Thanksgiving Dinner: A Photographic Narrative

The Spread

The spread

 I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  

Mine was a wonderful dinner spent with my family on the North Fork of Long Island.  

I’m blessed with a family of talented cooks and my brother and sister-in-law took charge of dinner with me serving mostly as prep-cook for most of the day. 

I don’t have any recipes to share today but our dinner was so delicious that I wanted to share with all of you.  Because I know by this point you haven’t had your fill of turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes or cranberry sauce yet  😉

We started our afternoon with a round of appetizers to whet our appetite.  

Appetizers

From top to bottom: olive mix, cheese platter, artichoke dip, and pancetta crisps with goat cheese and pears.

The pancetta crisps with goat cheese and pears is a wonderful and simple appetizer that was a hit and I highly recommend for any celebration.  We simply thinly sliced two barlet pears, crisped up some pancetta slices and filled the cored out section of the pears with goat cheese.  It was topped with a drizzle of honey for a touch of sweetness. 

pre-turkey nap

Dad and the pug took a pre-turkey nap after some appetizers.

 

 
Turkey

Golden, crispy, delicious turkey

A few Thanksgivings ago, my brother learned the secret to perfectly crisp and delicious turkey skin from his mother-in-law.  He used it again this year, and I couldn’t steal enough skin from the turkey throughout the night.  If it wasn’t for the fact that it’s so bad for you, I’d eat all skin and no meat. 

Dad carving the turkey

No one carves a turkey like Dad

Turkey, please?

Please?

By this point, the pug was up and smelling everything re-heating or finishing cooking in the oven.  He wanted turkey, or whatever else he could snatch off the floor. 

Stuff Cabbage

Stuffed Cabbage

First course was my mom’s famous stuffed cabbage, we all love it and no one can make it like she does.  One of these days, I’ll try it at home myself and if it’s a success I’ll share the recipe with all of you. 

Roast Beef

Roast Beef

Besides turkey, we also do a second protein with dinner.  This years choice was roast beef.  Cooked perfectly medium-rare and tender enough to cut with a butter knife. 

 

Sides

You can’t have turkey without the trimmings, we have brussel sprouts with shallots, sausage stuffing, oyster dressing and mashed potatoes. 

Cranberry sauce

Cranberry Sauce

Let’s not forget about the cranberry sauce, although in our house only two people ever eat it! It’s still homemade and delicious thought!

Pies

L to R: Apple Pie, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie

Finally dessert! We usually go all out, but restrained ourselves a little bit by just having three pies. 

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17 thoughts on “Thanksgiving Dinner: A Photographic Narrative

  1. Professor Vegetable

    I loved all the veggiesss! The cranberry sauce in the heart shaped bowl looks cute. I wish more people served olives as appetizers. That made me very happy to see and read.

    Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

    Professor Veg!

    Reply
    1. Susan

      It’s actually quite simple, I can’t give you ratios thought because my mom goes more on feel but the meatballs are just rice and chopped meat. She then stuffs them into the steamed cabbage. The sauce is canned tomato sauce with some brown sugar, white sugar and she also adds sliced onions and raisins. Salt and pepper to season.

      Reply
  2. Amalia

    Wow, everything looks wonderful! I love your pictures, especially the one with the turkey 🙂 The skin really is perfect! All the food looks amazing, the pies are making me drool! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Susan

      Thank you! My brother said my photos made his food look better than it did in real life, but trust me, everything was delicious!

      Reply
  3. susie kllein

    I am sooooo jealous. Everything looked fabulous. Wish that we could have been there.
    Mr. Pugsley is adorable.
    Thanks for the blog. I now know whjat I missed.
    Stay well. Wishes for healthy and happy hollidays to you and Braden.
    Love
    Susie

    Reply

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