A Local Harvest Thanksgiving Menu

Thanksgiving is just around the corner for us Canadians, and I am as excited as ever to celebrate! This year, I have planned a Local Harvest Thanksgiving Menu that features lots of local ingredients from Vancouver Island. Not only are there tons of local producers and farmers on Vancouver Island, the products that they supply are top notch and incredibly delicious. Even if you don’t live on Vancouver Island, you can still make this Local Harvest Thanksgiving Menu using ingredients that are local to you!

I have come up with a festive menu that includes everything from appetizers to dessert. The menu includes traditional favourites such as turkey, bread stuffing, and fall vegetables, but with a bit of a twist. I have also come up with some amazing new Thanksgiving appetizers that everyone will love!

Read my blog post to see what recipes I have included in my Local Harvest Thanksgiving Menu! Also, check out my Thanksgiving Special video on YouTube to watch me make these all from scratch!

Appetizers

Dried Apricots with Fromage Frais, Walnuts & Honey

This recipe for Dried Apricots with Fromage Frais, Walnuts & Honey is my fall take on the famous Devil’s on Horseback appetizer. I love all the incredible fall flavours and colours of this appetizer, so it will look so festive to kick off your Thanksgiving get-together.

My Dried Apricots with Fromage Frais, Walnuts & Honey features dried apricots (of course), local Fromage Frais from Little Qualicum Cheeseworks. This Fromage Frais is absolutely incredible and has a nice smooth texture and tartness, kind of like a more tart cream cheese. These dainty appetizers are topped off with toasted walnuts, a sprig of rosemary for freshness, and a drizzle of local honey from Babe’s Honey Farm.

There is no recipe for these Dried Apricots with Fromage Frais, Walnuts & Honey, it’s just a simple assembly!

Apple Cider Glazed Meatballs

Who doesn’t love crockpot meatballs during the holiday season? My Apple Cider Meatballs are an autumnal take on traditional crockpot meatballs, with a sweet, savoury and autumn spice flavour. However, unlike regular crockpot meatballs where you can dump all the sauce ingredients into the crockpot, the sauce must be cooked down first, or else it becomes too watery. But don’t worry, this additional step is SO worth it!

Feel free to make your own homemade meatballs for this recipe, or take a quick and convenient shortcut and use frozen store-bought meatballs. I really prefer the frozen Swedish meatballs (or any meatball with a combination of pork and beef) as opposed to Italian meatballs as they have a more neutral flavour.

Crockpot Apple Cider Glazed Meatballs
Crockpot meatballs aren't just for the Christmas season, you can serve them for Thanksgiving and fall get togethers too! My Crockpot Apple Cider Glazed Meatballs have amazing autumnal flavours thanks to apple jelly, apple cider, cinnamon, and star anise. You can make your own homemade meatballs for this recipe, or use your favourite store-bought brand to make preparing this recipe easier!
Check out this recipe

Main

A Show-Stopping Brown Butter & Sage Turkey

Turkey might not be everyone’s favourite dish, but this Brown Butter & Sage Turkey will have everyone asking for the recipe. A 24-hour dry brine is the secret to keeping this turkey super juicy and tender, and is an easy step that anyone can do to enhance a regular roast turkey.

In addition to this dry brine, the turkey is covered in copious amounts of browned butter that adds flavour and juiciness to the turkey. To add additional flavour, I add whole sage leaves into the brown butter once it is done cooking to allow the sage oils to infuse throughout the butter. This adds wonderful flavour and a nice aroma to the turkey!

📸 Photo: Yulianna (@yul_ianna)
Brown Butter & Sage Turkey
Brown Butter & Sage Turkey is a show stopping recipe to serve for Thanksgiving! A 24-hour dry brine is the secret to keeping this turkey super juicy and tender, and is an easy step that anyone can do to enhance a regular roast turkey.
Get the Recipe →

Sides

Sourdough Bread Stuffing

Take your traditional bread stuffing to a whole new level by using your favourite sourdough bread! This simple swap really enhances the flavour of bread stuffing and makes it extra special for the holidays!

I combine carrots, celery, onions, chicken stock, sage, and parsley with my favourite ‘Lunchpail’ sourdough from a local bakery called Working Culture Bread. Whether you get a bakery made loaf, or make your own sourdough yourself, be sure to make extra as everyone will be having seconds…and thirds!

📸 Photo: Yulianna (@yul_ianna)
Sourdough Bread Stuffing
Take your traditional bread stuffing to the next level by making it with your favourite sourdough bread. This little change adds such great flavour that you might want to double the recipe! Everyone is guaranteed to go back for seconds!
Check out this recipe

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Thanksgiving is not complete without a serving of mashed potatoes. My recipe for Creamy Mashed Potatoes is super simple and is a staple recipe that can really be used for any holiday celebration, or even as part of a weeknight meal.

I like to combine Russet potatoes and Yukon Gold potatoes to yield the perfect mashed potato recipe. The russet variety adds a fluffy starchy texture and flavour, whereas the Yukon gold add a wonderful creaminess.

To add extra decadence, I add warm half and half (cream/milk) and butter that has been infused with garlic and bay leaves. This adds lots of creaminess to the mashed potatoes and a subtle garlic flavour that goes great with all the other dishes on this menu.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes
My Creamy Mashed Potatoes are a staple recipe that can be made any day of the week or on special holidays. I combine russets and Yukon Gold potatoes to get the perfect mashed potato texture. The addition of half and half steeped with garlic and a bay leaf really makes this recipe extra special.
Check out this recipe

Roasted Squash Trio with Orange Honey Butter

What could possibly make roasted seasonal squash better? How about a sweet and delicious homemade honey butter glaze?

My roasted squash trio is comprised of butternut squash, acorn squash, and kabocha squash. These are all delicious seasonal squash that have to be on the menu during the fall months. To make these roasted squash even better, I make a flavourful Orange Honey Butter, again with local honey from Babe’s Honey Farm.

To add some colour and a bit more texture and flavour, I also garnish this recipe with a autumnal gremolata. The gremolata is made from parsley, chopped pepitas and dried cranberries. This extra addition is so spectacular and really makes this recipe festive for the holiday!

📸 Photo: Yulianna (@yul_ianna)
Roasted Squash Trio with Orange Honey Butter
My Roasted Squash Trio with Orange Honey Butter is the best way to celebrate seasonal squash! I combine roasted butternut, acorn, and kabocha squash and toss it in a delicious sweet and savoury Orange Honey Butter. An extra flourish of a fresh pepita gremolata makes this recipe extra special!
Check out this recipe

Easy Shaved Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

I believe there has to be greens at every Thanksgiving table. But to be festive, I made this super simple Easy Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Bacon. This dish combines sweet, salty, tart, and smoky flavours and really enhances the flavour of brussels sprouts.

Not only did I use local brussel sprouts from Mitchell’s Farm Market in this recipe, I also used local bacon from Red Barn Market. They all come together with the addition of apple cider vinegar, onion, and a drizzle of maple syrup. This recipe is so simple yet so delicious!

Easy Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
The fall season is the best time to enjoy fresh brussels sprouts. These Easy Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Bacon are smoky, savoury, and sweet. These are perfect to serve for any fall dinner or Thanksgiving!
Check out this recipe

Homestyle Apple Pie

Apple pie is always a great choice to serve on Thanksgiving as it is a crowd favourite. My Homestyle Apple Pie is special as the filling is cooked before adding it into the pie. This allows the bottom crust to stay nice a crisp and your pie won’t get soggy! Make this with my Homestyle Pie Dough and you will have the perfect pie for Thanksgiving!

📸 Photo: Dianne (@canadianne_eats)
Homestyle Apple Pie
Homestyle Apple Pie is the ONLY apple pie recipe that you will ever need! Delicious honeycrisp apples are baked with brown sugar and spices inside my flaky Homestyle Pie Dough. The filling is cooked before baking to ensure that the filling is thick and keeps your pie flaky and crispy!
Check out this recipe

Watch My Video!

Check out my YouTube video to see me make this ENTIRE menu from start to finish! Don’t forget to like and subscribe to my channel! Happy Thanksgiving!

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