but since I’m the foodiest of my family, here is what I’m planning for this year’s meal:

  • Turkey! I’ll make two this year (which I’ve never done before), and I may try two different styles. There will definitely be butter involved.
  • Golden Cauliflower Soup: It’s epic. Try it.
  • Classic Sourdough Stuffing: This one’s for B (his favorite Thanksgiving food). I won’t be putting it in the turkey, but I call it stuffing anyway. Sourdough croutons, celery, onions, broth. Yum.
  • Cranberry Sauce (see recipe below)
  • Mashed potatoes with buttermilk, garlic, and lots of butter!
  • Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Delicata Rings: roasted and seasoned with some pumpkin pie spice and butter!
  • Giblet Gravy: This one’s for Mom. For years I have avoided the giblets, but this year I’m giving in…and I hope to make the best gravy ever.
  • Pumpkin Pie (made from fresh pumpkin, of course!): I’m going to try this recipe this year.
  • Apple Custard Pie (recipe soon!)
  • Sparkling Apple Cider: a family tradition, and one my kids especially love.

For me Thanksgiving is definitely about the food, but it is also about spending a relaxing day with my family (husband, kids, parents, in-laws, sister, and anyone else who wants to join in!). It is about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, football, eating too much (and then eating leftovers), laughing, reminiscing, and being thankful.

I am thankful for all of you who read this blog, who support me and “like” my posts, and who leave comments letting me know that you’re enjoying my culinary creations. Many of you have liked my Facebook page, and I’m close to reaching my goal of getting 100 “likes” by Thanksgiving. So to show my thanks, I will be hosting a giveaway for one lucky person. All you have to do is like my Facebook page and you will be entered to win. What am I giving away? Something wonderful, useful, and very half-Indian…a pantry starter, complete with all the goodies you’ll need to start cooking some great Indian food! Happy Thanksgiving!

Cranberry Sauce

  • 1 package fresh cranberries (10-12 oz.)
  • 1 cup apple juice (organic and unfiltered if possible)
  • 1/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup (I use Grade B)

To Cook:

  1. Rinse cranberries in a colander under cool water and discard any that are bruised or soft.
  2. Put drained cranberries and apple juice in a medium-sized pot and turn on heat to medium.
  3. Cook uncovered until cranberries pop and are softened, about 10 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in maple syrup.
  5. Allow to cool, then refrigerate overnight.
  6. Enjoy!

Fresh cranberries

Note: My kids love cranberry sauce! If you have any leftovers, try some mixed into plain whole-milk yogurt for a nice treat. If you don’t have leftovers, make more!

Note #2: Cranberries are only available at this time of year, but they freeze well. Buy a few bags and store them in the freezer for later use.

 

This post is linked to Tasty TraditionsMonday Mania, and Real Food Wednesday.

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3 Comments
  1. Your Thanksgiving sounds wonderful, Rebekah! May you and yours enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving day filled with happiness, laughter, and of course, your great cooking!

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