Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year. There can be no debate. Here's the reason: Food, alcohol, football, couch time and no pressure of buying gifts. All holiday's centered around food are good. So let's rank some of the more traditional Thanksgiving Side Dishes on the Shemon and Sheppard Show on ESPN Southwest Florida.
Before we review our list of Thanksgiving side dishes let us remember everybody has different tastes and traditions. For this reason and this reason only, we will limit this list to traditional dishes. We will not have exotic dishes, salads, or desserts.
With all of the food available I have tried multiple eating strategies on Thanksgiving. I have tried not eating breakfast and "saving" all of my calories for later in the day. The downside to this is the stomach may actually shrink and not be able to handle the large volume later in the day.
Other years I have eaten early and often. It helps to stretch the stomach and gets the digestive enzymes flowing early. But no matter which strategy one employs, it seems the beer and appetizers flow early and often and any gameplan ends up with a bloated gluttony of too much food.
While a good turkey is the main event, let's rank Thanksgiving Side Dishes on ESPN Southwest Florida.
15. HONEY HAM
Not everybody likes Turkey. Add Ham as an option.
https://twitter.com/Belly132301560/status/1589373204409487360
14. TURKEY
Controversial take here by me: Turkey is great but I usually don't go overboard with it on my plate in order to make room for everything else. I use Turkey more as a side dish these days and hope for leftovers for turkey salad sandwiches the next day.
https://twitter.com/MelissAguilar/status/1589649611421274112
13. DINNER SALAD
This is ranked low. It's always offered as a healthy option. Avoid this at all cost. It is a waste of space on your plate and in your stomach.
12. DINNER ROLLS
Got to have something to sop up the mess on your plate afterward.
https://twitter.com/DarleneHBrook/status/1589328569217716226
11. CORN BREAD
Solid bread choice for any time of year.
10. GRAVY
Dark gravy or light gravy. Homemade is best. Just they way grandma used to make it! And it can go on just about everything on your plate from Turkey to stuffing to mashed potatoes or casseroles.
https://twitter.com/WellPlated/status/1588190016345444360
9. CRANBERRY SAUCE
Great debate about fresh cranberries vs molded sauce from a can.
https://twitter.com/KitchenSanc2ary/status/1589324310602186752
8. CORN SALAD WITH BACON/HONEY/RED PEPPER
Thanksgiving plate can look bland with a lot of brown/grey food. Add some color with corn!
https://twitter.com/Recipleaser/status/1589351693656924160
7. GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
Got to have some sort of legitimate green vegetable. Dried onion rings as a toping with cream of mushroom soup and bacon a must.
6. MACARONI AND CHEESE
Golden brown alternative side dish is a big plus for the kids.
https://twitter.com/ThisIsNotZain/status/1583953662165950464
5. SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
The key to a good sweet potato casserole is the topping. Marshmallows, pecans and brown sugar is a good start.
4. CRAB CAKES
This has never made it to my plate on Thanksgiving but I thought I'd add something seafood-ish to the list.
https://twitter.com/foodandwine/status/1589106343608205313
3. MASHED POTATOES
Whipped or mashed is good. Milk and sour cream in the mix is the key here.
https://twitter.com/EByzio/status/1589800006357516288
2. CHEESE AND POTATO AUGRATIN
LOVE THIS!!! Add some chives and bacon for fun.
https://twitter.com/elizdesm/status/1245136830460297217
1. STUFFING
ABSOLUTE MUST: Have to have browned ground sausage in the mix.
https://twitter.com/CarriesExpKtchn/status/1587369044461719554
