Five Great Alternatives to Turkey on Thanksgiving Day

If the thought of Thanksgiving is driving you nuts simply because you don't like to make the turkey; well then don't! Simple elegance can be had in many other ways, and in reality, you probably aren't breaking the true tradition of the holiday, as many historians think the first Thanksgiving meal probably consisted of seafood and deer meat (venison) more than anything else.

Five fantastic alternatives to turkey are as described:

One: Go with the duck. In my household growing up, we always went to my grandmother's home for Thanksgiving holiday and she cooked a turkey for the masses, and a duck for my grandfather. Both dishes were always a big hit. You can serve it with a nice orange sauce and any of a variety of complimentary side dishes to create an aura of celebration at your dinner table, such as wild rice, vegetables with a mild flavor, or some form of potato.

Two: Lamb is another dish that is infrequently served in most homes, so using it for Thanksgiving can also be a great alternative to serving turkey. You can serve it as a roast (rib, rack, or loin), lamb chops, leg of lamb, etc. Some really great side dishes for lamb are lentils, a flavored risotto, couscous, or any variety of rice.

Three: Veal can be a great alternative to turkey as well. You can make it on its own by serving cutlets, or you can create an entire dish, such as Veal Scallopini, Wiener Schnitzel, Veal Parmegiana, Veal Marsala, or serve stuffed breasts. You can serve pasta as a side dish, or maybe some nice potato croquettes, any variety of rice, hot buttered noodles or risotto. Some great selections for a bit of green are asparagus, braised endives, salad (shiitake mushroom salad or a spinach salad with mandarin oranges and pine nuts works great with veal!), or even fresh green beans.

Four: A pork crown roast almost always elicits ooh's and ahh's from the crowds. There is just something about the way it smells when it's cooking, the flavor it holds when you bite into it, and the overall appearance of it that really appeals to persons. They take quite awhile to cook, so as an alternative to turkey, if you are looking for all of the tradition of the holiday (working hard to create a delicious meal) this could be the perfect route to take. A nice onion-based dressing is recommended to serve along with this dish, as well as any type of vegetable you find appealing, and a nice, crisp salad.

Five: For the seafood lover, a nice, thick cut of roasted salmon fillet is a fantastic alternative. Not all that hard to make, and delicious with a side of roasted red potatoes and vegetables with lime wedges, this dish is sure to please.

You can make the dinner as elegant or relaxed as you want the atmosphere to be. Just let everyone who has confirmed attendance be aware of the menu prior to the big day so there are no surprises. My guess is there will not be much fussing when you tell them what's for dinner. Afterall, the true spirit of Thanksgiving holiday is to enjoy life and those around you with a spirit of thanks. For those who really miss the turkey, you can volunteer them to make one for Christmas. Happy eating to all!