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For many people, Thanksgiving is one of the few chances we have all year to gather with our families or friends to share a delicious meal, give thanks for our blessings and soak up the joy of each other’s company. Over the years, families and groups of friends often develop their own special Thanksgiving traditions they bring out every year.

Rather than gatekeeping our most unique Thanksgiving traditions (because exclusivity is no fun), we’re sharing the details of our favorite rituals—from unusual recipe ideas to customs that are as distinctive as they are enjoyable. We hope these ideas leave you inspired to create your own unique traditions with your loved ones!

 

Great Grandma Switzer’s Thanksgiving Stuffing

(Submitted by Meta C., VP of Programming Operations of The Balancing Act)

Pre-heat oven 350 Degrees

  • 14 slices of bread (egg, white rye or wheat) dry in oven, tear or cut into small pieces. Set aside
  • Chop 2 large onions, 6-8 stalks of celery and mince turkey liver- set aside
  • Melt a stick of butter, sauté onions, celery and turkey liver only till tender 
  • Beat 4 eggs- set aside
  • Add sautéed veggies, eggs to bread mixture and lightly toss. Add 1/2-2 cup stock to moisten.
  • Season mixture to taste with sage, thyme, salt pepper fresh parsley-you can also use poultry season. 
  • Butter 9×13 Pyrex pan. Add mixture. 
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
  • Add turkey drippings on top and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes until golden crust forms.  
  • Serve with gravey, garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy! 

We also start our meal each one reflecting on what they are grateful for.

 

Sinfully Delicious Thanksgiving Appetizer

(Submitted by Elizabeth, E. Operations Manager of The Balancing Act)

Here is the recipe for my favorite Thanksgiving appetizer. These are a hit anywhere I take them 
😊

 Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites 

Preheat oven to 400* 

Ingredients

  • 2 sheets of store-bought refrigerated pie crust (I like Pillsbury)
  • One block of cream cheese- soften to room temperature
  • Cranberry sauce (This can be whatever kind you prefer- canned, homemade, smooth, whole-berry, whatever. You can also use other jam of your choice if your family doesn’t like cranberry)
  • One egg- separated
  • Optional:
    • Chipotle powder
    • Orange Zest
    • Green Onions

Instructions:

  • Unroll pie crusts and use a round cookie cutter (or cup) to cut 2-3” circles
  • Place pie crust rounds into a mini-muffin cup pan. Press them up sides to fit as needed.
  • Prick each crust round on the bottom and sides with a fork and brush with egg white.
  • Bake at 400* for around 8 minutes (a little less than the instructions on the crust box)
  • To make the filling:
    • In a bowl, mix cream cheese, egg yolk, a sprinkle of salt. This is where you can add the chipotle powder and orange zest if you choose. Mix with a mixer or by hand until everything is combined and smooth.
  • Take the baked pie cups out of the oven and add cream cheese mixture to each cup.
  • Top each cup with cranberry sauce.
  • Put the cups back in the oven and bake for another 8-ish minutes.
  • Transfer the cups to a pretty plate and garnish with chopped green onions (optional). 

You can eat these warm or at room temp!

 

A Different Kind of “Hunger Game”: May The Odds Be Ever in Your Flavor

(Submitted by Alex L., Director of Digital Marketing of The Balancing Act)

We have a family cage fight, and the winners get to eat. Losers do the dishes. 

 

Friendsgivings, Culture, and Kicking Off Christmas…Oh My! 

(Submitted by Chrystal M., Media Specialist of The Balancing Act)

We have a long history of “Friendsgivings” as we were transplants among many others, moving to a new state. So, we grew to love lounging in our sweatpants or whatever comfy attire we enjoy. It was potluck style, so we tried many different traditions from across the globe. And we always finish the evening with the first Christmas movie of the season (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation) and wine. All is right in the world!

 

Traditional…With A Twist

(Submitted by Claire M., Marketing Manager of The Balancing Act)

My family does the “traditional” thanksgiving meal, but we add crabcakes and mac & cheese to the menu. We also take the first 15 minutes of the dinner to talk about what we are grateful for that happened within the past year. 

 

Looking for additional Thanksgiving inspiration? We have you covered! Enjoy these stories:

Quick Bytes: Kentucky Legend Thanksgiving Recipes

Ingrid Hoffmann Elevates Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving Special: Delicious Recipes and Healthy Alternatives

Credits: Ian Jones & Wikimedia Commons

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