For Millikin students, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reconnect with family and take a much-needed break before finals. But the main thing we’re looking forward to isn’t the company.
It’s the food.
In preparation for the break, I made a list of Thanksgiving foods, from ones I despise to ones I can’t get enough of.
- Turkey
I know, I know, the “main dish” at most Thanksgiving dinners across the U.S. is turkey. But personally, I find turkey to be a bland and boring tradition that could be skipped altogether. No matter how it is cooked, it remains flavorless and dry.
- Pumpkin pie
Pumpkin pie is meant to be a spiced and delicious dessert. But it has a horrible texture and tastes like a seasonal candle. Although some choose to indulge in these festive flavors, I am certainly not one of them.
- Mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes are seen as a Thanksgiving staple, often served with turkey and covered in gravy. But compared to other Thanksgiving foods, they are unnecessary.
You can have mashed potatoes any other day of the year. Why not eat other dishes that you only get once a year?
- Dinner rolls
Dinner rolls are delicious, and they can be paired with almost everything, but they aren’t specific to Thanksgiving. If you already have stuffing, do you really need more bread?
I’d say no. Skip the rolls and eat stuffing the one time a year you can.
- Green bean casserole
If green bean casserole is there, it will be eaten, but if it’s not, no one will miss it. There is nothing wrong with green bean casserole, but it is definitely not the main dish that people look forward to on Thanksgiving.
- Pecan pie
Pecan pie is a delicious dessert, as it is the perfect mix of crunchy pecans and caramelized filling. With whipped cream, it is the perfect mix of sweet and rich flavors.
You truly can’t go wrong with a slice of pecan pie.
- Sweet potato casserole
Sweet potato casserole is a must-have dish that features the perfect mix of sweet and savory. The brown sugar adds just enough sweetness to the sweet potatoes.
- Stuffing
Stuffing is the most important part of Thanksgiving, and it definitely deserves a spot at every table. Whether it is cornbread or bread stuffing, this hearty dish is delicious and has remained a staple for centuries.
- Cranberry sauce
Cranberry sauce is a must-have on Thanksgiving, and its refreshing flavor helps break up other carb-heavy dishes.
Its bright color adds the perfect variety of colors to your plate.
- Ham
Ham is much better than turkey.
It is a flavor-packed dish that is tender in the middle with a crispy outside. The honey-smoked flavor is amazing and allows for the ham to pair perfectly with other Thanksgiving dishes, like sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce.
Whether you like ham, turkey, or neither, Thanksgiving break is a great time to eat some delicious food. So kick back and relax because you deserve it.
