ALT-3 How to Celebrate Thanksgiving without Turkey
Thanksgiving is the annual day set aside to celebrate the bounty of our lives with those we love. It is sometimes referred to as Turkey Day, but the traditional bird is not everyone's favorite meal. Sharing a special holiday dinner reinforces family bonds and strengthens friendships. If dinner guests are vegetarians or simply don't enjoy eating turkey, it’s easy to accommodate them with an alternative choice.
Alternative Meat Entrée
To feed a large group of family and friends, an easy solution is to serve the roast turkey for those who want it and augment the feast with another large meat entree, such as a baked ham or pork roast. Most of the customary side dishes that accompany the turkey will work well with the alternative meats: mashed potatoes, seasoned stuffing, sweet potato pie, roasted squash, corn, green beans and cranberry sauce. Simply add in a bowl of cinnamon spiced applesauce to accompany the ham or roast pork to complete the menu.
Other Poultry
For a small dinner party of two to six persons, substitute a large roasted chicken or serve individual Cornish game hens. The poultry works well with traditional Thanksgiving dressing and vegetables. Give the game hens a touch of holiday flair with a flavorful wild rice and cranberry stuffing.
Thanksgiving Cookout
To a New Englander, a Thanksgiving cookout may seem strange, but some Americans in the warmer regions are perfectly happy to savor the slow roasted barbecue or grilled steaks that have become their unique favorites. Grilled meats and side dishes of roasted vegetables, corn on the cob and hominy grits resemble some of the foods that the Native Americans brought to the table on the first Thanksgiving feast that celebrated the good fortune of the Pilgrims who survived their first winter in Plymouth.
Lobster Bake
A lobster bake may be an acceptable break in tradition for a northeastern New Englander. Steaming lobster, clams, mussels, potatoes and corn in a pit covered with seaweed and burlap is a cooking method the Pilgrims learned from the Native Americans, so there’s no conflict with tradition here.
Buffets
A covered dish or buffet spread can be the answer to pleasing everyone. Each guest can contribute a dish, perhaps one they consider indispensable to the feast, and everyone can enjoy the exchange of ideas. The variety of tempting foods will make a memorable gathering that relieves the hostess of the responsibility to prepare the entire meal.
One last suggestion is for folks who appreciate neither the turkey nor the preparation and cooking that's necessary to make a happy Thanksgiving. Reservations for a bountiful restaurant buffet dinner will provide choices for each guest, with no leftovers and no cleanup required.
