If we were to vote, Thanksgiving would be neck-in-neck with Christmas as our
all-time favorite holiday. Think about it: Practically everyone celebrates it,
and the stars are family and food. Despite the fact that people from all different
backgrounds and circumstances seem to unite around this holiday, though, that
doesn't mean we all celebrate the same. Sure, there are some common themes,
particularly on the dinner table: turkey, of course, dressing, most likely,
pumpkin pie, probably -- and an abundance of everything. But there are probably
as many variations on the Thanksgiving theme as there are folks who start their
holiday shopping the day after (and if you've ever been to the mall post-Thanksgiving,
you know that's a lot).
To accommodate our individual tastes, but with the Thanksgiving theme in mind,
we've put together no fewer than 13 menus -- a mix of the traditional and the
modern. Most are centered around recipes developed for Cooking Light
by five of our favorite chefs: Jimmy Bannos, from Chicago's Heaven on Seven;
George Bernas, from the Brandywine Inn in Dayton, Ohio; Joe Brown, of the Melange
Cafe in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Jim Coleman, of Philadelphia's Rittenhouse
Hotel; and Caprial Pence, of Caprial's Bistro in Portland, Oregon.
But we've also got something for non-turkey-eaters out there: a pork roast
menu and a yummy vegetarian meal. Each retains the holiday flavors and feel
despite the absence of the bird. And all 13 demonstrate that the year's biggest
(in popularity and in size) meal can be healthful and delicious. We give thanks
for that.
Menu One
Apple-Glazed
Pork Loin Roast With Apple-Ham Stuffing
Harvest
Stuffed Sweets
Marinated
Asparagus Bundles
Fruited
Port-Cranberry Salad
Drop
Biscuits
Fudgy
Souffle Cake With Warm Turtle Sauce
Menu Two
Apple-Glazed
Pork Loin Roast With Apple-Ham Stuffing
Sauteed
Green Beans and Onions With Bacon
Mashed
Sweet Potatoes With Pineapple
Parsley
Biscuits
Butterscotch
Bundt Cake
Menu Three
Spice-Rubbed
Smoked Turkey With Roasted-Pear
Stuffing and Cranberry
Syrup
Mashed
Potatoes With Roasted Garlic and Rosemary
Sauteed
Green Beans and Onions With Bacon
Sun-dried
Tomato Semolina Biscuits
Pecan
Tassies in Cream Cheese Pastry
Menu Four
Spice-Rubbed
Smoked Turkey With Roasted-Pear
Stuffing and Cranberry
Syrup
Rutabaga-Bacon
Puree
Orange-Kissed
Brussels Sprouts
Drop
Biscuits
Pecan-Crusted
Sweet Potato Pie
Menu Five
Make-Ahead Turkey Breast With Herb Stuffing and Vanilla
Sweet Potatoes
Belgian
Endive and Apple Salad
Sugary
Spice Pecans
Squash-Rice
Casserole
Lemony
Brussels Sprouts
Green
Onion Drop Biscuits
Triple-Butterscotch
Boston Cream Pie
Menu Six
Make-Ahead
Turkey Breast With Herb Stuffing and Vanilla
Sweet Potatoes
Braised
Celeriac
Marinated
Asparagus Bundles
Green
Onion Drop Biscuits
Pecan-Crusted
Sweet Potato Pie
Menu Seven
Jerk
Turkey Cutlets With Cranberry-Habanero Salsa (Cranberry-Habanero
Salsa)
Pear,
Blue Cheese and Walnut Salad
Holiday
Green Beans
Harvest
Stuffed Sweets
Jalapeno
Corn Bread
Triple-Butterscotch
Boston Cream Pie
Menu Eight
Jerk
Turkey Cutlets With Cranberry-Habanero Salsa (Cranberry-Habanero
Salsa)
Sauteed
Green Beans and Onions With Bacon
Harvest
Stuffed Sweets
Drop
Biscuits
Classic
Sweet Potato Pie
Menu Nine
Herb-Roasted
Turkey With Cheese
Grits
Squash-Rice
Casserole
Green
Beans With Bacon-Balsamic Vinaigrette
Sun-dried
Tomato Semolina Biscuits
Butterscotch
Bundt Cake
Menu Ten
Herb-Roasted
Turkey With Cheese
Grits
Sauteed
Green Beans and Onions With Bacon
Fruited
Port-Cranberry Salad
Sweet
Potato Biscuits
Pumpkin-Maple
Pie
Menu Eleven
Cajun
Turkey With Dirty-Rice Stuffing (Dirty-Rice
Stuffing)
Roasted
Turnips, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, and Dried Cranberries
Broccoli
With Dijon Vinaigrette
Sun-dried
Tomato Semolina Biscuits
Pumpkin-Streusel
Cheesecake
Menu Twelve
Cajun
Turkey With Dirty-Rice Stuffing (Dirty-Rice
Stuffing)
Maple
Sweet Potatoes
Sauteed
Green Beans and Onions With Bacon
Jalapeno
Corn Bread
Classic
Sweet Potato Pie
Menu Thirteen
Braised
Shallots and Fall Vegetables with Red Wine Sauce (Red
Wine Sauce)
Belgian
Endive and Apple Salad
Lentils
with Carrots
Braised
Celeriac
Drop
Biscuits
Sweet
Potato Pie with Hazelnut Streusel
