When planning for Thanksgiving, there are roughly 10 foods that I consider absolute necessities on the table. Growing up, Thanksgiving was always a mix of different foods from American and latin culture and if I find any of these items missing from the Thanksgiving table, it simply isn’t a Thanksgiving dinner to me.
- Titi’s Shepherds Pie Cupcakes: First on my list are these shepherds pie cupcake creations my titi makes that are absolutely amazing. The base of the ‘cupcake’ is the pie crust, the inside is the meat/veggie mix with mashed potatoes on top and peas and carrots that act like sprinkles. My Titi made these once for Thanksgiving years ago and I almost ate the entire tray, ever since they have been an absolute necessity on my Thanksgiving plate, and i’ve even gone so far as to ask for them for birthdays and Christmas as my gift from her.
- Deviled Eggs: The second on my list is typically more associated with the fourth of July in my opinion but I see them as a Thanksgiving starter nonetheless; deviled eggs. This year I got to make them myself for my family’s Thanksgiving and not a single one was left over. When made the right way deviled eggs are a delicious addition to any dinner plate especially during the holiday season. I may be biased but deviled eggs are the best way to serve eggs and a guaranteed hit at any Thanksgiving dinner.
- Mom’s Coquito: In my family, as soon as Thanksgiving dinner is over, it is officially Christmas time, which brings in the third necessity for my Thanksgiving dinner; Coquito. Coquito is my absolute favorite holiday drink and nothing concludes Thanksgiving dinner better than washing everything down with a cold glass of the best hispanic ‘cocktail’ of the holiday season. My mom has been the dedicated coquito maker of my family and there is nothing I love more than coming home for Thanksgiving/winter break and being able to drink my mom’s coquito whenever I please.
- Titi’s Pumpkin Soup: Fourth on my list is another one of my titi’s delicious kitchen creations; spiced pumpkin soup. While I don’t normally like or even eat pumpkin, this is one of my all time favorite soups and the best appetizer to serve to guests before the big meal comes out. The warmth and autumn flavors of the soup really get the family into the Thanksgiving mood and without this soup dinner feels somewhat incomplete.
- Mashed Potatoes & Potato Salad: For any successful Thanksgiving dinner mashed potatoes are an absolute must on the table. I also really like this specific potato salad the Spanish market in my hometown makes and I always make sure I have an order of it every single time I am in town. I refuse to eat any other kind of potato salad due to the overwhelming taste of mayo but this potato salad is the absolute best. With just the right amount of mayo without having the whole dish taste like it. It’s creamy, flavorful and doesnt even feel like potato salad since I have not been able to find anyone else to make it in a way that tastes like this, marking it as a special addition to my perfect Thanksgiving dinner.
- Spanish Rice & Beans: My mom makes the absolute best rice and beans on the planet and usually there is a pot of it (either hers or my titi’s) at every Thanksgiving. I absolutely love having Puerto Rican foods at Thanksgiving because it always complements the dishes and really makes the holiday feel like home to me. I grew up eating rice and beans at almost every family gathering on my mom’s side and have grown to see rice and beans as a. This year we unfortunately did not have rice and I did notice a difference and felt like something was missing but dinner was delicious nonetheless.
- Roasted Ham: honestly I prefer this over turkey, ham has so much more flavor than a standard oven baked turkey while also not being nearly as dry. Every year I usually eat a decent amount of ham while only eating a single piece of turkey. In high school ham was the only meat I would put on my plate and over the years I have grown to favor it over any other protein offered at holiday dinners. If this is ever missing at Thanksgiving I would honestly say something, there is no Thanksgiving to me without the ham.
- Baked Mac & Cheese: This is considered a classic Thanksgiving side that I agree with but it specifically has to be baked mac and cheese with the crispy top. I also feel it is obvious but any kind of boxed mac and cheese is a big no for me on Thanksgiving, it’s fine for dinner any other night but I love a home cooked mac and cheese for the holiday. Mac and cheese is such a necessity for Thanksgiving like mashed potatoes or ham, if it isn’t there it’s not Thanksgiving.
- Green beans/Corn/other veggies: Vegetables are such a good side for Thanksgiving and I especially love mixing corn with my mashed potatoes and putting gravy on it. (don’t knock it until you try it) Any Thanksgiving or holiday dinner that does not have at least one vegetable as a side is honestly lacking in my opinion.
- Apple Pie: I have never been a huge fan of desserts especially pie but I absolutely love apple pie, homemade or store bought. I am not usually too particular about that as long as it is present on the dessert table. I honestly do not like any other stereotypical Thanksgiving desserts such as pumpkin pie so if I am even going to eat dessert the only option I go for is apple pie.
Overall, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because food is such a love language in my family and the food is never anything short of delicious. I have always been so thankful to have grown up with the family I have because our holidays together were always filled with so much love and community with the center of that being the food. I would not trade my Thanksgiving for anything else and if your Thanksgiving is missing more than 3 of the foods i’ve listed above, you are missing out.