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THANKSGIVING

Homemade Roasted Thanksgiving Day Turkey with all the Sides

Thanksgiving is more than turkey—it’s a time to reflect and express gratitude for all we have. This traditionally includes friend and family gatherings with plenty of delicious food and drinks. With the myriad dietary preferences popular in today’s world, savvy operators will offer a wide range of side dishes and alternate mains to please a crowd.

  • Orange vegetables. Now is the ideal time to serve on-trend dishes such as hot honey-glazed carrots, mashed sweet potatoes with bacon-herb crumble, Hasselback Butternut squash and orange baby beet salad.
  • Leafy greens. Heartier lettuces are most appropriate in seasonal and holiday salads. Think collards, kales, and cabbages as add-ins to arugula, butter lettuce, and romaine.
  • Cruciferous sides. Charred broccoli, shaved Brussels sprouts, crumbled cauliflower—these healthy ingredients add texture and layers of flavor.
  • Sweet & savory. Traditional Thanksgiving fruits such as cranberries, oranges, and pomegranate seeds cut the fat and carbs in stuffings, gratins, and mashes.

SEASONAL PRODUCE CHECKLIST

  • Orange vegetables: RSS Carrots, MFC Carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squashes.
  • Leafy greens: RSS Harvest Crisp Blend, RSS Bistro Butter Blend, RSS Heritage Blend, and RSS Urban Blend.
  • Cruciferous sides: RSS Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets, RSS Brussels Sprouts Halves, RSS Shredded Kale, and RSS Cabbage.
  • Sweet & savory: RSS Orange Sections, MFC Oranges, MFC Lemons, blackberries, and cranberries, pomegranates

Diners are increasingly hyper-focused on high-protein and plant-based foods. Alongside all of the new-fangled, lab-based, cell-cultured options out there is the humble bean. A staple food for millenia, beans are being re-examined as a healthy, versatile ingredient worthy of menu inclusion.

  • Retro and heirloom recipes—like Southern succotash, French cassoulet, and Cajun red beans and rice—fit the bill for those in search of authenticity.
  • Most world cuisines incorporate some type of bean in their classic dishes. Think feijoada in Brazil, black beans and rice with plantains in Puerto Rico, and garbanzo beans in Israel. Modern interpretations of these recipes are packed with produce and herbs.
  • The creamy texture of mung beans is proving an ideal substitute for those that are eliminating soy from their diets.