Sick of Turkey? Here are 5 Awesome Thanksgiving Alternatives!
While Thanksgiving dinner is traditionally turkey time, this big bird isn’t to everyone’s taste! At The Shores, we say that you only live once – and that means you deserve a Thanksgiving meal that’s delicious in every way. Here are some alternative ideas to traditional turkey dinners from our assisted living team in Cape May County to tempt your tastebuds, wow your guests and keep your table as festive as ever.
#1 – Roast Pork Loin with Pancetta and Sage
If you want an entree with the big roast appeal of a turkey that’s bursting with flavor, juicy, and tender, then this is a great option. Pork loin, a crowd-pleasing favorite that ticks all the boxes as a special holiday meal, is substantial enough to satisfy any appetite! This recipe is by one of the queens of cooking, Martha Stewart, so it’s tried-and-tested as well as being impressive to serve to all your guests.
#2 – Cranberry Pot Roast
If you find turkey too dry and uninspiring, you’ll love this tender, juicy pot roast recipe! This surprisingly easy recipe (although there is considerable cooking time, so plan ahead) delivers a rich and warming wintery feast. The cranberries and port turn into a thick, luxurious sauce and the finished product pulls apart for easy serving. It is the perfect accompaniment to mashed potatoes and will quickly become your family’s favorite turkey alternative.
#3 – A Seafood Feast
Did you know that lobster was served at the First Thanksgiving in 1621? That’s a pretty good reason to put seafood on the menu! Don’t worry, because lobster isn’t your only option. We love this recipe for a whole roasted salmon with orange butter glaze. It’s fancy, it’s festive and it’s much easier than it looks, which is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to spend their whole day in the kitchen.
#4 – Individual Stuffed Acorn Squash
Fall and Thanksgiving are synonymous with some of the best vegetables of the year, so why not make them a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner? This recipe for individual stuffed acorn squash is a wonderful combination of earthy squash, sweet apples, herbs, maple syrup, and cornbread stuffing, bringing all the best flavors of the fall together. And because these are all such seasonal items, you’ll have no trouble finding all the best ingredients in your local stores.
#5 – Cornish Game Hens
Want this year’s Thanksgiving to be extra special? Individual Cornish game hens are a wonderful option for a grown-up Thanksgiving dinner, providing a real wow-factor for your guests. They’re simpler to make than you think and cook much faster than turkey or large cuts of meat because of their smaller size. This is a great recipe that combines these flavorful birds with morels, leeks and dry Riesling for a crispy, juicy result.
Thanksgiving at Our Assisted Living Community in Cape May County
At The Shores, we love the holiday season more than any time all year! Since 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone in our community and our residents’ families, we’re working extra hard to make this year a truly special one that embodies the love, joy, and generosity of the season. We’ve got plenty of plans in place to decorate our spaces, create a Thanksgiving dinner to remember, to help our residents enjoy the holiday, and to share it with loved ones in any way possible under the current COVID-19 measures.
To find out more about our plans for Thanksgiving or other assisted living services in Cape May County, NJ, please contact us today.
