Thanksgiving brings people around the world for one dinner. Families get together, putting on their best fall outfits to catch up with loved ones they haven’t seen in a while, and cousins play, enjoying the environment. Everyone looks forward to eating the same dishes every year, but do all dishes deserve a spot on the table? From the favorable to the questionable dishes, I will be ranking a basic Thanksgiving menu based on look, flavor, and texture.
- Mac- N- Cheese
This dish deserves to be number one because it’s served as a comfort food since I was a young child. It’s creamy, cheesy, and very flavourful; it never disappoints. The look of this dish is golden-orange and crispy. This dish is number one on my ranking!
2. Greens
For some, greens are probably not second on their ranking, but for me, I love them! The taste ranges from tender to sweet. When you eat it, it is very fresh and also juicy. Every bite brings nostalgia, reminding me of eating my grandmother’s cooking. The looks aren’t quite pleasing, but the taste makes everything better.
3. Yams
Yams differentiates itself from the entire menu. Yams are sweet and rich in taste with the topping of brown sugar and other spices. They tend to melt in your mouth with every single bite. It’s definitely a dish that could be paired with other dishes. The uplifting orange color just gives a warm feeling to the holiday feast.
4. Ham
Thanksgiving ham is a sweet and savory dish. It is juicy, tender, and smoky. You can eat this dish for all three meals throughout the day, a classic fan favorite dish for the holiday season. The looks are amazing too.
5. Cranberry Sauce
Now I love cranberry sauce; my mother cooks it homemade every single year. It is a sweet-tart and smooth sauce that most people pair with a wonderful dinner roll or stuffing. It balances out almost everything on the dinner table while also being bright and very fruity. People can have cranberry sauce in different varieties, but homemade brings in the vibes.
6. Turkey
Turkey, the large golden brown cooked bird, is the iconic dish that almost everyone has on their dinner table for Thanksgiving; it is the centerpiece of everything. For me, turkey isn’t my favorite dish, but it is one of the dishes that I place on my plate here and there. This dish, of course, could be placed with many other dishes, such as yams, macaroni, and cheese. The texture is juicy, and sometimes a bit dry.
7. Rolls
Rolls are a classic; they’re soft, fluffy, and slightly crispy. You can enjoy this with butter, cranberry sauce, or even by itself. It is slightly sweet while also savory. Nothing can go wrong with this dish, but it really doesn’t bring much to the table for me.
8. Stuffing/dressing.
Stuffing/dressing is never my favorite dish for Thanksgiving dinner. I despise it, actually! I was never the person to eat stuffing due to its mix of moist and tender texture. The looks throw me off immediately. Definitely questionable, but it is a tasty food for others, but NOT FOR ME.
9. Pie
Whether it is homemade or store-bought, pie is not my favorite. Families eat pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, pecan pie, and apple pie. It is the sweet finale of dinner. The texture and the taste of pies really send me in a loop. The looks are amazing, but I can skip this dish.
Thanksgiving dishes, of course, are ranked differently by others, so I asked two students at Capital City High School to weigh in on their favorite Thanksgiving dish.
Senior Jessica Mwaipopo said that her favorite dish is Chicken due to the texture, flavor, and seasoning.
Sophomore Xavier Adams said pumpkin pie is his favorite dish for Thanksgiving because he loves the way it is made and also the way it goes with other things.
Whether it’s mac and cheese or turkey, these dishes hold sweet memories that families hold on to. Opinions will, of course, differ from my ranking. But Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all of the things you are thankful/grateful for. There’s no wrong way to celebrate Thanksgiving, especially when delicious food is brought to the table!
