Thanksgiving – a holiday that brings family and friends together to share each other’s company and, of course, delicious food and drink. There are several ways to incorporate Real Maine ingredients and products into your Thanksgiving celebration, adding local flavor and giving you the opportunity to try some new recipes. Here are some ideas, both traditional and non-traditional:
Some Real Maine members can be a one-stop shop for many of your Thanksgiving feast needs. Hart Farm is offering Thanksgiving Boxes that include “everything but the turkey,” including a wide assortment of local organic produce, their own pastured pork, and other ingredients such as local flour, fruit, eggs, milk, and butter. The boxes also include recipes that combine everything that’s in the box.
BUILD AROUND LOCAL MEAT AND POULTRY
Having a local turkey as a centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal supports Maine farms and provides you with the tastiest and freshest gobbler possible. You can pre-order yours online or by calling, or by going to your local specialty store. You can also consider other local meat, like roasting a chicken, cooking a beef roast, or other alternatives.
Many local stores and butcher shops partner with local farms to offer the freshest meat and poultry for the holidays. They can also fulfill specific requests.
VERSATILE ADDITIONS: MAPLE SYRUP AND HONEY
A great way to incorporate local flavor into your Thanksgiving meat or poultry is to use Maine maple syrup and local honey for everything from glazes, sauces, and toppings to ingredients in appetizers and desserts. You can even whip some maple syrup or honey into your butter. It is also very easy to infuse your maple syrup and honey with flavors such as cinnamon and blueberry.
Looking for some inspiration? Many Real Maine members, including Northern Reach Maple, have recipe pages on their websites that will whet your appetite and provide you with ideas.
SPOTLIGHT ON SIDES
Thanksgiving side dishes can steal the show (and fill your plate). Bring locally grown vegetables to the table, such as Real Maine parsnips, carrots, onions, and squash. There are more options than ever to source local produce during the holidays, whether by preordering for pickup at your local farm or farmers’ market, choosing a farm delivery option (such as FarmDrop or the Daybreak Growers’ Alliance), or shopping at stores that carry Real Maine products.
No Thanksgiving in Maine would be complete without potatoes. It’s easy to find Maine-grown potatoes at farm stands, farmers’ markets, and local specialty/grocery stores. Even large supermarkets typically carry hearty Maine potatoes. Just be sure to check the packaging or signage to learn where the potatoes are from. Russet potatoes and Yukon Golds (both grown in Maine) are perfect for mashing, such as in this recipe from the Maine Potato Board.
INVITING SEASONAL BEVERAGES
The holidays represent a perfect time to sample local craft beers, wines, ciders and spirits, or to use them to make a flavorful cocktail.
Real Maine member Green Bee crafts beverages, such as soda and sparkling water, sweetened with honey and suitable for use in mocktails and cocktails. Green Bee’s Honeycomb Cider, made with local apple cider and sweetened with a touch of cinnamon and honey, is especially appropriate for crafting seasonal mocktails and cocktails.
Here’s a recipe from Green Bee you might want to try for your Thanksgiving celebration:
Maple Apple Thanksgiving Punch
- 4 bottles Green Bee Honeycomb Cider
- 4 oz bourbon (optional)
- 2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 oz maple syrup, or less to taste
- Orange slices and cinnamon sticks
Combine everything except the soda in a pitcher. Add the chilled soda just before serving to preserve the bubbles.
CRANBERRY SEASON
Cranberries are harvested on Maine farms in the fall and become available in time for the holidays. They are a rugged little berry that stores in the refrigerator, freezes well, and is a versatile ingredient. You can pair Real Maine cranberry products in a number of ways with your Thanksgiving celebration.
Of course, a classic use of cranberries on Thanksgiving is for cranberry sauce. It is easy to find locally made cranberry sauce, including from Real Maine member Maine Homestead, at local farms, farmers’ markets, specialty stores, and grocery stores.
ADDITIONS TO YOUR PANTRY OR MEAL
There are many ways to include Real Maine products in your cooking and for stocking your pantry for the holidays.
Maine spice makers craft special blends that can add complexity and vibrancy to your holiday dishes, such as Real Maine member Morning Dew Farm’s small-batch paprika and chili flakes and The Stand on Common Road’s roasted garlic, which can add some savory flavor.
There is a wide variety of Real Maine members that produce products to fill your cupboard and your palate, such as pickles, sauerkraut, jams, jellies, vinegars, salad dressings, and sauces. Real Maine member Planet Naskeag’s wild pickled blueberries make a unique complement to your holiday meal, along with Real Maine member Mother’s Mountain’s Spiced Apple Mustard.
Maybe you’re a charcuterie fan? Real Maine members can help there, too. For example – Lakin’s Gorges Cheese has its Farmstead Cheese Gift Box, which includes 1.5 pounds of their cow’s milk cheese, salami made from their whey-fed pork, and local crackers and honey, ready to order.
ADD TO THE EXPERIENCE
Much of the core of Thanksgiving is coming together for the holiday. Real Maine members offer events, workshops, excursions, and outings that can enrich the experience of being together during the holidays. One such experience would be visiting Maine Water Buffalo Co. for their Festive Farm Light Walk.
Real Maine is the state’s official agriculture and agritourism promotions program. From Thanksgiving ingredients to Christmas trees to holiday gifts, plan your Real Maine agricultural experience. Visit www.RealMaine.com to connect to farms, food, and agriculture throughout Maine.
