Favourite Thanksgiving Recipes to Enjoy

Thanksgiving, a weekend of friends and family gathering, delicious food and having a little of gratitude for the blessings in your life. We’ve pulled together some favourite recipes from our partners that will pair well with any thanksgiving fare. Whether you are hosting some family at your place, or need a dish to bring for potluck, we’ve got you covered for the vegetarian aunt, the fussy toddler, or the hungry husband.  

Starting with dessert, these cupcakes recommended by Jenn Dyck with Canola Eat Well are a fan favorite. Jenn loves everything a Thanksgiving meal has to offer and will keep a little room for dessert for what she titles “ a sweet ending”. Jenn notes,  “using canned pumpkin puree makes for a decadent, rich and flavorful batter that works well with canola oil to stay moist, tender and maintain flavours that pop.”

 Ingredients for Pumpkin Cupcakes with Spiced Cream Cheese Icing:

·        All-purpose flour

·        Baking powder

·        Baking soda

·        Cinnamon

·        Ground ginger

·        Nutmeg

·        Salt

·        Brown sugar

·        Canola oil

·        Eggs

·        Vanilla extract

·        Buttermilk

·        Pureed pumpkin

·        Cream cheese

·        Canola margarine

·        Confectioner’s sugar

Check out the Canola Eat Well website for the full recipe:  https://canolaeatwell.com/recipe/pumpkin-cupcakes-with-spiced-cream-cheese-icing/

If you are looking to change up the traditional turkey or want something that adds a fruity sweet flavour to a traditional savoury meal, try this Orange Cranberry Pork Loin Roast. Darcy Fitzgerald, with Alberta Pork says, “Pork loin is delicious, lean and priced right for your Thanksgiving dinner.”

 Darcy also provides the following tips for cooking pork “ don’t over cook the pork loin, a little pink with clear juices is good”. He also adds “browning your pork at the start enhances the flavour, and salt and pepper is all the spice you need.”

 Check out this recipe from the Cookie Rookie for a simple to follow recipe for Orange Cranberry Pork Loin Roast.  https://www.thecookierookie.com/orange-cranberry-pork-loin-roast-recipe/    

If you have someone that is vegetarian joining you for dinner, or maybe just want a hearty side, Debra McLennan with Alberta Pulse Growers recommends their Chickpea, Barley and Vegetable Stew. She says “it’s a keeper! The stew is a great entrée for vegetarians and can also be a side dish at the Thanksgiving table.”

 The meat-less eaters will also appreciate the thoughtfulness you’ve put into making a dish that is full of flavour and plant-based protein. Even if you are not vegetarian, you’ll enjoy this satisfying stew.

Ingredients for Chickpea Barley Vegetable Stew

·        Canola oil

·        Yellow onion

·        Garlic cloves

·        Paprika

·        Cumin

·        Coriander

·        Turmeric

·        Allspice

·        Cayenne pepper

·        White potatoes

·        Pearl barley

·        Seedless raisins

·        Fennel bulb

·        1 can (19 oz/540 mL) chickpeas

·        1 can (14 oz/398 mL) tomatoes

·        Vegetable broth

Full recipe on the Alberta Pulse Growers website at: https://albertapulse.com/recipe/chickpea-barley-vegetable-stew/

Jaime Elias with Alberta Milk says one of her favourite dishes at Thanksgiving is a Golden Gruyere Gratin. You can make this dish ahead to save time and reduce the stress of cooking. Jaime says this dish is not only easy to make, but also tastes delicious. The recipe for Golden Gruyere Gratin can be found on the Alberta Milk website at: https://albertamilk.com/recipes/golden-gruyere-gratin/

Credits:

Written By: Carrie Selin

Photo of Family Dinner: Alberta Pork

Photo of Chickpea Stew: Alberta Pulse Growers

Date: October 8, 2021