If you are in charge of the Thanksgiving menu this year you may be looking to shake it up a little bit. If you want to introduce new foods to your menu (and your family and friends) you may be wondering what are the most popular Thanksgiving foods? Popularity of Thanksgiving foods often depends on geographic location, personal preferences and availability of certain foods, but even with that there are some perennial favorites. Here are some tips on what are the most popular Thanksgiving foods (listed in no particular order) and how you can put them on your Thanksgiving menu-
1. Pecan pie-This southern dessert seems to be a must when it comes to Thanksgiving. If you want to change things up a bit, you can prepare a chocolate pecan pie. If your guests like the taste of bourbon, you can also make a bourbon pecan pie. Just remember to keep lots of whipped cream handy.
2. Apple Pie-Besides pumpkin pie this is perhaps the most traditional dessert to serve at Thanksgiving. There are so many different ways you can prepare apple pie, but a traditional apple pie seems to be the best choice for Thanksgiving and few would argue that changes need to be made. When serving apple pie, just be sure to have enough vanilla ice cream in the freezer.
3. Turkey Gravy-This is one of those foods you either love or hate. Many people choose not to serve it because they don’t want to have to deal with the turkey drippings. You can make it easy and just buy store bought. There are even containers that go straight into the microwave for easy heating.
4. Homemade Rolls-This could be possibly the most popular food at the Thanksgiving table. Most food experts say that it is worth it to prepare your own rolls from scratch since it is hard to duplicate the taste with store bought. You can even make them ahead of time and freeze them if you feel you won’t have enough time during the holidays.
5. Corn-This vegetable is one of the few traditional Thanksgiving foods. Most historical experts state that corn was served at the first Thanksgiving. When serving corn, it’s much better to start with frozen rather than canned corn. Frozen corn not only tastes better, but it’s healthier. If you can get homegrown, it’s even better.
6. Mashed Potatoes-Most people would say-What would a Thanksgiving table be without mashed potatoes? A great way to keep your mashed potatoes warm throughout the whole meal is to serve them from a slow cooker. They will stay nice and warm without completely drying out. If you want to change things up, you can always serve mashed sweet potatoes with toasted pecans, brown sugar, and butter.
7. Cornbread Dressing/Stuffing-This type of stuffing seems to remain popular from year to year on the Thanksgiving table. While some people swear by stuffing, truthfully, it’s safer to serve dressing. Keep in mind that by the time stuffing is done, your turkey may be dry. For an exciting change don’t be afraid to add ingredients that you haven’t before. For example, add toasted pecans, apples, or dried cherries.
8. Cranberry Sauce-Surprisingly despite numerous recipes the most popular version of this Thanksgiving food comes in a can. Of course, that really isn’t a bad thing. Canned cranberry sauce is easy, tasty, and affordable. Just be sure to buy several cans because the leftovers can be used in several delicious ways.
9. Pumpkin Pie-It seems that there are two foods people think of when they think of Thanksgiving. One of those popular foods is pumpkin pie. If you want to make your pumpkin pie even more decadent, try making cinnamon whipped cream for the top.
10. Turkey-The big winner in popularity is without a doubt the turkey. It just would not be Thanksgiving without turkey. While roast turkey still remains the most popular, don’t be afraid to try grilling or frying your turkey. Just be sure to follow all the safety precautions
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