A simple Thanksgiving, everything but the bird this year. Plates of produce-forward dishes adorn the Holiday table. Let’s dine, everything but the bird.
This Thanksgiving is for sure all about being grateful. So many things, the list is long, and right at the top are the new friends I have made since I moved to the beach. My new friends are small in quantity, but big in the loving kindness they share with me. I thought it could be a fine time to share some of my favorite dishes, yes, everything but the bird.
EVERYTHING BUT THE BIRD
I have always loved the side dishes that accompany a traditional turkey dinner, so I fashioned them in a plant-based table of sweet, savory & spicy dishes. This year a spirit of thankfulness combines with a healthful menu to create a new take on the Thanksgiving meal.
PLANT-BASED MENU
It seems fitting that pumpkin is on the menu. This time of year my Spice Roasted Pumpkin makes a savory-spicy vegetable, substantial and rich with flavors of cardamon, fennel and coriander. Spice Roasted Pumpkin is an easy fix, once you cut and clean the pumpkin. If a small pumpkin is not available, butternut squash will prove equally as delicious. Simple roasting releases the squash’s sweetness, counter-played with a spiced, savory rub.
Cranberry sauce is a Thanksgiving classic, but let’s take if fresh, made with raw cranberries, pomegranate seeds and sweetened with Pomegranate Molasses. The Pomegranate Molasses makes a great glaze for roast chicken, vegetables and dash of sweet-sour to salad dressings. Cranberry Pomegranate Relish is a Bijouxs classic.
Mashed potatoes are typical but a French-inspired Potato Salad with Lemon & Dill is fresh. I updated my recipe using roasted potatoes to amp up the flavors.
HOLIDAY TABLE STYLING
No need for fancy expensive tabletop decor, take a cue from nature. I used fresh persimmons garden rocks and a little help from my feathered garden friends who have left me a collection of feathers over the years. Simple black and white china, black candle sticks, and white serving pieces complete the easy design. Easy to come by greens of rosemary and clipped olive branches line the rustic table.
Sending Love and Luck!
As always, enjoy. B
