My Top 3: Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Who needs a main?

My Top 3 is a weekly post where I count down three things I love in a random category. This week, we’re looking at my top three Thanksgiving side dishes.

Four years ago, my family threw tradition to the wind and did Thanksgiving in Bermuda. We started that day with our toes in the pink sand beaches and ended the night with holiday dinner at the Princess Hotel in Hamilton. Dinner was delicious (particularly the extra nutty pecan pie) but the ratio was all off.

In this meal, the plate was dominated by three large slices of turkey. The meat was perfectly cooked with a moist interior and edge of crispy skin. A single line of gravy was streamed down the middle. Again, delicious, but all wrong. Also on the plate was a small scoop of mashed potatoes, a few vegetables, a hint of stuffing, and a thimble of cranberry sauce.

This is the exact opposite of how I build my own Thanksgiving plate. When I get my way, there’s a slice or two of turkey accompanied by mounds of sides. In fact, if there was no turkey at Thanksgiving, I wouldn’t care. I am perfectly content with a plate full of veggies, carbs, and other delicious accompaniments.