Photo l Felicia D’Ambrosio

This was only one table of the spread last year

T-day is just around the corner, procrastinators. Whether you’re hosting the big feed or trekking out to Grandma’s, it is time to get your shop on. Acme and Whole Foods have already descended into Lord of the Flies-style madness; DiBruno Brothers is more Apocalypse Now.  Still, arriving right at opening hour keeps you ahead of the worst of the fray, along with arming yourself with detailed lists of to-dos and things you need to beg, borrow or buy before Thursday (as well as a protective bubble of patience and/or well-developed appreciation for chaos).

Just in case you’re still stumped on what to offer your loved ones this holiday, we’ve pulled our most holiday-appropriate SUPPER recipes and tricks from the archives.  Check it out:

• Butternut (or Kabocha) squash soup gets spiked with garam masala and apple cider vinegar in a first-course recipe that’s incidentally vegan

• Massaging a kale salad can help relieve turkey anxiety. A little salt and olive oil breaks down the superfood for raw eating; add seasonal treats like toasted pine nuts, sliced kumquats or pomegranate seeds to this healthy green side that takes up zero space on the stovetop (vegetarian)

• My great-grandmother invented a  stuffing that has traveled the word. Bacon, celery, onions, parsley, white bread and a clutch of eggs make this savory bread pudding the highlight of the meal and everyone’s most-wanted take home item

• Don’t forget about the bread, which you can make the day before and smash into the oven for ten minutes to warm when the guests arrive.  Try classic, gruyere-rich gougeres to butter your family into good behavior, or a batch of savory muffins (we like rosemary-Parmigiano) that add a homey touch to the table.

Thanksgiving from the archives

This entry was posted on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 5:35 pm and is filed under Food and Holidays, Recipes, SUPPER. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.