Turkey Should Not be the Headliner of Thanksgiving

The traditional Thanksgiving meal consists of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream for dessert. Some have added to the tradition with the green bean casserole which consists of canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup and French fried onion bits sprinkled on top.

Apparently this is what they ate at the original Thanksgiving when they didn’t have a mall to get to and this is how we give thanks in America. But is it really enough?

How many other times in the year do you eat this meal? In my house Thanksgiving it pretty much it. Though lately turkey has replaced red meat in the name of our good health, the traditional turkey dinner is still a meal I eat only once a year. I can’t remember ever seeing it on a regular diner menu.

In my house, which is Italian, the Thanksgiving meal is a marathon that starts with the antipasta. This is usually served while the Detroit Lions are playing football.  That’s an assortment of salamis, ham, roast beef, cheeses including fresh mozzarella, salads including marinated olives, peppers, mushrooms and artichokes and breads. This is followed by some form of macaroni in red gravy containing meatballs, sausage, braciola, and pork.

When the traditional turkey dinner comes out, it’s usually accompanied by a leg of lamb for as I said, turkey is not a headliner. If you don’t believe that, check how much of it is left over and how many a year you even eat what is made of those leftovers. The turkey dinner is actually the “turkey” of all dinners. Dinner is served while the Dallas Cowboys game is on. (Hopefully they’re losing)

Dessert in my house consists of whatever cakes, cookies and pies the guests bring along with Italian pastry. As if this isn’t enough to eat, later when the now third football game is on, we find ourselves making sandwiches out of the leftovers from courses one and two.

What’s Thanksgiving like in your house? What foods if any do you add to the meal? Let's hear your stories below.