I am in complete disbelief that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Are you ready?
Guess what I'm VERY thankful for? That I don't have to go it alone preparing a whole Thanksgiving feast! What a lot of work! My mom still does the main turkey dinner, and we kids all bring sides and desserts.
But... I suppose one day, this job will fall to me, so I'm already collecting my favorite recipes for my own Thanksgiving dinner menu plan!
Everyone loves to stuff themselves on Thanksgiving, so I am sharing my favorite traditional Thanksgiving Menu Plan to help you plan your Thanksgiving perfectly! Plus I've added a family favorite: Sautéed Brussel Sprouts with Cranberries recipe to the end of this post!
Make the meat organic!
Meat is the final frontier for our family as we move towards whole food and healthful food choices. Organic poultry is raised without GMO-feed or added hormones, so if you can choose and organic turkey, it's going to be a better choice than most conventional birds. You can cook your own bird, or order a precooked turkey via a local catering company.
Organic turkeys are never given antibiotics, animal byproducts, or added solutions or flavor injections. With their extensive variety of classic, organic, heritage, heirloom, brined, and Kosher turkeys, you can find an organic bird for every holiday budget!
Get your entire Thanksgiving Meal catered!
For those who love great food but want to relieve the stress of the holidays, you can now find catered options at many local grocery stores. Select from many types of meat, sides, and desserts to create your own menu for the number of people in your dinner party!
A classic Thanksgiving Menu Plan includes:
- Organic turkey
- Cranberry Sauce
- Green Beans with Shallots
- Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Root Vegetables
- Stuffing
- Turkey Gravy
- Pie
Although I am a "make from scratch" type of cook, I can think of so many reasons why a catered Thanksgiving makes sense.
- Illness or recent pregnancy
- Special treat for employees
- Family reunion at location (instead of home)
- Thanksgiving for 1 or 2
- Thanksgiving for families who don't enjoy cooking
- Thanksgiving for families with diverse diets (vegan, organic, traditional, and speciality dishes are all available).
Add signature dishes to your Thanksgiving Dinner
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe for Thanksgiving Menus
Like I said, I love to cook from scratch, and enjoy adding new dishes and flavors to traditional meals like Thanksgiving Dinner. One year my sister created a shaved Brussel sprouts side dish that was my real introduction to these yummy baby cabbages. I've loved the little green orbs ever since! She's letting me share her recipe today, and I've added a bright Thanksgiving touch to the recipe!
Plus, my son got to check out what "real" Brussel sprouts look like on their stem! Gotta love learning in the produce department!
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:9]
What's your Thanksgiving Dinner include? Traditional fare? Signature dishes?
Everything looks absolutely delicious!! I love the Whole Foods tips! And I'd definitely try that recipe as well!
I love Brussels sprouts but have never cooked fresh ones myself. This recipe looks delicious.
I have never had Brussels sprouts before, what do they taste like? Sounds like a nice recipe.
I love Brussel Sprouts. This food sounds and looks amazing!
I always love seeing how other people make BS. I never liked them as a kid because they were always just boiled. Blah... I love them now that I've learned new recipes!
I always love seeing how other people make BS. I never liked them as a kid because they were always just boiled. Blah... I love them now that I've learned new recipes!
I LOVE brussel sprouts! This is a must try recipe I can't wait to make it!
This sounds like a great brussel sprout recipe! I didn't realize Whole Foods catered. That can come in handy sometime!
We always make our Thanksgiving from scratch, but with so much going on this year, I could definitely understand having it catered. That Brussels sprouts recipe sounds delicious- I am just now becoming a fan of them.
We always make our Thanksgiving from scratch, but with so much going on this year, I could definitely understand having it catered. That Brussels sprouts recipe sounds delicious- I am just now becoming a fan of them.
Wow, I pinned that brussel sprouts recipe. That would be fabulous with salmon! I would definitely consider getting a Thanksgiving meal catered by Whole Foods. They have such great quality food items, plus it would be nice to enjoy the family rather than cook all day.
I love brussel sprouts, they are so good with salt on them. This is a fabulous meal idea that my family would totally eat right up! Thanks for the idea.
Yummy- I wish you had a Pinterest styled image for the brusseles sprouts, they look delicious! We are still ironing out our plans for the big holiday meal. I suspect we will cater some of it in this year, so we can spend less time in the kitchen.
I've never seen Brussel sprouts on a stem like that. I can't wait to try them out. I would have loved a catered Thanksgiving while I was pregnant.
I am not one to eat brussel sprouts but I must say, these look really yummy.
Those brussel sprouts sound awesome. I might have to try those 🙂
Those brussel sprouts sound awesome. I might have to try those 🙂
Everything looks amazing! I have never bought brussel sprouts like that, but my eye is going to be out now. This year I am in charge of making sweet potatoes. Do I spy that in a pic? Any good recipes? I'm sure I'll be buying them at Whole Foods! 🙂
This is amazing. That turkey makes me crave it so bad. I may have to make all of this this weekend!
I have had Thanksgiving with various parts of my family (my dad and his wife, my in-laws, my grandma's house, and I even hosted one year!). The core foods we always have are turkey, some kind of rolls, and usually some kind of dressing/stuffing. Other than that, it seems like everyone has their own favorite sides and desserts that are unique to them.
MY favorites are pumpkin pie, pecan pie, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, and this delicious hashed brown potato and cheese casserole my grandma makes. YUM!
I LOVE brussel sprouts recipes! I'll have to try this one. We don't usually get Thanksgiving catered, but we often do it for Christmas. With the gifts and all of the other stresses for that time of year, we try to make the meal part easy on all of us. 🙂
I use to think I wasn't a brussel sprout fan at all. Then I realized that they have to be prepared right or they just taste like a mushy mess. These look sooooo good. I want to have a bowl of them right now. (Seriously, got any leftovers?) We have a whole foods co-op locally but now I wish we had a whole foods market nearby!
Thanksgiving is my favorite! And your dish would make a wonderful addition! Just visited our "local" Whole Foods on Saturday (and by local, I mean, the closest is an hour away) and came home happy! 🙂
This entire post made my mouth water. I've never had brussel sprouts be part of my Thanksgiving dinner, but I think I'm going to have the change that this year!
This entire post made my mouth water. I've never had brussel sprouts be part of my Thanksgiving dinner, but I think I'm going to have the change that this year!
Ooh, your Brussels sprouts recipe really caught my eye! I just bought a new cast iron skillet, and the cranberries sound like the perfect touch. I definitely think cooking Brussels sprouts shaved is the best way because they cook so evenly. This is going on my Thanksgiving short list!
Oh yum!!! Looks like a delicious meal, and Whole Foods has all the fresh ingredients and the best produce!
I've only discovered my love of brussel sprouts a few years ago but they are sooooo good! This side dish looks amazing! I don't cook Thanksgiving but I'm saving this for when I cook for Christmas! Thanks!
This dinner looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL! WOW! I'm coming to your house for Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the Whole Foods tip! I didn't know they had organic turkey. My S-I-L only eats organic foods! 🙂