American Thanksgiving is one of my favourite traditions—there is nothing better than stuffing yourself with family and friends. It’s a big holiday for foodies like me and the days of preparation pay off with loved ones sitting around the table at the mother of all feasts.
The meal is a great deal of food to prepare in just one day, so it’s important to come up with a schedule and figure out what you can make in advance. When looking for the perfect recipes the two women I trust most are Martha Stewart and Ina Garten (the Barefoot Contessa).
Here are a few of my favourites:
Ina Garten’s Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Turkey
Roasting a turkey always takes longer than you think so make sure you leave plenty of time. It’s worth it to order an organic turkey from the butcher and I prefer a fresh turkey to a frozen one. With a good quality turkey there isn’t much you need to do to bring out the flavours and keep it moist.
Martha Stewart’s Macaroni and Cheese
This is one of my all-time favourite recipes—I can make this mac and cheese with my eyes closed. It’s a crowd-pleaser for both kids and adults. You can easily make it the night before and bake it on the day.
Martha Stewart’s Mushroom and Walnut Stuffing
You can’t have a Thanksgiving meal without the perfect stuffing. This is another recipe that you can prepare the night before and bake the next day.
Martha Stewart’s Triple-Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
I love this twist on the classic pumpkin pie, and you can’t get any better than chocolate and pumpkin!
Final Touches
Another ritual for me on Thanksgiving is a beautiful table setting. This simple and modern one is from Style Me Pretty—I love the glitz of the gold stemware paired with the rustic centerpiece.
In addition to preparing dishes in advance, another time-saving trick is to order some of the side dishes and desserts—you do want to be able to enjoy the day. Luckily there are enough expats in London so that ordering gourmet Thanksgiving food is right on our doorsteps. Two fantastic options for those of us who want to cheat are Baker and Spice and Whole Foods Kensington.
Baker and Spice do an amazing Thanksgiving menu and the desserts are the highlight. The best part is that you can order a roasted turkey in case your oven can’t fit one or if you simply don’t want the stress. There are cafes in Belgravia, Chelsea and Maida Vale where you can check out the selections.
Every time I walk into Whole Foods in Kensington I immediately feel transported back to America. It’s a great place to order your fresh turkey or even a cooked one. Their catering menu is huge, with lots of classic dishes.
With all of us running around all the time it is lovely to have a day to sit down and enjoy each other’s company over good food. We may be living in London but Thanksgiving is an American holiday tradition that I want my kids to experience and to give thanks for.
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