Thanksgiving Ideas

In order to avoid the boring usuals, I am thinking about Thanksgiving dinner particularly early this year. Here are a few ideas for the menu so far:

Appetizers/Snacks
apple/cheese appetizer plate: granny smith, fuji apples, with blue cheese, extra sharp white cheddar, gorgonzola/brie, "fromage fort" cheese spread

tapas appetizers: kalamata olives/tapenade, marcona almonds, fig spread, flax crackers

hummus or white bean dip with Trader Joe's flax seed crackers

Side Dishes
mushroom risotto with wild rice and Parmesan cheese: use rehydrated shiiatkes, cut up some cremini mushrooms, use white wine (sauvingon blanc) and broth for liquid, wild/brown rice mixture and pressure cook

spinach, candied walnut, dried cranberry, salad with maple dressing

roasted butternut squash slices with goat cheese/herb dressing

roasted asparagus: break off woody ends of asparagus spears, roll in a little dab of olive oil on a baking sheet. Sprinkle pepper and coarse sea salt. Roast for 10 minutes at 400 degrees F. Serve with balsamic vinegar reduction sauce.

Meats
Miso Broiled Salmon Fillet

Brined, rubbed, roasted turkey from Diestel Farms

Dessert
Pumpkin pie with pumpkin seed crust from this book

Pear-Ginger pie from this book

Coconut tapioca pudding for the non-pie-eaters

Champagne/sparkling wine: WinCo sells "Ballatore gran spumante" for $5 or less a bottle