Book Description
The Complete Hands-On Guide to Cooking a Great Thanksgiving Meal

Whether you're cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time or have hosted this celebration for years, here's all you need to know to make your holiday special. Thanksgiving can be the most challenging meal to prepare-even for the most experienced cooks. Betty Crocker comes to the rescue with this complete do-it-yourself guide to making Thanksgiving delicious. Here are the treasured recipes with all the trimmings that you grew up with, plus plenty of great new twists on the traditional.

You'll find:

• The most popular and time-tested recipes for the classics, from roast turkey with pan gravy and bread stuffing to pumpkin, apple and pecan pies and much more
• New and innovative ways with the bird include brining, grilling, smoking and even deep-frying, plus plenty of inventive ideas for turkey alternatives
• Easy how-to's for tricky techniques cover carving the turkey, making lump-free gravy and rolling out pie dough, plus how to safely take food on the road
• Menu ideas to suit everyone, whether vegetarian, diabetic, on a low-fat diet, or a first-time cook, plus easy ways to cook for a crowd of 20 or more
• Countdown menus to time every step, from starting some recipes days (or weeks) ahead, to setting the table, to making gravy so it's piping hot when dinner's served
• Mouthwatering color photos of your favorite Thanksgiving foods for ideas and inspiration
• 130 tested and trusted recipes in all, to make this year's Thanksgiving your most memorable-and delicious-feast ever!

Customer Reviews (4)

Not what I expected.
This book was full of off-the-wall recipes. Being a Betty Crocker cookbook and advertised as the Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook, I figured the recipes would be more traditional. I was disappointed.

A good book for using for cooking your first thanksgiving
Lots of good recipes especially for someone attempting to fix their first thanksgiving meal. Most are easy to make, lots of both traditional and updated holiday recipes. The instructions are easy to follow. Not so many recipes to choose from but makes it easier to plan a meal.

An On Target Cookbook!
The trouble with a lot of Thanksgiving cookbooks is that they throw so many new and quite exotic dishes at the reader.I think most people still prefer their Thanksgiving with all of the traditional dishes.

Betty Crocker's book does just that while still giving you some new things to try, without making them too intimidating for the novice cook.Add to that the best sections of the book may be the sections on planning your dinner from shopping to all the make-aheads to getting the turkey ready for the oven.

You'll find all of the great traditional fare in this book with straight forward and easy to follow recipes no matter what the size of your gathering.

If your a traditionalist like me, then this is the book for you.

I love this book.
This book is great...even a novice like me can creat amazing dishes by following this book.Betty Crocker shows you the easy way to roast a turkey and prepare the side dishes and desserts that go with a Thanksgiving meal. Thank you, thank you. ... Read more

Book Description

Sometimes the only thing Thanksgiving hosts have to be thankful for is putting their feet up at the end of the day. For novices, orchestrating The Feast is no easy task. And even for old pros it's a bit of a challenge. Enter The Thanksgiving Table: the lowdown on the how to. Everything from the foolproof secret to a moist bird and how to truss and carve it to menu suggestions and simple, elegant table settings. Plus, recipes for classics like cranberry relish as well as more innovative dishes--and a whole section devoted to vegetarians. And maybe best of all, do-ahead tips and plenty of food and technique photographs to make planning in advance a breeze. The Thanksgiving Table is a kitchen essential--a book for which every home cook can give thanks.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A great resource
What I love about this book is that it truly offers something for everyone, from novices looking to host their first Thanksgiving to more accomplished cooks who want to try new twists on the classics. Ms. Morgan provides plenty of clear-headed advice to guide you, from choosing the right equipment and do-ahead tips to planning your menu.

The book is organized well, and includes everything from a section on the history of Thanksgiving to a chapter on creating great meals with leftovers. There is even a chapter on vegetarian entrees. This is not to say that the star attraction (turkey)is neglected. Ms. Morgan gives us recipes for brined, barbecued, deep-fried, and roasted birds, among others; plus advice on what to look for when buying a turkey. As an added bonus, the book also includes a handful of table-decorating ideas, with "recipes" for making table centerpieces and other autumn home decor accents.

Among my favorite recipes: the fragrant walnut rolls, which my family devoured; and the cranberry chutney, with its beautiful jewel color and spice-infused flavor. You will never go back to cranberry sauce after this!

New Inspiration for Thanksgiving meal planning
I was so inspired by the authors presentation that I made my own dinner napkins (I've never sown) purchased a new table cloth, made napkin holders and candle center pieces.Set the table the night before and took a picture!The turkey brining write up conviced me that it was the way to go - along with the roasting receipes and stuffing.My dinner guest have decided that this will be the only way future turkeys can be served!The meal was soooooo good - Thanks Diane Morgan for your work on this project - it's a success in my book.

Gourmet Thanksgiving Recipes
I used the "Search Inside this Book" feature of Amazon to try out some of the recipes in this book for this year's Thanksgiving.I made the carrot pudding souffle, the jalapeno cheddar cornbread stuffing, and the sweet potato wedges.All came out wonderfully!The cornbread stuffing was the biggest hit.I strongly recommend this book.

Terrific Book - highly recommended
I purchased this book only recently and tried it out over the past holiday.I can now heartily endorse it.Ms. Morgan has put together a collection of easy to follow recipes that will liven up your Thanksgiving table.Many look like your standard fare, but have been jazzed up with new preparation techniques.A perfect example is the Chiffonade of Brussel Sprouts.I have to have brussel sprouts on my table every year, but was so bored with them.I followed her technique for shredding them, then sauteeing - they came out like a warm slaw, perfectly cooked and offset with the hazelnuts - I had no leftovers at all!I will be making that dish again, for sure.

I primarily purchased the book for her section on vegetarian entrees and again, she did not let me down.The stuffed acorn squash was, as she stated, fantastic, and my vegetarian guest was thrilled.

I do have one complaint/suggestion:I wish that each recipe had said how far in advance each recipe could be prepared ahead.I believe in a book about holiday cooking, where most people begin to cook several days in advance, knowing how far in advance each thing could be prepared would have made this book ideal for anyone preparing the holiday feast.I have enough experience to figure it out myself, but not everyone does.

I believe this book is an excellent buy, however.If you like Holiday cooking and are looking to change things up a bit, you should buy this book.You will enjoy it, and so will your guest.

A great resource
Morgan offers up a wide variety of mouthwatering dishes that are easy to make and (usually) don't require an extra trip to the store or a quest for some obscure ingredient. There are main course recipes for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike, and she even includes ideas for leftovers. Best of all is the brined turkey, which is life-changing. I'll never eat turkey any other way. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Camping Life, published by Thomson Gale on December 1, 2005. The length of the article is 621 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The "first" Thanksgiving.(Campfire Story)
Publication: Camping Life (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 8Issue: 7Page: 82(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Nutrition Action Healthletter, published by Thomson Gale on November 1, 2005. The length of the article is 894 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The lighter sides.(HEALTHY COOK)(Thanksgiving side dishes)
Author: Tamara Goldis
Publication: Nutrition Action Healthletter (Newsletter)
Date: November 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 32Issue: 9Page: 11(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Amazon.com
Getting ready for your first turkey or dissatisfied with the dry results you got last year? Not to worry--"Mr. Thanksgiving," Rick Rodgers, is here to teach Thanksgiving 101. And he ought to know. For the last eight years he has been traveling the country to teach his class as the media spokesperson for Perdue Farms, an industrial giant among turkey producers.

Before getting to what he calls the "Main Event," Rodgers has advice about how to plan ahead and coordinate the labor to make the day itself more enjoyable. He opens with sections on appetizers and beverages (Glittering Spiced Walnuts, Spicy Cheddar and Pecan Balls, Bloody Marys and Ramos Fizzes) and soups and salads.

The "Main Event" is everything, absolutely everything, you would want to know about buying, thawing, prepping, and roasting a turkey. You needn't look any further. There's a long question-and-answer-style section that anticipates any questions you might have. Then it's right on to everything from Perfect Roast Turkey with Best-Ever Gravy to Holiday Meatball Lasagna.

Follow all that with sections on stuffings and dressings, side dishes, yeast and quick breads, desserts (there's more to do with that pumpkin than make pie--how about Pumpkin-Walnut Roulade with Ginger Filling?), and leftovers (Turkey Tetrazzini), and you can see how Rick Rodgers's Thanksgiving 101is the cookbook equivalent of one-stop shopping for your holiday meal. --Schuyler IngleBook Description
100 Thanksgiving recipes so good you'll use them throughout the year!

On the fourth Thursday in November, 75 million American families sit down to the hearty feast known as Thanksgiving dinner. But earlier in the week, someone in the house has been worrying about doing that dance between mashing potatoes and mixing stuffing; about basting fourteen pounds of turkey and baking that pumpkin pie; and about getting it all on the table at just the right moment.

One of the most popular cooking teachers in America, Rick Rodgers has taught his Thanksgiving 101 classes for years, and now he's collected all of his know-how, recipes, menus, and trade secrets. Rick is with you every step of the way, from shopping through chopping, from choosing the best recipes to selecting the right wine. Whether you're looking for turkey and all the traditional trimmings, chutneys, and chowders; a vegetarian dinner with just the trimmings; or new ideas for regional classics, including Cajun- or Italian-inspired tastes, Thanksgiving 101 serves up a delicious education for novice and experienced cooks alike. You'll have a seat in the front row as Rick teaches you how to:

Feed twenty-four people when your oven can only hold a twelve-pound turkey
Transform leftovers into satisfying lunches, dinners, and sandwiches
Deal with turkey safety and handling issues
Save time by learning what can (and can't) be prepared days or weeks in advance

With Thanksgiving 101 you'll never have to worry about this holiday meal again. Rick Rodgers will help you create memorable Thanksgiving dinners year after year. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

This is a MUST have for 1st timers..........
This was my 1st Thanksgiving and everything turned out wonderful!The receipes were very easy to follow.My mother in-law was a little worried how I was going to cook the turkey (she thought it would be dry) and it turned out to be PERFECT!What a great cookbook to have, I look foward to trying new receipes next year.

Love this book!
I have been using this book for Thanksgiving for 6 years and love it!I bought one for everyone I know and they all think it's great too.This year I made the Bread Rolls 101 and they were great.My turkey always comes out perfect using the writer's basic method.Everyone should own this book - I use it before and after the holidays and all thru the year!

Now On My Third Worn Out Copy of This Great Book!
If you judge a cookbook by how accurate the receipes are, how tasty or even how many times you reach for the book to get you out of a jam--than this is THE book for you.Although I work very hard to be organized during the holidays so I don't go completely bonkers(like keeping 3-hole binders of receipes and shopping lists).Without fail every year I need to go back and consult this book for some tip, technique or something essential I missed.Can't fail as a present to anyone from a newlywed (tucked inside a roaster pan) to a bachelor/bachelorette (attached to a cocktail shaker or hors'doerve plate)--every receipe works and taste great.Plus because they are all bound together, you won't misplace, lose, eat or toss these vital scraps of paper--like I did with that great sweet and savory butter head lettuce receipe....

Perfect for Both Newbies & Veterans
I bought this cookbook 7 years ago when faced with the prospect of hosting my first big holiday meal after getting married. I appreciated all the step-by-step directions for cooking basics like turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. Thanks in a large part to Rick Rodgers, I survived cooking for my in-laws!

It's still one of my most-used cookbooks for entertaining because it's got such great recipes. I always get compliments on the dishes I make from this book.

The Must-Have Book for the Holidays
I am not a newbie to cooking for Thanksgiving and Christmas (around 15 years+), but this year's turkey was the best thanks to Rick.I have had this book for about 5 years, and it is the best resource for Thanksgiving and Christmas recipe ideas.This year I made the Chutney and Cranberry-Orange Relish that I used to buy, fairly pricey for a small amount.That will never happen again, now!He talks about the pitfalls of the great ideas that you hear of the different cooking methods for turkey and the problems with them.He kept me from making my turkey look like it had been in an accident (pg. 36).You will write in this book and stick your favorite holiday recipes in the pages like I did.Have fun with Rick! ... Read more

Amazon.com
Williams-Sonoma, purveyor of choice gourmet products and kitchenware, has also created a collection of succinct yet comprehensive cookbooks. Part of the series, Thanksgiving offers 40 recipes that reflect the company's signature good taste. From traditional and "new" holiday starters like Butternut Squash Soup and Mixed Greens with Bacon-Wrapped Figs to desserts including Creamy Pumpkin Pie and Ginger-Pear Torte, the book offers delicious options for a hearty, homemade feast. Main-course birds, dressings, breads, and other accompaniments are represented with the likes of classic roast turkey and Hickory-Smoked Roast Turkey with Horseradish-Apple Sauce; Cornbread Dressing with Oysters and Ham; and Cranberry Sauce with Cider and Vinegar, while a chapter entirely devoted to potatoes provides exemplary "mashed" formulas as well as Candied Yams and a knockout Two-Potato Gratin with Cheese.

Accompanied by color photos that show the dishes in all their glory, the recipes are completely doable, and will appeal to a wide range of cooks. Throughout, sidebars (like "Biscuit Savvy") offer useful information on techniques and ingredients; a glossary and basics section are also helpful. Though small in size, the book provides an inclusive store of superior recipes and instruction. --Arthur Boehm Book Description
No other holiday captures the spirit of home cooking the way Thanksgiving does. From the perfect roast turkey with wild rice and chestnut stuffing to a rich, old-fashioned pumpkin pie, good food shared with family and friends is what makes this day so special.

Williams-Sonoma Collection Thanksgiving offers easy-to-follow recipes you will want to include in your own holiday menu year after year. In these pages, you'll find inspiring first courses and a tempting variety of side dishes and desserts as well as some new ideas for the main course. This vividly photographed, full-color recipe collection will become an essential addition to your kitchen bookshelf.

"Whether it's your first time preparing a Thanksgiving meal or your twentieth, I hope these recipes make your feast enjoyable."

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Better than 5 stars
From Williams-Sonoma, "Thanksgiving" has 40 essential recipes that you can count on to be delicious. Thanksgiving is all about the experiance of enjoying home cooking. Learn to make a no fail classic roast turkey, or Hickory-Smoked Roast Turkey with Horseradish-Apple Sauce if you want to get fancy. All the side dishes are here and maybe some new ones too including wild rice and chestnut stuffing, butternut squash Soup, dressings, breads, cranberry sauce and more.A wholechapter is dedicated to the important staple "potatoes" and they varied ways you can prepare the humble spuds. Sweet Candied Yams are here too. Desserts are not forgotten such as Creamy Pumpkin Pie
One of the nice things about this company is that they include large color photos of their completed dishes, and these help with presentation as well. The recipes are accessible and easy to follow for any level cook. You will rely on this book every year, a worthwhile investment. And it looks prettier on the shelf than most cookbooks I have seen.
... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Jack & Jill, published by Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society, Inc. on October 1, 2001. The length of the article is 494 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A Pilgrim "Sallet" Bar!(Thanksgiving foods)(Recipe)
Author: Betty Jo Schuler
Publication: Jack & Jill (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 2001
Publisher: Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society, Inc.
Volume: 63Issue: 7Page: 20

Article Type: Recipe

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
A best-selling classic with well over one hundred thousand copies sold, Season's Greetings is now beautifully redesigned, including new color photographs throughout. Marlene Sorosky has built a tremendous following over the years as more and more people discover they can rely upon her exceptional menus and recipes -- especially for all-important and often nerve-racking Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's celebrations. Season's Greetings offers wonderful traditional menus for the holidays, and even includes great ideas for snacks, centerpieces, decorations, and delicious gifts -- from pickles and mustards to jams, fruitcakes, pies, and liqueurs. Perfect for novice hosts wondering how to feed hordes of hungry relatives, as well as anyone looking forward to a homespun holiday season, this revised and updated edition of Season's Greetings is every cook's source for unbeatable feast, fete, and Yuletide fun. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent as are all her books!
Not only do I now have all of Marlene Sorosky's books, but I took cooking classes from her for several years prior to her writing.Her main objective was to do ahead so as to enjoy time spent with guests.Accomplished!Marlene Sorosky's Cookery for Entertaining

cook book review
I have owned this Holiday cookbook for at least 10 years
and it's fantastic.I am now buying a copy for my parents
'cause they are hooked on a couple of recipes and want their own copy.

Food for lady who has no time to cook
I bought this book on sale due to the food pictures in thebook.A person who love cooking usually can tell if the author isgood by looking at the pictures of the final product.What attracted me to get this book was her recipe for pick up drumsticks.That is the most simple recipe I had seen for baking up drumpsticks that looked like they were fried.Other ideas in the book are also great and time saving.Our church always having special holiday dinner or special dinner gets together for rivival meeting nights, etc.It is so hard to finds people who are willing to cook for such large audience.This is a life saver for ladies who are in charge of the food for those special occasion, even for a Chinese church.I had already shared some of the recipes with friends at church and they just can't wait to try them out (This also include busy guys who help their wives out with cooking).I highly recommend you to get a copy of this book.END

Terrific recipes for holiday and party entertaining.
I immediately went out and purchased this book after attending a party in which the hostess presented a beautiful and tasty appetizer buffet using eight different recipes from Season's Greetings. The recipes are all eye appealing, delicious and in most cases easy to make. Recipes also include make-ahead tips. I highly recommend it for the beginner as well as the seasoned hostess. ... Read more

Book Description
Extra chunky and extra fun, here is one tempting shaped board book celebrating the most exciting aspects of Thanksgiving for kids!

It's every kid's favorite day for eating-Thanksgiving!Follow a young girl as she happily contemplates every yummy treat in the buffet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fantastic Board Book!
My eight-month old son smiles and laughs the second anyone starts saying, "It's turkey time, Thanksgiving Day....".Cute pictures, with the added bonus of being so easy to memorize you can recite at will (or in a dark bedroom at night).

Delightful rhyme!
This little book offers a catchy rhyme that is sure to hold a toddler's attention.Positively adorable!

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!
This book makes you want to be a kid again!An absolute delight to the eyes as well as the brain!

DELICIOUS!
This little book, like all of Kelly Asbury's work, is charming and sweet in the very best way.A little girl enjoys, with anticipation and wonder,a Thanksgiving Day, as she watches the great feast being prepared, thetable sat and the scrumptious food being served up...all the way to thepumpkin pie.Asbury's simple, colorful illustrations are perfect visualtreat and the easy text should appeal to even the youngest child.Adelight in every way! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

thanksgiving book
This is a helpful book, especially if you haven't "done" thanksgiving before. A great primer for everything you need to know (how to make stock) and a glossery of terms in the back plus lots of great recipes.

The Unexperienced's Secret Weapon for Thanksgiving Cooking
I am writing this the day after Thanksgiving. The first Thanksgiving for which I was entirely responsible myself. I don't cook, I'm the "order takeout" type of person. So you can imagine the jitters I had when facing the challenge of what to cook for the first Thanksgiving at my house.

Thankfully, Williams Sonoma's Thanksgiving recipe book saved the party. Not only saved it, but made it a huge success. The recipes were laughably easy and most of all very quick to make, yet everything I fixed had a definite festive touch - not your everyday homecooking at all. The book features beautiful color pictures of all dishes, along with the clearest of instructions for even the most unexperienced cook like me. There are plenty of recipes to chose from - from simple to more sophisticated, from traditional sweet potatoes and green beans to more unusual side dishes, but all are very manageable. However, not only side dishes are listed here. There are various turkey recipes to chose from, as well as desserts.

The book also addresses essentials like how to make turkey stock, gravy and cranberry sauce (I highly recommend the one with ginger and fresh grapefruit juice/zest!) and comes complete with recommendations for different menu courses from simple to elegant. Of course, there is also a section on recommended cooking and serving tools.

My summary: I have no experience whatsoever with cooking, but everything I made yesterday tasted simply delicious. Thanks, Williams Sonoma! I might be a chef after all!!! Now, if I could just decide whether my favorite were the yams with pecan nut topping, or the sauteed corn with chipotle peppers. Or maybe the Brussels sprouts with orange zest and hazelnuts, but who could forget the green bean salad with the caramelized onions and goat cheese...

Family Tradition
This book has become our family tradition for Thanksgiving. We like a traditional meal, and this book has all the foods we want to prepare with nice variations. Every year we pull it off the shelf and select recipes for the year. Along with plenty of recipes to choose from, it has all the vital information you need for Thanksgiving in a nice compact form. Turkey roasting times, carving instructions, checklists, and timing guides are all included. It is convienent to have all of the recipes in one book. Each year we cook some of the same recipes and we try a couple of new things. Every recipe has produced excellent results. Our favorites from year to year are the shrimp grapefruit cocktail, the sausage, chestnut and apple dressing, and the caramel nut tart. You will find everything you need from the turkey, to the cranberry sauce, to the sweet potatoes, to the pumpkin pie.

Family Tradition
This book has become our family tradition for Thanksgiving. We like a traditional meal, and this book has all the foods we want to prepare with nice variations. Every year we pull it off the shelf and select recipes for the year. Along with plenty of recipes to choose from, it has all the vital information you need for Thanksgiving in a nice compact form. Turkey roasting times, carving instructions, checklists, and timing guides are all included. It is convienent to have all of the recipes in one book. Each year we cook some of the same recipes and we try a couple of new things. Every recipe has produced excellent results. Our favorites from year to year are the shrimp grapefruit cocktail, the sausage, chestnut and apple dressing, and the caramel nut tart. You will find everything you need from the turkey, to the cranberry sauce, to the sweet potatoes, to the pumpkin pie. ... Read more

Amazon.com
"With a little culinary ingenuity and moxie, the dream of preparing a magnificent vegetarian Thanksgiving feast is not just feasible, but easily achievable," assert the editors of Vegetarian Times magazine. They proceed to prove this via 180 tantalizing recipes and a dozen exuberantly tempting menus studded with the likes of Cream of Yam and Carrot Soup, Shiitake Pie with Polenta Crust, Cranberry Port Relish, Hot Corn Sticks, and Apple Cranberry Crumb Tart.

This book offers sound guidance for making any major gathering a success--rely on meticulous planning, organize your preparation over time, and pay attention to presentation, including music and room fragrance. The editors also advise the host of a meatless feast to alert guests to what to expect ahead of time and suggest that guests notify their host of their requirements. If necessary, everyone should focus on the conversation and company if the meal disappoints.

The good food in this book will tempt you to forget its theme and simply enjoy its recipes. They range from sophisticated Spinach-Cheese Twists and Wild Rice Pilaf with Ginger Dressing, to main courses spectacular enough to replace the turkey with style. You might try Mushroom Bourguignonne in a Whole Pumpkin; Vegetarian Tourtière, a crusted pie; or a baked Vegetable Tagine redolent with warm Moroccan spices. Sixteen pages of color photos show off the mouthwatering food in presentations you can duplicate.

This cookbook proves vegetarians need not be second-class culinary citizens and that their guests can enjoy an unqualified holiday meal, from sparkling preprandial drinks to luscious desserts. --Dana JacobiBook Description
Being a vegetarian no longer means nibbling at side dishes on America's most food-oriented and meat-focused holiday. From Harvest Vegetable Pie to Succotash-Stuffed Butternut Squash, vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike will love these fresh ideas for a truly satisfying, bountiful, vegetarian Thanksgiving meal. Easy to use, the book is organized from soup-to-nuts, including appetizers, salads, soups and gravies, entrees, side dishes, desserts, breads, and even fresh ideas for beverages. With sumptuous appetizers like Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms, hearty entrees like Herb and Walnut Ravioli and Vegetarian Tourtiere, Baked Stuffed Onions for the side, and a Vegan Pumpkin Pie for dessert, this book will have vegetarians looking forward to the holiday they've been left out of in the past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Focus On Autumn
This cookbook tackles perhaps the most difficult challenge vegetarians face.While there is a wide range of produce that comes into its own in the Autumn, and the Thanksgiving table usually holds an array of plant-based foodstuffs, there is nevertheless no other gathering in U.S. culture that brings expectations of a certain dish.And flesh-based it is.Without the turkey, how do vegetarians host Thanksgiving?Vegetarian Times addresses the problem in this cookbook.There is an attempt to provide several impressive-looking dishes that can take the central place of the poultry.A number of roulades, tangines, and deep dish recipes make the effort.

The focus on Fall dishes makes the book a good resource, especially for those people who reluctantly let go of the summer bounty of tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, etc.The dishes apply not only to the holiday meal but to all late year suppers.There are a number of appetizers and first course recipes that allow for any entertaining.In fact, the chapters include Appetizers, Beverages, Soups, Salads, Entrees, Sides, Gravies/Table Sauces, Breads, and Desserts.There a number of vegan options, including vegan pumpkin pie.

At times the recipes are complicated or use perhaps too many ingredients considering alternative preparation methods I've used.Also, there are a few dishes that fall on the bland side when prepared as directed.However, there are some stand-outs:Endive Spears with Goat Cheese and Roasted Garlic;Herbed White Bean Pate;Cider;Mock Champagne;Roasted Red Pepper and Sweet Potato Soup;Pear Salad With Raspberry Vinaigrette;Roasted Asparagus Salad;Vegetable Pancakes with Roasted Plum Sauce;Squash and Spinach Risotto;Baked Pumpkin Stuffed With Vegetable Pilaf;Shiitake and Potato Pot Pie with Polenta Crust;Glazed Shallots and Walnuts;Sweet Potato Stuffing;Great Winter Bread Pudding;and of course the Pumpkin Pie. ... Read more

Book Description

Thanksgiving is perhaps the most American holiday of all, a celebration of beloved foods, and customs that evoke happy memories of good times shared with family and friends. Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving Entertaining is a complete guide to creating those favorite traditions in your own home. Equal parts cookbook and how-to manual, it presents five menus for entertaining over the Thanksgiving weekend, including three distinctive ideas for the holiday feast.

Fot traditionalists, there is a classic New England Thanksgiving dinner featuring roasted turkey with pan gravy and all the trimmings, including an old-fashioned oyster stuffing,, cranberry relish, and buttery mashed potatoes. A contemporary California-style holiday menu showcases a butterflied turkey and light, seasonal Mediterranean-inspired accompaniments, while an elegant southern buffet offers a glorious glazed ham, spooned bread, and collard greens.

Because Thanksgiving entertaining often extends beyond the holiday meal, this book includes menus for a casual Day-After Lunch, with turkey sandwiches and snacks, and a homey weekend breakfast, with French toast, smoothies, and an irresistible Pumpkin Bread.

In addition to the nearly fifty recipes, there are step-by-step instructions for decorating your home, setting an attractive table, and making a variety of festive drinks -- all lavishly illustrated with color photographs. Detailed work plans accompany each menu, and helpful reference sections provide guidelines on tableware and glassware, setting up a buffet, pairing food and wine, and more. You'll find everything you need to know to host a memorable Thanksgiving that both you and your guests will enjoy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great book
My step-daughter recommended this book....she is a great cook....and she knows good cook books....so looking forward to serving most of the "Southern Thanksgiving" dishes.

Fabulous recipes, menus and decor tips
I made my first T-day dinner and used many recipes from this book.The Sourdough/Apple stuffing was a huge hit!!As will all WS books, it is a beautiful text.This is truly an entertaining cookbook with decor tips, beverages, and after holiday meals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Delicious recipes that have become a staple of our holiday
I got this cookbook just before I got married, when I hosted my first Thanksgiving. I've used it for several years now, and many of the recipes in it - including the gingered sweet pototato pudding, the glazed parsnips and carrots, and the pumpkin cheesecake - have become staples of my family's celebration. I haven't tried a single recipe in this book that wasn't utterly delicious. It offers creative twists on traditional holiday fare, so it satisfies both the gourmets and the traditional holiday eaters. It also includes several recipes for "extras" (such as a yummy and very easy recipe for minted cranberry sauce). While some of the recipes take a little extra effort over your traditional mashed potatoes and stuffing, they are very well worth it. Even my husband, whose palette is hardly experimental, loves *everything* I've made from this book. I've now given it as a gift to several of my friends, all of whom have found new recipes to treasure in it! ... Read more