Whether you’re preparing a traditional Thanksgiving feast for your family or hosting a small Friendsgiving dinner with a few special friends, we have a collection of holiday recipes that are sure to please your guests. You’ll find holiday favorites such as apple and pecan pies (including a recipe for gluten-free pie crust), a helpful reference guide for roasting turkey, stuffing recipes, and lots of recipes for savory side vegetable dishes and condiments. Not enough time to do it all yourself? Many of our farmers and vendors offer a wide selection of tasty, ready-to-go items.
Easy Snacks and Appetizers
Tired of the old family standby appetizer of chips and dip? Make your holiday easier and purchase a selection of local artisan cheeses from Schoch Family Farmstead or Rocky Oaks Goat Creamery for a delicious cheese platter— and don’t forget an assortment of Foustman’s Salami! Add roasted or flavored nuts from Stackhouse Orchards, Manzanita Manor Organics, or Minazzoli Farms.
And, here are a few easy appetizer ideas to consider:
- Fig and Toasted Walnut Tapenade with Goat Cheese
- Pomegranate Salsa
- Sweet and Spicy Roasted Almonds
- Almond Pâté
- Spinach and Fennel Stuffed Mushrooms
- Vegan Spinach Dip
- Butternut Squash Ravioli with Peppery Pomegranate Sauce
- Pumpkin Ravioli with Walnut Cream Sauce
- Caramelized Onions and Balsamic Vinegar Bruschetta
- Vanilla Poached Pears with Blue Cheese and Walnuts
- Stilton Cheese Gateaux with Onion Pear Relish
- Pan Toasted Brie with Pomegranate-Raspberry Sauce
- Herbal Cheese Spread
- Shrimp Cocktail with Persimmon Pomegranate Salsa
- Spinach Salad with Persimmon and Pomegranate Seeds
Soup or Salad First Courses
Since there is so much food for the Thanksgiving dinner, soup and salads may not be on the menu — but it’s a great way to tame the masses while finishing last-minute baking! Sometimes we pass soup served in cups after the appetizers if everyone arrives early or if last-minute cooking is taking longer than usual!
- Pumpkin Soup
- Artichoke Sourdough Bisque
- Onion and Apple Cider Soup with Blue Cheese Croutons
- Roasted Chile Poblano Soup
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Turkey — Fresh or Smoked
Fresh organic turkeys are available at Corralitos Market and Sausage Company! Order early – Dave has fresh turkeys available from 10 – 30 lbs., and his helpful staff will give you cooking guidelines. Dave also offers fully cooked smoked turkeys, available in two sizes (large or small), that can also be shipped anywhere in the US. To place your order, call Corralitos Market at (831) 722.2633. You can also order other smoked specialty products like their famous smoked and fresh sausages, hams, smoked salmon, spare ribs, and bacon.
How to Roast a Turkey
Take the guesswork out of cooking a fresh turkey and use our handy turkey roasting guide.
Give the dry-brining technique a try — a dry-brined turkey takes a few days — but the results are so worth it! This method practically guarantees a moist, flavorful, turkey that is not dry and overcooked — and as an added bonus, it takes much less time to cook. Watch: How to Dry-Brine a Turkey
Stuffing and Dressing
You can easily pick up all of the makings for your favorite stuffing or dressing at the market. Start with bread from Companion Bakeshop or Beckmann’s – Francese, ciabatta, and sourdough bread are excellent for stuffing. Mora Family Farms has farm-fresh chicken or duck eggs, and you’ll find herbs, nuts, onions, and veggies plentiful at the farmer’s market.
- Traditional Bread Stuffing
- Sausage Cranberry Bread Stuffing
- Wild Rice, Sausage, and Apple Stuffing
- Pumpkin and Wild Rice Bread Pudding
- Stuffing with Blueberries, Mushrooms, and Nuts
- Spinach, Mushroom, and Pistachio Stuffing
Gravy
If you have time a week or two before the big day, here’s our favorite rich chicken stock to make from scratch. This is the secret to flavorful gravy. And here’s a tip: buy a few pounds of turkey wings. Place on a baking sheet, baste with some melted butter or olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and roast at 400 degrees until the skin is crispy and golden brown. Add the roasted parts and pan juice to the chicken stock and simmer for a couple of hours — instant roasted turkey flavor for your dressing or gravy!
Here’s a video about how to make perfect gravy: How to Make Perfect Gravy
Bread and Rolls
There’s not a more welcoming aroma than the smell of bread or dinner rolls baking and what better way to greet your guests? In our family, it’s a tradition to serve warm, fresh-from-the-oven homemade rolls — even if we have to wait a bit longer for dinner due to lack of oven space! Quick bread like popovers, cornbread, or biscuits can be baked while the turkey rests before dinner.
- Old Fashioned Pan Rolls
- Brown Butter Maple Cornbread
- Cheesy Chive Biscuits
- Cream Biscuits
- Popovers
- Sweet Cornbread Muffins
- Angel Biscuits
- Corny Cornbread Muffins
If you’re not inclined to bake, Beckmann’s Bakery, Bay Living Culinary, Sweet Elena’s Bakery, and Companion Bakeshop offer a wide selection of freshly baked rolls and bread. Be sure to place your order early.
Vegetables and Side Dishes
If the standard green-bean-and-onions casserole doesn’t do it for you these days, roasted root vegetables complement roasted turkey very well. Here are a few suggestions from our chefs.
- Spinach Gratin
- Maple Sugar Roasted Kabocha
- Cheese and Bacon Cauliflower Casserole
- Collard Greens with Garlic and Croutons
- Savory Pumpkin Garlic Flan
- Beer-Braised Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Sauce
- Brined and Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Honey Glaze
- Braised Cipollini Onions with Orange and Balsamic Vinegar Glaze
- Butternut Squash Gratin
- Delicata Squash and Apple Sauté
- Wine Braised Cabbage with Apples and Chestnuts
- Roasted Fall Vegetables
- Collard Greens Chiffonade with Orange Balsamic Glaze
- Potato, Parsnip, Rutabaga Casserole with Caramelized Onions
- Baby Beets Glazed with Orange, Vanilla, and Cardamom
For more side dish ideas, here’s our complete list of sides! And, this year, Bay Living Culinary is offering a menu of traditional side dishes that can be ordered and picked up at the Aptos Farmers Market.
Condiments and Relishes
Add pizzazz to the traditional dinner by serving a couple of interesting chutneys or relishes along with cranberry sauce.
- Cranberry Chutney
- Spicy Fresh Pomegranate Relish
- Cranberry Port Sauce
- Amen Bee Honey Cranberry Sauce
- Farmhouse Apple Chutney
- Fresh Fig Chutney
- Quince Chutney
- Candied Quince
Dessert
Every family seems to have a favorite handed-down, memorable Thanksgiving dessert. For most, pie is the reigning queen of desserts! However, making pies from scratch can be challenging if you’re expecting a house full of guests. You can buy scrumptious pies and tarts with all the homemade goodness from Sweet Elena’s Bakery, Companion Bakeshop, and Beckmann’s Bakery. Be sure to stop by their booths at the farmers’ markets and place your orders early.
If you’re ready to bake pies from scratch, here are a few of our favorites to try! The vegan desserts are big hits with non-vegans, too.
- 10 Tips for Making Perfect Pie Crust
- Pear Custard Pie
- Lard Pie Crust
- Gluten-Free Pie Crust
- Ultimate Apple Pie
- Southern Pecan Pie
- Sarah’s Pumpkin Pie
- Rich Chocolate Walnut Pie
- Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
- Dried Apricot Pie
- Vegan Chocolate Silk Pie
- Raisin Pear Pie
- Buttermilk Pecan Pie
- Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie
- Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
- Baked Pears with Caramel Sauce
- Chocolate Torte with Dates and Dried-Cherries
- Creamy Pumpkin Flan with Caramel
- Persimmon Pudding
- Gluten-Free Coconut Chocolate Chewies
Gather your family and cherished friends around the table, be grateful, and celebrate the abundance of our local harvest. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!