As time goes by, food ideas for a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner are becoming more popular in the United States with the younger adults and different cultures enjoying different types of holiday meals, such as themed or ethnic. But Thanksgiving is made special because of the warm atmosphere of family and friends, whether it is roasted turkey and mashed potatoes or Chinese delivery. Blessings are still bestowed on those who are present.
History shows us that the traditional 1621 Thanksgiving meal was first enjoyed when the Pilgrims sat down to share a Thanksgiving meal with the Plymouth Rock natives. Not changing much over the past 388 years until recently, most families today enjoy turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauces, and pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie. But more than the food, the first Thanksgiving meal reflected the Pilgrim's Victorian nostalgia of hearth and home among family and community- all based on their New England roots. Sharing hospitality with others while celebrating and offering thanks for abundance was more important than what was on the New England menu, something which should be our sentiment today.
But for those who wish to change the holiday meal entirely or to simply spice up the traditional Thanksgiving meal, instead of plain cranberry sauce-try the cranberry mango or cranberry orange sauces. Make a pumpkin cheesecake in place of pumpkin pie or try out grandma's sweet potato pie recipe but add a pecan pie topping. Regular mashed potatoes can have their flavor enhanced with sour cream and chives or leeks and cheese added to it. Food ideas for a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner can become quite effortless with a little imagination and ingenuity.
Theme Thanksgiving Dinners
Becoming very popular are themed Thanksgiving dinners-Western, Hawaiian, the 50s and 60s era, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Baseball, etc.-with each family member responsible for their own costume. Menu items and traditions are based on the theme of the holiday meal, with arriving guests bringing dishes appropriate to the theme along with wearing their costume.
"Blessings" non-traditional Thanksgiving Meal
This holiday meal idea focuses on the best dishes by individual members of the family and close friends regardless what it is, with pictures taken of the person as they are preparing their favorite holiday non-traditional Thanksgiving food item. An annual Thanksgiving Day cook book can be made with everyone's recipe and picture for Thanksgiving, with the author as the home where the Thanksgiving meal is at.
For those who do not cook, they can brainstorm from their own Thanksgiving stories and add some humor to the family cookbook along with the recipes. Some of the stress of the holiday meal is reduced as everyone is bringing a fun dish instead of the majority of cooking falling on the one person.
Non-Traditional Thanksgiving dinner with a Chinese flair
Spicing up the traditional Thanksgiving meals can be easily done. One holiday idea is the famous Oriental Peking Duck coated in a honey/vinegar glaze before roasting; Wild Rice Stuffing with golden-berries, wild rice and soy sauce; Glazed Carrots mixed with Candied Sweet Potatoes; Stir-fry Spicy Sweet Potatoes cooked in a mixture of orange juice, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and chili paste; and Tomato-Egg Drop Soup. If you just want a touch of Chinese, cook the stuffing inside your turkey while also serving Candied Sweet Potatoes.
New Orleans Thanksgiving Meal
If traveling is in the making for Thanksgiving, New Orleans feasting and celebrations goes beyond the traditional Thanksgiving meal. They specialize in deep-fried Turkey or their famous Thanksgiving turduchen-a legendary New Orleans Thanksgiving dish. With the turduchen considered their most eclectic dish, it is a Cajun creation consisting of a de-boned chicken cooked inside a de-boned duck cooked inside a de-boned turkey.
But if you are unable to travel to New Orleans for the holiday and wish to enjoy this delicious and unique dish at home, many Internet companies will ship turduchens nationwide. To compliment both styles of their cooked Turkey, the city's creative stuffing is definitely New Orleans style with a cornbread stuffing, or Creole pork, oyster, shrimp, Jalapeno or crawfish dressing. The cavity of the chicken and any gap available is filled with whichever Creole Dressing is chosen.
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Meals
The vegetarian food ideas for a non-traditional Thanksgiving meal have become quite popular over the years as more and more people have changed to diets which do not include meat. One of the heartiest and filling vegetarian Thanksgiving dish is the Tofu Turkey (video on how to make it) with vegetarian dressing consisting of apples, onions and stuffing or one made from cream of mushroom soup, corn flake crumbs, mushrooms, green peppers, celery and onions.
Side dishes can be pumpkin, squash, or French Onion soup with Rice Salad, with breads consisting of corn bread or buttermilk biscuits. Some families choose Vegetable Lasagna which is quite delicious or Ratatouille. Of course, cranberry sauce or red cabbage with cranberries is used for traditional or non-traditional Thanksgiving meals, along with mashed potatoes and nut-based gravies. Mashed sweet potatoes or yams are also a good substitute for white mashed potatoes for those who are a little adventurous.
Desserts added to vegetarian food ideas for a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner really are no different than traditional desserts. It is simply a matter of choice, with apple pie and sweet potato pie favorites for any Thanksgiving meal. The same goes for Cranberry-Nut Bread or Cranberry Tart. Pumpkin Cheesecake has recently become very popular as a good substitute for the traditional Pumpkin Pie with some families serving both.
The 1621 feast constructed from original sources and historical research by the" Plimoth Plantation" today in MA:
Seethed [boiled] Lobster Roasted Goose Boiled Turkey Fricassee of Coney Pudding of Indian Corn Meal with dried Whortleberries Seethed Cod Roasted Duck Stewed Pumpkin Roasted Venison with Mustard Sauce Savory Pudding of Hominy Fruit and Holland Cheese