The Thanksgiving meal in our household is the single greatest culinary accomplishment of my year. I put the most time and effort into the menu and try to remain as traditional as possible. I’m not serving a colonial-style meal, mind you, but I don’t diverge from the classic lot:

  • Organic, free-range turkey prepared in a brine and roasted with apples, onions, herbs, carrots, and celery.
  • Creamy mashed potatoes.
  • Herbed cranberry and apple dressing made from homemade bread.
  • Turkey giblet and vegetable gravy.
  • Sweet potato casserole topped with roasted pecans.
  • Cranberry apple relish.
  • Nantucket Corn Pudding.
  • French beans and shallots in butter.

We also have pumpkin pie for dessert. I have to make an admission concerning this, though. I’ve made decent pumpkin pies in the past and haven’t had much trouble making them. But, for my money, and for my taste buds, the pumpkin pies made by Costco are the best I think I’ve ever had. They truly are premium pies, so they deservedly have a spot on our table. I am making the whipped cream topping myself, though. No Cool Whip, damn it!

Have a great holiday, everyone.