Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It is one of the last major American holidays that hasn’t been co-opted by our consumerist tendencies. In our family, at least, it is simply a time to gather, give and receive love, eat good food, and relax. There are no gifts, no expectations other than time spent together. That’s a beautiful thing.
We spend our Thanksgiving in Kentucky every year, visiting my parents in the same home I was born and raised in. It’s a remarkable feeling, returning to the same place you took your first steps, sleeping in your (now too small for a married couple) childhood bed. The whole affair is the pinnacle of coziness.
We light fires, listen to music, run the local Turkey Trot, drink bourbon. The rest of the week is spent thinking about, talking about, dreaming about, and planning what we are going to eat.
I like the Turkey in theory, but personally, I’m here for the vegetables. I would be just as happy eating a great roasted chicken. As I’ve gotten older I prefer to feel my best during these large family gatherings where I might have once eaten a massive meal, gorged myself on dessert, and passed out by the fire. It sounds great when I say it but I recall the feeling and it was never as good in the moment.
That being said, I’ve learned I favor a lighter approach. I start the day with a good run, eat a wholesome meal, and then gently drift into a chill, marijuana-induced oblivion, accented by a little pour of bourbon on ice and great conversation. What could be better?
Considering that, here are three side dishes, using vegetables and whole grains, that offer a few alternatives to the classics. As is my wheelhouse, they are easy to make, flexible on substitutions, and healthful. You can start these one hour before dinner time and you’ll likely have them ready for the main event.
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