A Southern Style Thanksgiving Dinner to Write Home About

If you are thinking of creating a Southern Thanksgiving dinner this year, chances are you could use a few suggestions. Of course, Southern Thanksgiving traditions are extremely diverse, so there is no one steadfast set of Southern Thanksgiving recipes. However, it is possible to conjure up a Southern 'feel' when planning and preparing your Thanksgiving dinner. Here are 10 hints to help you to prepare a Southern Thanksgiving dinner which your family will love.

Bread is big in the South. Try preparing a variety of homemade breads to accompany your Southern Thanksgiving dinner. Some examples are apple nut bread or even sourdough biscuits. The latter choice goes well with turkey, especially if it is fried. For a creative twist, serve Southern style hushpuppies.

Cornbread is another Southern favorite. Add some variety to Southern cornbread by using a cheese cornbread recipe.

Sweet potatoes are another favorite food for the Southern thanksgiving dinner. Prepare a couple of sweet potato pies if you are expecting a lot of guests.

A Southern Thanksgiving dinner usually has turkey which might be roasted or fried in a similar way to Southern style chicken.

Turkey might be supplemented or replaced by other main courses. For instance, a Virginia smoked ham is another option for a Southern Thanksgiving dinner. It is great for making sandwiches out of leftovers.

Pecan pie is another classic Southern thanksgiving dish. You can find a plethora of recipes on the Internet. Make sure to use Southern Thanksgiving recipes which are tried and tested - a beginner's hazard of pecan pies is that the corn syrup can go hard making the pie hard to slice.

Don't forget the mashed potatoes. For extra creamy mashed potatoes, find a recipe which uses cream cheese.

Beer can be used as an ingredient in bread to give it a sweet flavour. Try making beer bread or hushpuppies. There are numerous recipes on the Internet.

Decorate the table with a Southern Thanksgiving theme. Try decorating bud vases with Southern flowers such as magnolias or gardenias. Simple, earthy decorations such as bowls of fruit or natural candles also can evoke a Southern Thanksgiving dinner. Romantic looking decorations such as flower patterned table linens or antique candle holders can also add to the ambiance of a Southern Thanksgiving dinner.

Finally, with a Southern thanksgiving dinner, the focus is on down-home comfort. Keep the tone casual and the servings plentiful to make the most of your Thanksgiving dinner.