Growing up in France, Thanksgiving used to be a foreign concept to me – one I was only familiar with thanks to television and movies. At the time, the closest I was to celebrating the holiday was watching (and rewatching!) the episode of “Friends” where Joey gets his head stuck in a turkey. Have you seen it? To this day, I can’t help but chuckle every time I see a rerun.
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Since moving to Canada, I have started my love affair with the Canadian holiday by making pumpkin soups, sweet potato pies and tasting a different kind of stuffing every year.
This weekend, however, will be my first time hosting a Thanksgiving dinner and I’m going all out. On the menu is maple-glazed turkey, green beans with fried shallots, roasted root vegetables, cranberry chutney and wild rice and walnut stuffing. And for dessert? The Pumpkin Praline Tiramisu from our October issue – a great make-ahead dessert! – and pumpkin ice cream sandwiches with ginger cookies. In anticipation of this year’s feast, I asked my colleagues to share some of their favourite treats, so read on!
“When I was a kid, we always went out to a restaurant for roast beef on Thanksgiving (and to celebrate a couple of our birthdays), so having that particular holiday meal at home is new to me. I still crave a rare and juicy prime rib au jus with Yorkshire pudding, though. So often we end up having just that.” – Annabelle Waugh, food director
“My favourite Thanksgiving dishes are always the sweets. Nothing beats a slice of apple pie, made with a recipe that has been in my family for years! I love knowing it’s been on the table at all sorts of family events before my time.” – Daniela Payne, web editor, food and health
“I’m in love with anything cornbread. Wether it’s a buttery skillet cornbread, a sweet topping to a baked fruit cobbler or used in stuffing, I guarantee that it will claim major real estate on my plate.” – Amanda Barnier, food specialist
“I don’t love Thanksgiving dinner as much as I love the leftovers. Especially when everything is piled into one sandwich. That’s right, cranberry sauce spread on one slice of bread, sweet potato mash on the other and turkey, stuffing, potatoes, green beans – the works – stacked in between.” – Melanie Stuparyk, contributing food specialist
“One dish I look forward to every Thanksgiving is a buttery mash of rutabaga and carrots. It’s simplicity, vibrant colour and autumny taste always draw me back for seconds.” – Rheanna Kish, senior food specialist
“I love everything about Thanksgiving, but my absolute favourite part is the pumpkin ice cream pie that my mum makes every year. The crust is made of crushed gingersnaps, topped with a layer of vanilla ice cream. On top of all that, a mixture of pumpkin, whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices – topped with pecans. We only have it once a year, so it’s a real treat!” – Austen Gilliland, senior editor, crafts and food
What are some of your favourite Thanksgiving treats?
