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Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

Sixteen photos of food that says Happy Thanksgiving across the middle

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Many of you have asked for Thanksgiving menu ideas. Here is a visual reference of all our favorites from 2013. If you want to change things up, you can search the nearly 400 recipes that are posted on meee blawg. These are also some of the most pinned recipes this year. 🙂 Love you all! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! We’re giving thanks for you.

In other news, we already have our Christmas tree up. That’s what happens when you tell your 4-year old about Christmas way too early! “Is Christmas soon?” “Is it going to be Christmas tomorrow?” “How many  months until Christmas?”…

Appetizers:

tea sandwiches SQ
Shrimp Tea Sandwiches SQ-3
Main Course:

Turkey (I’m really embarrassed to tell you that you need to talk to your Mom for this one. I still haven’t posted a turkey recipe. Fail. I beat myself up every year for not posting one. My mom makes the turkey every year and I just eat it,… I know, I’m such a mooch. Let’s change the subject real quick and talk about salmon.

Baked-Salmon-Recipe
beef stroganoff

Side Dishes:

garlic mashed potatoes1alftredo potattoes square
Baked-asparagus-with-lemon-butter-parmesan
Gravy:

gravy-recipe
Salad:

cabbage salad-2
Shuba-Salad
Strawberry-Spinach-Salad
Dessert:

This was a difficult decision. Here goes…

Raspberry Pretzel square
Strawberry Layer Cake square
Kiwi Berry Cake SQ
Spartak-Cake-Recipe
Drinks:

Bread-Kvas-Recipe
Strawberry-Party-Punch

 

Here’s my little giblet at our church Thanksgiving celebration. P.S. look at that bread in the background! Any of you have mad bread baking skills like that?

Thanksgiving 2013

Here’s a closeup of that fancy bread.

Thanksgiving 2013

Sounds like Thanksgiving to me! What are you cooking up for Thanksgiving this year?

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Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Read comments/reviewsAdd comment/review

  • Nagi
    December 23, 2013

    Hi Natasha,
    I did this menu for thanksgiving everyone loved it, thank you. I keep checking for your menu ideas for Christmas, but there is nothing yet. Did I miss it?
    Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and your family!
    Thanks for the great recipes

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 23, 2013

      This is the closest thing I have for the Christmas menu Ideas, hope this helps. Merry Christmas and Awesome New Year to you and your family as well Nagi :).

      Reply

  • Zina P
    November 27, 2013

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! This year my son is cooking our feast….turducken! I get to relax, but it’s hard as I keep wanting to help in the preparations but he won’t let me. 😉

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 27, 2013

      Zina, thank you so much! Have a happy Thanksgiving and take full advantage of taking the year off 😉 Sounds like you have a very good son 🙂

      Reply

  • Noelle
    November 26, 2013

    I love your blog. It’s Thanksgiving which means it’s time to give thanks.
    I want to thank you for your great recipes.
    I adopted a 12 year old boy from Ukraine last year and he misses his food the most. Without your blog I would be lost. If your ever in South Jersey and want to come and cook with me your more than welcome. I have learned so much from you.
    THANKS and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
    Noelle

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 26, 2013

      Thank you so much for your sweet words. God bless your family and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’m giving thanks for you!!

      Reply

  • Olena@iFOODreal
    November 26, 2013

    400 recipes…WOW…Can you imagine how many hours in the kitchen, photographing and posting?:) Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 26, 2013

      I should have kept track. Thousands of hours I’m sure 😉 but it’s completely a labor of love 🙂

      Reply

  • Iryna
    November 26, 2013

    Natasha, thank you for the menu ideas!
    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
    I made your Danish it was delish and didn’t last long. Thank you

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 26, 2013

      Oh I’m so happy you liked the Danish 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving to your family as well 🙂

      Reply

      • Iryna
        November 26, 2013

        thank you, Natasha!
        here are a few pictures – http://irishagold.blogspot.com/2013/11/fo-of-week.html

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          November 26, 2013

          Thanks for sharing!! 🙂

          Reply

  • Liz
    November 26, 2013

    Beautiful! Happy Thanksgiving to you and family.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 26, 2013

      Thanks Liz 🙂 happy Thanksgiving to you as well!! 🙂

      Reply

  • Irina Bond
    November 25, 2013

    Great post for us Slavic people! That bread baker has some major talent.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 25, 2013

      I know, seriously!! I once made a fancy bread but it didn’t come close to this one! 🙂

      Reply

  • Larissa
    November 25, 2013

    Natasha! I just love you blog!!! I don’t know how you have time for everything! You are AMAZING young lady! You answer to every single post. That tells me that you are kind and caring person! It’s very sweet of you!! I have children of your age and grandchildren of your son’s age and still learned so much from you! You are my inspiration! Have to tell you, your son is so cute, handsome little man:) God bless your beautiful family! BTW I have two uncles with their families and cousins live in Boise, Idaho. Who knows, maybe you see them sometimes 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving to your Family as well!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 25, 2013

      It’s still a fairly small town, so maybe I do know them :). Thank you so much for your sweet words. 🙂 God bless yoru family as well and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

      Reply

  • Mom's Dish
    November 25, 2013

    I usually put up a tree right after Thanksgiving. But we will not be home until mid-Dec so it probably wouldn’t feel like Christmas until we come back.
    Maybe this year we can get a fresh cut tree :)))

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 25, 2013

      We had a fresh one two years ago and then were annoyed about the cleanup so we didn’t hesitate to buy the one we have on super clearance a couple years ago 😉 Have fun on your vacation. From your IG and FB posts, it looks like you are having a blast!

      Reply

  • Dina
    November 25, 2013

    The secret to a great turkey is brining.

    I put the turkey in a simple salt, pepper, and water brine; though there are complicated spiced brines as well.

    My family approved recipe (going on 9 years now) is brined turkey stuffed with cooked grechka. Then spears of carrots and garlic “zubtsi” are inserted into the meat all around: this is done by spearing the turkey with a small paring knife and inserting the carrot or garlic into the cut. (Probably 40 1- inch carrot spears and 40 garlic “zubtsi” halved). Mayo rubbed all over and spices sprinkled on top.

    Since brining cuts the cooking in half, I have the turkey done by 12:30. We usually eat at 1.

    A little explanation (not mine):

    “But how does brining work? The salt solution passes through the permeable meat cells during the soaking process using the method of osmosis. Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a semi-permeable membrane – in this case the meat cells. Through diffusion, the salt and water within the meat cells balance with the salt and water in the surrounding brine which results in a higher concentration of salt and water in the meat. Food chemists disagree about the mechanics of this diffusion and how salt travels across membranes, but at the end of the day, the diffusion results in more water and flavor within the cells of the meat.

    The high concentration of salt also denatures protein strands. In their normal state, the strands are tightly wound; denatured strands unwind and tangle. During cooking, this unusual structure traps water molecules and holds onto them. The end result of this osmosis is less moisture is lost during cooking. This year, I couldn’t cook on Thanksgiving day so I invited friends over for pre-Thanksgiving. The turkey turned out just as good as last year. Even the leftover bird was moist after being reheated in a microwave. Which means that this is a recipe that will stay in the folder in my kitchen for years to come…

    Happy Thanksgiving!”

    http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/11/25/the-science-behind-brining/

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 25, 2013

      My mama in law was sharing with us the other day that she brines her turkey as well. I HAVE TO post a turkey for next year. I guess I should probably buy one and experiment now! 😉 Thanks so much for sharing 🙂

      Reply

  • Hannah
    November 25, 2013

    Your little boy is so cute (: and that bread is incredible!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 25, 2013

      Thank you and Isn’t it??!! :-O

      Reply

  • Sara Martin (Bariesheff)
    November 25, 2013

    Natashochka, you are simply AMAZING. No words…. You are truly gifted.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 25, 2013

      And you are truly sweet. Thank you 🙂

      Reply

  • Olena
    November 25, 2013

    Very timely, Natasha! I have extended family over for Thanksgiving – will try some of your recipes to make it Ukrainian-style! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 25, 2013

      That’s the best kind! 😉 If you post any pictures of the dishes you make, please tag me so I can see them!! 🙂

      Reply

      • Olena
        November 25, 2013

        Sounds good!

        Reply

  • Olviya@servingsisters.com
    November 25, 2013

    So many good ideas on what to make for Thanksgiving! I have never cooked a turkey either..confession time. 😉 We don’t have our Christmas tree up yet, but my husband is similar to your son, and we will probably be putting it up after Thanksgiving. 🙂

    That bread is gorgeous! Wow!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 25, 2013

      Haha; your husband. Since we are in confession time. Last years turkey was a total bomb. lol That’s part of why I don’t have one posted this year.

      Reply

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