Our Favorite Thanksgiving Treats
Glenn, Vice President of Research & Analysis: Pumpkin Cannolis
Our Thanksgiving meal is always centered around the Traditional Turkey with all of the trimmings. The meal expands to be a bit more eclectic to include Lasagna, Butternut Squash Tortelloni, Sushi, Potato Latkes, and many more dishes that change year to year.
But my favorite treat is a twist on a traditional Italian dessert, Cannolis. I really enjoy the Pumkin Cannolis that we get which combines something familiar with the flavors of the seasons.
Wendy, Client Services Manager: Special Mashed Potatoes
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. In addition to Thanksgiving itself, we celebrate a number of family anniversaries and birthdays giving the holiday extra joy. We start the meal late afternoon, have an overload of appetizers and specialty drinks, and eat and drink and play games while watching football.
Although I love the appetizers and could make them my only dinner, my favorite part of the traditional meal is our family's mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes are on most people’s tables, so this may not seem unique, but our holiday mashed potatoes are quite different. First, there is the secret ingredient of cream cheese. Second, it is the addition of extra heavy whipping cream. Third, it is the twice baking. Yum! These potatoes have a twice-baked crust with a creamy and delicious whipped texture that makes each bite delectable. We only have these mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving, as they are truly a treat, and they remain the one part of the meal that is on the table year after year, no matter how much our holiday has changed with the times.
Cindy, Investment Professional: Homemade Pies
Every year I continue the tradition my grandmother started with homemade pies. I give the usual apple pie a twist by making a French Apple Tart. A soft sweet dough, layer of sweetened cream cheese, tart apples topped with sliced almonds.
We’ll never forget one Thanksgiving, passing slices of pie down the table to family members & the slice of pie, topped with whipped cream slid off the plate, flipped upside down onto my grandfather’s lap!
Stacy, Chief Operating Officer: Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Our traditional family Thanksgiving begins at 11 am when all of our out-of-town family travel to be together. We begin with bagels and spreads, work up to appetizers, and then by 4 pm we’re eating our Thanksgiving meal.
My sweet and sour meatballs are a family favorite and of course, much to the annoyance of my three sons, there is always the obligatory family picture.
Scott, President: Leftover Thanksgiving Sandwiches
During the month of November we have a decorative turkey where the feathers are all the things we are thankful for. On a daily basis, we each take a feather and a Sharpie and fill them in. At dinner, we pluck them from the turkey, read them aloud, and try and figure out who wrote them.
We really love all of the traditional foods but leftover Thanksgiving sandwiches top the list.
Melanie, Employee Benefits Manager: Root Vegetable Gratin
Thanksgiving is such a special time in our house. We host our family every year and we look forward to 3 pm when everyone arrives.
We start the dinner with appetizers and then usually a homemade soup followed by the traditional Thanksgiving meal with tons of side dishes. One of my favorite side dishes to make (and eat!) is the root vegetable gratin. It’s loaded with fall root vegetables like sweet potatoes, parsnips, and celery root and then finished with heavy cream and Gruyère cheese. It’s comforting and delicious and because we only have it on Thanksgiving day I look forward to it each year!