Giulia, how is it that you, an Italian, can write so beautifully and expressively in English?! I so enjoy your writing, and hope that someday you can indeed experience a true American Thanksgiving. Ironically our gathering of family and friends around the table on that day reminds me greatly of the gathering of family and friends around the table that I’ve seen every Saturday and Sunday when I’m in Italy!
I always vary my menu at Thanksgiving- Before retiring, Thursday was usually a workday for me, getting home after 7pm, so a complete traditional dinner was impossible. From a Chinese friend I learned how to steam a bird before roasting, which cuts the cooking time in half and leaves the meat juicy. But the 2 mainstays are always stuffing made with chestnuts & apples and herbs and pumpkin cheesecake.
I took you at your suggestion to comment early about a dish I’m expected ;) to make every Thanksgiving to accompany our Italian-herbed smoked brined turkey. We actually prefer the sandwiches open-faced like tartines. We’re ok I’m not a gravy lover.
My mother came to this country (I can’t write “US” anymore :() as a young child with her Mom and a few siblings from Naples, not the Florida one.
So my nonnegotiable dish is Cranberry Fig Pistachio Chutney from Madhur Jaffrey. The one with a good amount of fresh ginger, one large onion diced, a whole cubed naval orange 🍊 with really deep color and taste, 1tsp each of spices cinnamon, cayenne, dry mustard, chopped light dried figs, sugar (I put about a 1 1/2 cup it needs it but you only eat a few spoonfuls so...) , mixed light raisins (it’s a chutney, they’re really pretty with the cranberries). I think that’s it, salt 1 tsp. From memory ;)
I cook it in a 5 at Le Creuset. All together only until the cranberries mostly pop.
Add toasted pistachios when cooler.
Makes like 5 pts pretty jars. Wonderful to bring as a hostess gift. Lasts months and months in frig never spoils it’s chutney.
My husband Jim adores it on a chicken sandwich or another sliced cold meat. Of course Turkey. Gorgeous at Christmas or any Holiday on Brie!
Thanks for sharing your Friendsgiving ideas. For years, we did the traditional turkey with dressing, gravy, yams, etc., etc., My husband is not a lover of turkey, so several years ago we switched to a beef standing rib roast. We still do dressing in muffin cups and this year we will be doing scalloped potatoes along with brussels sprouts with pancetta. We still maintain our Italian 7 fishes for Christmas Eve, though, with a seafood packed Cioppino.
So many great recipes to add to my repertoire! My Thanksgiving menu is set, but the rest of the long holiday weekend is a blank slate for continued delicious eating.
Giulia: I’ll be making a Turkey breast in the style of a porchetta, and a mascarpone pumpkin pie with mascarpone cream and pinenuts. Keeping it simple we’ll include roasted root vegetables and a salad of radicchio, Belgian endive, Treviso and arugula. All this and a Sicilian Catarratto. Ciao! Love Cucina Povera! Jim Mihaloew Strongsville OH USA
I loved reading this, and can't wait to try many of the recipes. We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving last month. I love making a huge stuffed banana squash full of sausage and veggies and walnuts. A local farm grows such beautiful ones. We also have Jarrahdale pumpkins which are a stunning blue, and I make a whipped lemony feta and thyme roasted Jarrahdale dish with candied pecans.
Although my Thanksgiving meal is set with a turkey and plenty of vegetable sides, I am now planning on my head a second feast between Thanksgiving & Christmas to try some of these beautiful recipes! Our meal will consist of:
A special day to give 'thanks' is not exclusive to America. It is, or should be, a universal tradition.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful plans with us. My family looks forward to sharing the day, and a variety of foods, from our family and friends. We have so many different stuffing recipes for example. My mom's was mashed potato based with sausage, onions and celery. My nephew, whose home we'll be at this year, is making a cornbread, sausage stuffing. He's planning on making Lasagne, Turkey and Ham. Mamma Mia! I'm planning on bringing lots of tupperware for leftovers. Of course, I'll be bringing side dishes - stuffed mushrooms, sauteed stringbeans, sweet potato casserole. Can't wait. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
So so many new recipes to try and so much inspiration! You are welcome anytime at our table at Thanksgiving! I make all the traditional dishes and the kids and family guests bring the vegetables sides and appetizers! I always make my homemade cranberry sauce and stuffing with giblets, veggies and broth. Gravy made from turkey drippings in a huge pile of mashed potatoes! I brine my turkey the night before and I put cut lemons and onions in the cavity to cook in the oven basting every so often making the kitchen smell heavenly! Everyone gathers in the kitchen. They are all so hungry and can’t wait to pick a piece off the turkey when it comes out of the oven. It is the star of the show! I love Thanksgiving because we all gather at the table and tell of our blessings! No gifts or pressure. Just a time of fellowship and food! 😊 Happy Thanksgiving everyone! So thankful for you Guilia and your inspiration! 💕🍁🍾
I’ve been thinking I will make your stovetop arista recipe...I am just not in the mood for dealing with a turkey!
I usually make my mother’s family recipe for stuffing, although we bake it outside of the meat anyway--it also has an Italian accent. A bread stuffing with sausage and fennel and raisins and mozzarella.
I did see a recipe from a sformato made with squash and potatoes and cheese that sounded delicious, so maybe, but I am meaning to keep things simple (we’ll see). A simple fennel gratin would be delicious with the arista.
Giulia, how is it that you, an Italian, can write so beautifully and expressively in English?! I so enjoy your writing, and hope that someday you can indeed experience a true American Thanksgiving. Ironically our gathering of family and friends around the table on that day reminds me greatly of the gathering of family and friends around the table that I’ve seen every Saturday and Sunday when I’m in Italy!
I totally agree. How?!
I always vary my menu at Thanksgiving- Before retiring, Thursday was usually a workday for me, getting home after 7pm, so a complete traditional dinner was impossible. From a Chinese friend I learned how to steam a bird before roasting, which cuts the cooking time in half and leaves the meat juicy. But the 2 mainstays are always stuffing made with chestnuts & apples and herbs and pumpkin cheesecake.
what a brilliant idea!
Thanksgiving is always better when it has an Italian accent. So much inspiration here ✨🌟
I took you at your suggestion to comment early about a dish I’m expected ;) to make every Thanksgiving to accompany our Italian-herbed smoked brined turkey. We actually prefer the sandwiches open-faced like tartines. We’re ok I’m not a gravy lover.
My mother came to this country (I can’t write “US” anymore :() as a young child with her Mom and a few siblings from Naples, not the Florida one.
So my nonnegotiable dish is Cranberry Fig Pistachio Chutney from Madhur Jaffrey. The one with a good amount of fresh ginger, one large onion diced, a whole cubed naval orange 🍊 with really deep color and taste, 1tsp each of spices cinnamon, cayenne, dry mustard, chopped light dried figs, sugar (I put about a 1 1/2 cup it needs it but you only eat a few spoonfuls so...) , mixed light raisins (it’s a chutney, they’re really pretty with the cranberries). I think that’s it, salt 1 tsp. From memory ;)
I cook it in a 5 at Le Creuset. All together only until the cranberries mostly pop.
Add toasted pistachios when cooler.
Makes like 5 pts pretty jars. Wonderful to bring as a hostess gift. Lasts months and months in frig never spoils it’s chutney.
My husband Jim adores it on a chicken sandwich or another sliced cold meat. Of course Turkey. Gorgeous at Christmas or any Holiday on Brie!
Thanks for sharing your Friendsgiving ideas. For years, we did the traditional turkey with dressing, gravy, yams, etc., etc., My husband is not a lover of turkey, so several years ago we switched to a beef standing rib roast. We still do dressing in muffin cups and this year we will be doing scalloped potatoes along with brussels sprouts with pancetta. We still maintain our Italian 7 fishes for Christmas Eve, though, with a seafood packed Cioppino.
So many great recipes to add to my repertoire! My Thanksgiving menu is set, but the rest of the long holiday weekend is a blank slate for continued delicious eating.
Giulia: I’ll be making a Turkey breast in the style of a porchetta, and a mascarpone pumpkin pie with mascarpone cream and pinenuts. Keeping it simple we’ll include roasted root vegetables and a salad of radicchio, Belgian endive, Treviso and arugula. All this and a Sicilian Catarratto. Ciao! Love Cucina Povera! Jim Mihaloew Strongsville OH USA
I loved reading this, and can't wait to try many of the recipes. We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving last month. I love making a huge stuffed banana squash full of sausage and veggies and walnuts. A local farm grows such beautiful ones. We also have Jarrahdale pumpkins which are a stunning blue, and I make a whipped lemony feta and thyme roasted Jarrahdale dish with candied pecans.
Although my Thanksgiving meal is set with a turkey and plenty of vegetable sides, I am now planning on my head a second feast between Thanksgiving & Christmas to try some of these beautiful recipes! Our meal will consist of:
Turkey
Greens beans w/ shallots & lemon
Acorn squash w/herbs & parmesan
Brussel sprouts w/bacon & balsamic
Mashed potatoes
Rolls
Apple dumplings
Thank you for sharing!
A special day to give 'thanks' is not exclusive to America. It is, or should be, a universal tradition.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful plans with us. My family looks forward to sharing the day, and a variety of foods, from our family and friends. We have so many different stuffing recipes for example. My mom's was mashed potato based with sausage, onions and celery. My nephew, whose home we'll be at this year, is making a cornbread, sausage stuffing. He's planning on making Lasagne, Turkey and Ham. Mamma Mia! I'm planning on bringing lots of tupperware for leftovers. Of course, I'll be bringing side dishes - stuffed mushrooms, sauteed stringbeans, sweet potato casserole. Can't wait. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
So so many new recipes to try and so much inspiration! You are welcome anytime at our table at Thanksgiving! I make all the traditional dishes and the kids and family guests bring the vegetables sides and appetizers! I always make my homemade cranberry sauce and stuffing with giblets, veggies and broth. Gravy made from turkey drippings in a huge pile of mashed potatoes! I brine my turkey the night before and I put cut lemons and onions in the cavity to cook in the oven basting every so often making the kitchen smell heavenly! Everyone gathers in the kitchen. They are all so hungry and can’t wait to pick a piece off the turkey when it comes out of the oven. It is the star of the show! I love Thanksgiving because we all gather at the table and tell of our blessings! No gifts or pressure. Just a time of fellowship and food! 😊 Happy Thanksgiving everyone! So thankful for you Guilia and your inspiration! 💕🍁🍾
Oh and my Mom always makes the best pumpkin pies 🥧
I didn't know I needed in my life the Fennel Gratin. I'll make it tonight because there's no way I can resist until Thanskgiving!
EVERYBODY knows Italian-Americans, on Thanksgiving, make a gigantic Italian meal plus a Turkey...
So many good ideas here!
I’ve been thinking I will make your stovetop arista recipe...I am just not in the mood for dealing with a turkey!
I usually make my mother’s family recipe for stuffing, although we bake it outside of the meat anyway--it also has an Italian accent. A bread stuffing with sausage and fennel and raisins and mozzarella.
I did see a recipe from a sformato made with squash and potatoes and cheese that sounded delicious, so maybe, but I am meaning to keep things simple (we’ll see). A simple fennel gratin would be delicious with the arista.
Always a pumpkin pie!
Thanks for all the wonderful recipes. I think I need to add an Italian Thanksgiving next year!
Make sure you change your name to end in a vowel, if it doesn’t already...
such a terrific and generous newsletter! Thank you