Thanksgiving – it’s the unofficial start of a busy holiday season. It’s also one of our very favorite holidays. There is nothing that makes us happier than gathering family and friends around the table to share food, love, and gratitude.
Destress your #Thanksgiving, with these 10 #tips, from our families to yours Click To TweetWe’d like to help make your Thanksgiving the best ever, starting with tips for making your holiday less stressed and more delicious.
Let’s start with our Top 10 Thanksgiving Dinner Tips from our families to yours.
1. Plan ahead. Dairy farming is busy work, so I start Thanksgiving dinner prep days ahead of time. I have all my sides ready by the day before so dinner on the big day isn’t rushed. ~Jenni Tilton-Flood, Flood Brothers Farm
2. Get the right bird. My family likes Thanksgiving leftovers as much as the meal, so I cook two turkeys. This works better for us than one huge bird, because…drumsticks! There’s always plenty left over for sandwiches, turkey mac and cheese, turkey hash – you get the idea. ~Wendy Scherer, Social Media Manager
3. Set the table. Nothing gets me in the Thanksgiving spirit like a beautifully decorated table. I like to use elements from nature – gourds, fall leaves, mums for a festive tablescape that makes the occasion truly special. ~Rachael Keyes, Brand Communications Manager
4. Prepare for varying tastes. I like to make Stuffing with a mix of ground sausage (pork), beef, apples, celery and craisins. The secret ingredient is BUTTER and meat. I make 3 versions because we have a large immediate family. So, I make one with all the things, one without apples and craisins (for my brother), and one without meat for the vegetarians in the family! ~Danielle Poirier, Integrated Services Producer
5. Nip pre-meal hunger in the bud. My family’s day starts really early so appetites are often worked up before dinner is served. I love to make these Vermont Cheddar Gougeres with Smoked Salmon Filling to serve to my hungry farmers before the bird is on the table. ~Beth Kennett, Liberty Hill Farm
6. Get in on a secret. I have a secret for getting perfectly crisp skin on my Thanksgiving turkey. Put it in the refrigerator uncovered overnight. The result will be moist meat and delicious, crispy skin. ~Averill Earls, Social Media & Community
7. Keep it cool. Because there’s limited oven space on Thanksgiving Day, I like to include at least one cold or room temperature side dish on the menu. This Broccoli Salad with Cabot Cheddar and Bacon is a family favorite at Thanksgiving…or any time of the year. ~Regan Jones, Nutrition Consultant
8. Make it light and sweet. I love dessert, but at Thanksgiving, when the main course is the star of the show, I like to end the meal with something sweet but light, like these Krebs Organic Dairy Farm’s Blueberry-Lemon Cheesecake Squares. I cut the pieces in different sizes from bite sized to generous to suit any appetite. ~Sara Wing, Health Program Director
9. Walk it off. Part of my family’s Thanksgiving tradition is taking a long walk to the beach after dinner but before cleanup. We bundle up (it’s usually pretty chilly in Maine on Thanksgiving Day), grab the dogs and walk off some off those T-day calories. It is a great way to end a lovely meal. ~Candace Karu, Cabot’s Favorite Foodie
10. Express gratitude. Have paper and pencils for everyone to write what each person is thankful for. Save these notes of gratitude in a jar to treasure over the years. ~Happy Thanksgiving from the Farm Families who own Cabot and the Cabot staffers who work with them!
Try any of these seven seriously delicious side dishes – the perfect complement to your Thanksgiving turkey.
It’s true that turkey is usually the star of the Thanksgiving Day meal, but the supporting cast is every bit as important in making your holiday dinner a success. We can help you create tasty, wholesome accompaniments to you holiday meal. Here are seven of our favorites:
1. While there are endless varieties of casseroles out there, this broccoli casserole features our award-winning Cabot Sharp Cheddar. With it’s crunchy topping of crushed Ritz crackers, it’s sure to be a hit!
2. What would Thanksgiving be without mashed potatoes? Cabot wants to help you take yours up a notch with these Greek Yogurt Mashed Potatoes. The tangy yogurt gives these taters a smooth creaminess and adds a little extra protein as a bonus!
3. These pumpkin soufflés not only taste delicious, but they make any table setting look absolutely beautiful! You will enjoy the lovely flavor combination of pumpkin and Habanero cheddar. Served hot, warm or cold, this recipe is sure to be a winner!
4. For a different – and more sophisticated take – on Thanksgiving potatoes you might want to try Echo Farm’s Au Gratin Potatoes with Cheddar-Stout Sauce. This divine recipe features a swoonworthy blend of cheddar cheese, porter beer, and baked potatoes. Keep the recipe handy when you serve this dish. Your guests are going to want it for their own.
5. Most people don’t think “cabbage” when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, but we love this inventive and satisfying recipe for Cheesy Cabbage Sauté. It combines fresh cabbage with sweet onions, fresh herbs and that magic ingredient – Cabot Alpine Cheddar from the Farmers Legacy Collection. You’re going to thank us for this one!
6. If there are young people at your Thanksgiving table, or if anyone there is young at heart, you can’t go wrong serving this Macaroni & Cheese Baked in a Pumpkin. It’s the most fantastic side dish and a perfect table decoration all in one.
7. Bread pudding is a seasonal favorite and Cabot’s Savory Bread Pudding is a crowd-pleaser from the word go. It’s loaded with vegetables for a wholesome, flavorful dish everyone will want to dig into.
Here are a few more of our favorites:
Roasted Garlic Cheddar Cheese Sauce:
For lots more recipes for your Thanksgiving dinner, go to the recipe section of the Cabot website.
If you would like to learn more about Cabot Creamery Cooperative, get more delicious recipes, or take a virtual tour of some of our 800 farm families, click here. If you find a recipe that you love on our site, please rate and review it – we appreciate your feedback!
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Candace Karu reports on all there is to discover and love about food and farming as well as communicating Cabot’s mission to support community, volunteerism, and sustainability. Whether online, on air, or in person, her job is to amplify the passion and commitment of the 1,000 farm families who own Cabot. When Candace is not representing Cabot, she lives, cooks, and works out in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
