27 Comments
User's avatar
Sandra Serrano's avatar

I love this and wholeheartedly agree! My family is Puerto Rican, so I grew up eating both traditional "American" and Puerto Rican food on Thanksgiving. Didn't make Thanksgiving any less special. Variety is the spice of life...and Thanksgiving, it seems! 💖

Expand full comment
Sophia Wronsky's avatar

a Dutch oven pot pie Thanksgiving? now that's a centerpiece I can support

Expand full comment
Ellen Kornmehl MD's avatar

Agree-why not be creative and serve what and eat what your heart desires

Expand full comment
Amie McGraham's avatar

I’m using your recipes as a springboard for Christmas dinner ideas—my Thanksgiving menu mirrors my spouse’s ultra basic palate but the Christmas meal is unconventional and varies each year.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

Oh how fun! Do you usually have a group for Christmas, or is it just the two of you? The last couple of years, we've gotten bad Chinese food on Christmas day and this year I think I need to plan ahead and make something.

Expand full comment
Claudia Byers's avatar

I was immersed in tradition for many years and found it to be rather uninteresting! However, my immediate family wished for it every year so I continued with it. When my sons left home, I decided to alter tradition and establish my own. I even encouraged my boys to initiate their own family traditions. I'm so pleased I ventured out and discovered there is more freedom in expressing myself. My compliments to you, Rebecca, for doing what you feel is best.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

Thank you, my friend! If anyone in my family really wanted the traditional turkey, I'd happily make it for them. I know a lot of people that look forward to that traditional meal all year and would feel very sad if they didn't get it. No one in my immediate family feels that way, so we do what we want. What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year? Is someone cooking for you?

Expand full comment
Martina R. Williams's avatar

I’m with you, Rebecca! If my husband wasn’t so committed to turkey and stuffing I’d probably be making lasagna or carnitas. Great post validating the preferences of us non-traditionalists.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

I know a lot of people who would be devastated to not have a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Thankfully, none of them are in my immediate family. 😂

Expand full comment
Betty Williams's avatar

“Not every experience needs to be repeated.” LOVE this and needs to be on a coffee mug! My family is very tied to traditional foods for Thanksgiving and honestly I like it too. However I have a little bit of orneriness in me and like to mess around with some part of the meal 😂 So that usually means a very different side dish or crazy pie. This year it’s compound butters!

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

Haha! Glad that resonated with you! Sometimes I'm like, that was fine, but let's not do it again, ok?

I think for a lot of people, not having the traditional thanksgiving dishes they love would feel very sad. And sad is not what we're trying for. So the traditional meal lives on, as it should. :-) But, wow, I'll bet Thanksgiving at your house is delicious, especially with compound butters!

Expand full comment
Betty Williams's avatar

I’m sure it is also delicious at your home!!! Well, I’m also having plain butter as well so we shall see. It might just be me eating those compound butters 😂

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

Ha! There are worse things. 😂

Expand full comment
Julie McCoy's avatar

lol we used to have lasagna and turkey WITh all the sides. Talk about carb overload! Pasta, potatoes and stuffing??? 🤣This year? No family just me and the hubby and we are having FISH. Preferably swordfish. However, I will make a pumpkin pie because I love pumpkin and only made it for Thanksgiving.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

OMG! Pasta, potatoes, and stuffing sounds like an absolute dream for this carb lover! 😂 You know, I also almost always make a pumpkin pie. It's the only time of year we want it and we do miss it if I don't make it. I love that you're making fish this year! Especially if it's just the two of you -why not make exactly the meal you both want? Happy Thanksgiving!

Expand full comment
Nica Waters's avatar

Was just having a conversation with a friend who's already at the next atoll over. We're trying to decide on Thanksgiving given very limited availability of supplies, though hopefully the ship will come in in a few days bringing some. Hatched the idea of possibly getting together and serving favorites (that we have ingredients for, hah) and a bunch of appetizers. It'll be a new version of Thanksgiving with the important aspects of good company and good food!

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

How fun!!! A good meal with new friends on a boat in a gorgeous setting! I'm not sure anyone could have a better Thanksgiving than that! Sounds like heaven.

Expand full comment
Nica Waters's avatar

It might be the most "use what you have" Thanksgiving I've ever done, but we'll all eat well, if weirdly, and it will be a ton of fun. (Send wishes for veggies at the store tomorrow, please and thank you. I'm out of ginger, cabbage, potatoes, and only have one carrot left. Hahaha)

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

Sending all the well wishes and voodoo vibes I can muster that there will either be veggies at the store or that your one carrot gets busy and multiplies. 🤞

Expand full comment
Kerry Faber's avatar

Love these non-traditional ideas, which I would honestly eat any time of year! The Asian short ribs in particular are calling to me. 😊

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

I think my family would be perfectly content if I only made those for our family dinner from now until eternity.

Expand full comment
Kerry Faber's avatar

❤️❤️

Expand full comment
Wendy Hawkes's avatar

I'm here for the honest zesty writing and non-traditionalism, as well as the yummy food porn. And yes, I WOULD like some pizza with my pasta, please. 😋. Happy Thanksgiving 🍁

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

Haha! I knew you'd get it. Thank you for your kinds words of support, my friend. Happy Thanksgiving to you!!!

Expand full comment
Nicki Sizemore's avatar

"We all have our talents, our contributions to make and our roles to play. Creating and following rules and rituals, and preserving traditional structures are not mine." This hit me, somewhere deep. I love ritual and traditions, but I also love letting them go, or at least holding them lightly. This is a reminder to loosen my grip this season. ❤️

Expand full comment
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

I also love ritual and traditions, but I should not be entrusted with creating and maintaining them. I have too much of a drive to do things differently, too many new ideas for how to change everything. But, the only reason I have the freedom to change is because of all the ritual makers who hold up the world. We need each other.

Expand full comment
Robin Visser's avatar

Yum

Expand full comment