Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends. It is a time to show your gratitude for everything and everyone in your life. Sitting down at a table all together, sharing memories, giving thanks, and enjoying each moment together creates a valuable and irreplaceable moment.
Turkey is usually the main entrée of the Thanksgiving feast, though side meals are what makes the meal so special. Overall the top sides for Thanksgiving based on our HHS students’ opinions are bread rolls, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese.
These basic sides work together to create the perfect Thanksgiving dinner. Bread rolls are the top choice in sides at HHS; they call for a simple recipe.
A lot of people enjoy store-bought rolls, though they possess a simple recipe. Homemade Bread rolls consist of seven simple ingredients to make just the dough. The first is milk, which activates the yeast, which will be added next. The next ingredient is sugar; this increases the activity of the yeast. The next ingredient is an egg to give them fluff. The next ingredient, butter, can be replaced with any sort of oil, though butter gives your rolls the divine taste they are known for. Salt is an optional ingredient, though it is recommended for flavor. The final ingredient is the second most important. Flour, usually all-purpose for this dish, gives the bread its structure.
The next step in this recipe is to pan the dough after it is shaped and separated as wanted. Cover the dough and let it rise for over an hour, then place it in the refrigerator overnight.
Let them cook in the oven for twenty to thirty minutes at 350 degrees. After cooling to a safe temperature for consumption, they are ready to be devoured.
Senior Annie Elison mentions her love for her Bread Rolls. She said: “Bread rolls are my favorite Thanksgiving side because I eat about three to five of them no matter how stuffed I am. They are so yummy.”
Pumpkin Pie is the next student favorite. Though this is a desert it is a must-have at Thanksgiving. Written on the HHS Hilltoper is “Fall Baking: The how-to’s of these treats” where pumpkin pie is covered as the first recipe.
Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving classic. This dish calls for an even more simple recipe. It is by far one of the easiest ones to make, only using four ingredients. The first is the most important: potatoes. They need to be cut into slices for a smooth process. The next is a very small amount of salt, followed by butter. These give the potatoes the flavor that is desired for the overall Thanksgiving meal. The last ingredient is hot milk.
Start by putting the sliced potatoes into a hot pot for around two to three minutes. After the water is drained out and the separate ingredients are added, mix and mash thoroughly. They are now ready to be set on the table to feast on.
Sophomore Quinn Ossage mentioned his liking for Mashed Potatoes. He said: “I just really like them.”
It wouldn’t be a proper Thanksgiving dinner without Macaroni and Cheese. Although boxed “Kraft” is one of the tastiest, homemade is also a valuable attribute with an easy recipe.
Elbow noodles are the classic shape for macaroni and cheese, though any shape can be used. Cheese is the next ingredient. The type of cheese can change depending on the desired flavor. The first step is to shred the cheese.
Start by boiling the noodles using the current timing based on what the box says. Once it is done cooking, drain the water from the pot. The next ingredients are butter and milk for a creamy texture. The next step is to add powder, which can be substituted for any desired flower, as well as cornstarch. Sour cream can be substituted for Greek yogurt. An optional ingredient would be garlic, this is another common add-on to give the dish flavor. After it is all mixed to create a cheesy goodness, it is ready to be served.
Freshman Christian Bedinghaus expressed his love for Macaroni and Cheese. He said: “Macaroni and cheese is my favorite side because I’ve eaten it my whole life. It tastes really good, and I think it deserves to be represented.”
There are many other favorite Thanksgiving sides and dishes. Whether they are sweet or savory they all come together to create the perfect meal made for bringing people together.