Thanksgiving Means Turkey! Or Does It?

Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to find some delicious recipes to help you add variety to your Thanksgiving feast this year. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.”

It’s that time of the year: the annual Thanksgiving feast. While turkey typically takes pride of place on the dinner table, it’s not everyone’s favorite meat. Do you have family members who wave off the turkey platter? Are you tired of serving turkey? What can you serve instead? Historical newspapers provide some great ideas for alternatives.

Pork: The Other White Meat

One substitute for turkey is pork. Glazed ham is a family holiday favorite for many. This 2003 food column from Abilene, Texas, starts off with a Honey-Glazed Ham recipe submitted from a recipe by Cindy Stichert. She says of her recipe:

“This recipe for honey-glazed ham is sure to please even the pickiest ham lover. I make this every Thanksgiving, and my family loves it. It tastes much like the famous Honey Baked Ham but costs much less to make. You can even buy the ham pre-sliced to make it easier and more like the original.”

If ham isn’t your favorite, you could try a pork roast. This 1958 recipe from Dallas, Texas, is for a Tropical Crown Pork Roast and includes instructions to give the butcher in cutting the roast. The recipe includes bacon, rice, and pineapple.

Beef: The Other Option

Beef might be the preferred meat for your family table because of its flavor and how nicely it pairs with other Thanksgiving sides like mashed potatoes and gravy. Thanksgiving gives you the opportunity to dress it up a bit or to try a more expensive cut.

This 2018 recipe from Birmingham, Alabama, is definitely worthy as the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving dinner. Garlic Herb-Crusted Roast Beef has a fairly simple ingredient list. Fresh herbs and spices including basil, thyme and rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper are part of the crust.

If you want to go all out for Thanksgiving, consider a prime rib. Another 2018 recipe from Birmingham, Alabama, provides directions for how to prepare this cut of beef and the accompanying horseradish side.

For the Vegetarians in the Family

Maybe you want to avoid meat altogether or have other family members who do. What are some hearty vegetable dishes that can substitute for an entrée? Just preparing the same old vegetable sides won’t be enough. You’ll need to include some heartier entrée dishes as well.

Portobello mushrooms are a substantial dish. This 2006 stuffed portobello mushroom recipe from Staten Island, New York, is a good substitute. If there are vegans in the family, you could substitute the cheese with non-dairy cheese.

A risotto dish might be the entrée you’re looking for. This 2011 Butternut Squash Risotto recipe from Richmond, Virginia, would be a good choice. Make sure to use vegetable broth with the risotto and to search for dairy-free ingredients if your dinner table includes a vegan.

Search Tip: If you’re looking for vegetarian options in the newspaper, search for the word “Vegetarian” in the “Include these keywords” box on the GenealogyBank search page. You can also search for the word “Meatless.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

There’s something comforting in having the same meal year after year to celebrate. But there is nothing wrong with changing it up a bit. Consider your menu this year and what your family’s preferences are. There is still plenty of time to plan, and a collection of newspapers such as GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives have some great recipes to try.

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Note on the header image: Happy Thanksgiving display.
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