Post by UnderProtest on Nov 13, 2012 11:40:41 GMT -5
So I'm hosting Thanksgiving for the first time ever and I have no idea what to serve. I'm doing a small turkey and a ham (because my husband wants turkey and I want ham). I just can't figure out what sides go with both. Mashed potatoes are definitely on the menu as my MIL makes awesome ones. But I'm also trying to do somewhat healthy sides as my aunt is really trying to stick to weight watchers. Any suggestions? Bonus points for easy recipes and stuff that doesn't take an oven as the turkey will probably take up most of my tiny oven. Thanks!
Well Thanksgiving has a fairly standard menu, so that should give you at least *some* idea, right? You can make decent stuffing on top of the stove (without using "Stove Top" brand), veggie side dishes, etc. The "white" part of roasted turkey is naturally low in fat so that should be fine for your aunt. You can also bake some small sweet potatoes so she can have one plain if she wants. If you make even one vegetable dish that isn't loaded with butter and gravy, then she's all set.
I posted a green bean recipe in one of the other Thanksgiving posts; you saute shallots and garlic, toast some almonds, and toss with steamed beans. It's healthy and delicious. In fact, if you read through those posts, there are a lot of good ideas.
ETA: That's the post I was referring to. The green bean recipe is here.
Post by UnderProtest on Nov 13, 2012 20:22:39 GMT -5
Yum, thanks for the recipe suggestions. I guess I was looking more for a menu of items that goes together. Ham and turkey require such different sides in my mind that I can't think of what goes with both of them.
Someone suggested it one of the other Thanksgiving posts, but it would probably be a good idea to create one sticky Thanksgiving post. Or a temporary Thanksgiving sub-board just for this week and next.
Yum, thanks for the recipe suggestions. I guess I was looking more for a menu of items that goes together. Ham and turkey require such different sides in my mind that I can't think of what goes with both of them.
I also like to have menus that "go" together, but it seems like Thanksgiving is kind of driven by tradition and what people always make, rather than a cohesive menu. As in, grandma always makes X, and Aunt Sue is famous for Y.
We are hosting this year and having both turkey and ham. Along with those main dishes, we are having: mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, rolls, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, some sort of cold green salad, something with corn, something with butternut squash, and some sort of cherry jello salad. To me, this is just a typical Thanksgiving menu and I am not concerned if it goes together. But I wouldn't say anything stands out as odd and it can be healthy depending on how it's prepared, and if the dieter can hold herself back!