21 Nov
Pear and Butternut Squash Soup
It’s Thanksgiving menu planning time! We’re hosting another couple with one baby the same age as ours, and I’m thinking I’ll contribute the following:
Spinach, cranberry, walnut, goat cheese salad
Focaccia
Butternut squash lasagna
Green beans
Apple pie crisp
My friend is going to take care of some of the more traditional stuff like mashed potatoes and pumpkin roll. Notice anything missing from the list? No turkey! I only want the heritage pasture-raised incredibly expensive kind, and so we’re going to go turkey-free this year. Don’t worry, I checked with our friends and they are up for a vegetarian take on Thanksgiving.
If you’re having a hard time figuring out a menu for Thursday, I highly recommend this Roasted Butternut Squash and Pear soup. I don’t think T1 has ever liked anything better than this, and he’s constantly running over to the fridge and pointing to the container to tell me he wants more of this particular nom-nom. You’ll like it too, it’s one of the most candy-like soups I’ve ever tasted.
Do tell, what is your Thanksgiving menu looking like?
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
The Times has an ongoing feature this month: “Well’s Vegetarian Thanksgiving 2011″ with loads of different really scrumptious vegetarian recipes:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/11/01/health/20111101_vegetarian_thanksgiving.html
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Jenna Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 11:19 am
I want to make every single thing on that list.
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We are getting a fresh, free-range, hormone free turkey from Sunflower Market (very similar to Sprouts) for $1.50/lb. Better than nothing! Thanksgiving just isn’t the same without turkey to me-my family loves it and we plan to take home the leftovers from my parent’s house! I’m excited we found a fresh one-I wanted to try Pioneer Woman’s brine!
Since I’m due pretty soon, I’m contributing a few things and my parents/in-laws are making the rest:
-Sparkling Cranberry Cider (since I’m missing out on wine until baby gets here!)
-Artichoke Sourdough stuffing
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/holidays/artichoke-parmesan-sourdough-stuffing-2/
-Cranberry sauce (this recipe is awesome-it has whiskey, but it should have mostly cooked out. Made it last night)
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/salads/kicked-up-cranberry-sauce/
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Jenna Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 11:15 am
Sparkling cider! I need to add that to my list.
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That looks quite good! My husband requested a “seafood soup” so we are doing crab bisque for our soup. (We are from Maryland so the seafood part makes a little more sense.)
I found local turkeys that weren’t too pricey, but they are still the broad-breasted white-after having a heritage breed several years ago (Bronzeback I believe…that is a breed they had here in colonial times!), I know it won’t be the same.
Next year, when we have more space and time, we want to recreate a local version of the first thanksgiving. Venison and wild turkey, shellfish, Native vegetable dishes etc.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Jenna Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 11:29 am
I love the idea of a local Thanksgiving. Not just trying to eat localganic, but trying to research what a typical meal was several hundred years ago. I’m filing this idea away for future Thanksgivings
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When you say candy like, do you mean it is really sweet?
We’re going pesce-vegetarian for our Thanksgiving (husband is a vegetarian, I don’t like turkey, and I don’t feel like eating an entire chicken or ham myself).
Our menu:
Zucchini Patties
(http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/vegetarian-comfort-food-at-thanksgiving/)
Cornbread stuffing
Al Gratin Potatoes
Fried Catfish
Cranberry Sauce (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cranberry-Sauce/Detail.aspx)
Green Beans
Apple Pie
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Jenna Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 11:15 am
Yes, incredibly sweet. Roasting the pears really brings it out.
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I love a good butternut squash soup! The squash has such a lovely velvety texture!
The only two things I eat on Thanksgiving are turkey and mashed potatoes. But I’ll also be whipping up sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping (a lot of people seem to dislike this, but my husband loves it!), stuffing, cranberry sauce, and a big green salad with fresh fruit and candied nuts.
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5We already celebrated Thanksgiving (I’m Canadian) but our menu involved a turkey pot pie, tourtiere, carrot ginger soup, turnip casserole, brussel sprouts with water chestnuts, garlic whipped potatoes, homemade gravy, and my gran’s cranberry orange relish. And more desserts than anyone anticipated.
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6I have no idea…whatever restaurant JJ’s family chooses in NYC! We fly in at 1 pm on Thanksgiving. I’ll let you know
.
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Life on Mulberry Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Oh oh! I just discovered a cute little restaurant that you can suggest (not just for Thanksgiving!) that will make you look like a local! It’s called Freeman’s, and it’s down a tiny alley in the lower east side. It’s an old house, all lit up with Christmas lights, and it’s at the end of this random alley. It’s becoming more popular for brunch, though I’ve only been for dinner. They said the wait was 90 minutes, but all the tables upstairs are first come, first served, and we sat right away…
Sorry for the unsolicited enthusiastic advice
I love talking up NYC to visitors!!
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Kelli Nicole Reply:
November 21st, 2011 at 10:21 pm
Thanks! I love unsolicited travel advice!
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Oooh that soup looks really good. I’ll have to bookmark that recipe!
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8We’re going very traditional. Got a turkey (fully cooked, yay!), sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, etc. However, I will be making crème brûlée for dessert!
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9Is your sis staying for the holiday? Do you and TH plan on any kind of traditions with your kids related to the holiday? Thinking stuff like watching Macy’s Parade on TV, thanksgiving tree (where you write notes and hang from branches like Abbie’s blog), that kind of thing…?
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10Just your typical Thanksgiving meal around here, though scaled down just a bit since I think it will just be the four of us - really only 2 1/2 of us (the 1/2 being Kyle and Grant does not anything on that list!).
Turkey stuffed with oranges and apples
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Glazed Carrots
Cranberry Sauce
Just the basics as you can see! My family always makes Strawberry Pretzel Salad, but I’m afraid I’d eat the whole thing since we aren’t having family in, but I love that stuff!
If I didn’t have turkey on Thanksgiving it wouldn’t be too big of deal - my favorites are all the sides anyway - though with the leftover turkey and cranberry sauce I make Cranberry Turkey Enchiladas.
http://www.recipegirl.com/2008/10/20/cranberry-turkey-enchiladas/
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Katy Reply:
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:08 am
…does not “eat” anything…I mean!
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Katy Reply:
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:10 am
Oh! Forgot the pumpkin pie! I’ll either make it myself or Sam’s Club has the Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory. Normally we always make our own desserts, but again, I just don’t want to work all that hard this year!
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We’re gathering with friends too, so all I have to provide are the homemade rolls and pies - my favorite! I know there will be a turkey…
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12we’re having the traditional thanksgiving meal with my in-laws. i’m bringing roasted brussel sprouts, homemade whole wheat rolls, roasted sweet potato cubes, fruit salad and a green salad- in fact, the same one you mentioned. what dressing are you using? or do you have a homemade recipe you’re willing to share?
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Jenna Reply:
November 22nd, 2011 at 8:37 pm
Oh yes, my favorite recipe (the only salad dressing I keep in the house
)
https://thatwifeblog.com/2009/08/pear-and-spinach-salad/
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Allison Reply:
November 23rd, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Thanks Jenna! By the way, I just finished making that soup. I think that’s the best soup I have ever tasted! I licked the bowl clean…
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Jenna Reply:
November 23rd, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Yes! I’m so happy to hear someone tried it. You can see why the baby is constantly asking for it
.
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alli Reply:
November 23rd, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Yes, absolutely! I fed it to my 13 month old after he woke up from his nap. He’s also a fan
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Unfortunately I’m working (2nd shift) so no real Thankfsgiving for me. I am however making a corn pudding recipe from a local restaurant that my husband will be taking down to his family. As for me, I’m not sure what I’ll eat yet. Maybe a pumpkin soup with some corn pudding?
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14I’m making a sweet potato lasagna for thanksgiving with the in-laws, along with stuffed mushrooms and brussels sprouts. Since nobody in his family cares about eating localganic, and there are a ton of people, I sold out and got the sprouts and mushrooms from Costco, and everything else from the grocery store. I feel like it’s more worth it to save our money for when it’s just us and we really care about eating localganic. Is that really selfish of me?
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Jenna Reply:
November 25th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
If it is selfish, I’m in your little selfish club as well. When I make potluck food for church events and such, it comes from Costco.
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In Canada we have out Thanksgiving in October (likely due to the fact that for the majority of Canada we usually are covered in snow come take November). This was our first Thanksgiving as Vegetarians and I didn’t miss the turkey at all. The family went over to my in-laws’ place and we had a potluck style dinner. I brought a butternut squash soup, brother-in-law made a nutloaf for us vegetarians, sister-in-law did the yams, and my mother-in-law provided the turkey for the meat eaters.
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16I’ve been wanting to make this soup for a long time, but just got around to it last night. It’s fantastic! Love the addition of roasted pears. It’s not exactly soup weather here anymore (nearly 80 degrees!), so today I ate it cold with cottage cheese mixed in. I know it sounds strange, but it was delicious. Thank you for introducing me to this recipe!!
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