My friend Rachel, a new oleh from Jersey, having made aliyah just weeks before us, emailed me with an idea. She’s one of those types, so many great ideas, so little time. Anyhoo Rachey emails me and writes, and I quote: “I have a project idea for you that I think would work NEXT year, but would be a great PR opportunity, which is “A Jamie Geller Thanksgiving” in Israel, for Americans living here. Think about it. Lots of Americans make Thanksgiving dinner just for fun.”
And I wonder why after all this time people don’t get that I want OUT of the kitchen. I politely email Rachel back – as politely as one can type “there is no way in this world or any other that I want to turn myself into a caterer.”
Well as fate would have it — the day after Thanksgiving I am hosting a big Geller blowout Shabbos. I’ll be cooking for 10 adults and 20 kids KY”H!!! So I guess I will be catering a small party after all Rachel! But when it’s family (and friends) I am more than happy to. And as Thanksgiving is probably one of my favorite all-time meals of the year that’s my theme.
So Rachey if I were to cater a “Jamie Geller Thanksgiving” for the masses, my menu would go a little something like this.
My mother in law always served dinner rolls warm, sliced with a pat of margarine so that it was already melty by the time you took a bite. You must serve these warm too and they don’t even need the margarine. I love them because the caramelized onions are sweet and savory and the olive oil moistens the bread.
These complement every dish you will serve and you have not known heaven on earth until you have tasted these.
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Classic Cholent
The Best Classic Cholent Recipe: Shabbat Morning Comfort, Just Like Bubby Made Growing up, …
Butternut Squash Kugel
A melt-in-your mouth soufflé that really is like dessert with dinner. Tip: Try baking …
Make Ahead: you can both caramelize the onions and make the dough ahead of time. Freeze the dough raw and the onions separately. Let the dough come to room temperature before stuffing and topping your rolls with onions. Bake fresh or rewarm covered in foil. Technically you can actually make these pockets and freeze them and just rewarm wrapped in foil as well.
My (Coconut Milk White Wine) Butternut Squash Soup
As family lore goes before I met Hubby my mother in law served soup in a hallowed out squash or bread bowl or something fancy one Thanksgiving. And I’ve had to hear about it for years. Lucky I don’t have a complex at all and have instead forged my own path and rebelliously opted not to dress up this soup but just serve it in a bowl. You can of course hollow out a pretty little squash if you are not trying to prove a point.
It’s really not so hard to make your own roast turkey, it just takes a little more time and patience. Watch this here handy dandy vid for tips on making this baby.
Southwestern Turkey Breast with Green Chile Stuffing
Southwestern Turkey Breast and Green Chili Stuffing
If you are having a smaller crowd and are the adventurous type try this recipe. If you want the whole bird in a classic presentation and flavor profile go with this Classic Roasted Turkey.
Whichever way you decide to go this incredible gravy goes with most any turkey and with most any food, you don’t even need to make a turkey to try this vegetarian friendly gravy. .
I am super duper duper partial to this stuffing recipe and will probably make it and add lots o’ mushrooms!!! I might have to make my other favorite stuffing for the non mushroom loves in my family.
Cranberry, Sage and Chestnut Stuffing
Watch this great video to see how easy it is.
Green Bean Three Onion Saute
In our fam we love Brussels sprouts, broccoli or green beans at our Thanksgiving din din. This is an easy one that’s not overly seasoned so it will match really nicely no matter what’s on your menu.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH MARSHMALLOW TOPPING
A must must must must at ANY Thanksgiving table. My childhood friend’s mother Lela was the first person I saw put marshmallows on yams and I think I actually spoke to the dish – said something like “hey baby where have you been all my life?”
PUMPKIN PIE WITH CARAMEL WHIPPED CREAM
If you are traditional and I am (sometimes) Turkey is not served unless you have a pumpkin pie with whipped “cream” for dessert.
This is a nice super seasonal rich beautiful alternative or additional (as is my style) dessert.
Paula my recipe editor is making my Cinnamon Buns for her Thanksgiving dessert and I thought “yes, great call, I must let the world know!”
So here goes the sappy part. I am thankful for you all every day and I try my best to constantly say it so that you know you are loved and so you know that your interest and support in all that I am trying to do means the world to me. So I don’t technically need this day to tell you that – but I’ll tell you again anyway. Thank you for your comments, your feedback, and your show of love both in person and online. You have no clue how much you are giving to me and what an impact you are making on my life.
What are you making? What are you thankful for? What is your favorite thanksgiving dish?
Too many onions for me. Onion Pockets = ruined bread. Onion Saute = ruined green beans.
The cinnamon-buns look fantastic.
Wow! How long would I have to exercise to burn off all these calories? It looks like it would be worth it!
My mouth waters looking at the pictures. We are having turkey soup, turkey legs, sweet potatoes, mashed garlic potatoes, and lamb roast for the meat lovers. Of course a nice salad and cranberry relish top the table.
I’m excited to try the warm onion challah pockets!
We too are celebrating Thanksgiving in Israel, but we traditionally do it on Friday/Shabbat dinner. All the kids will be home and my parents will be here for Shabbat. I am looking forward to it, hopefully a quiet (siren-less) Shabbat for all of Israel.
Onion pockets look really really good
Great recipe suggestions!!!
We are also celebrating Thanksgiving in Israel (as we have for the past 6 years) with a group of friends who have become our family – Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, the works!
Onion pockets look delicious 🙂
Everything looks delicious but my favorite is pumpkin pie
I am so thankful not to be cooking this Thanksgiving 🙂 But your menu looks delicious! I am grateful that you and your family are safe…
The green chile stuffing looks absolutely sumptuous.
Everything looks YUMMY… The Molasses Spice Bundt cake looks intriguing. I may have to try that!
oh yummy that pie looks decadent!
Those cinnamon buns look incredible
I realize you are having 30 quests…but could you make it 31 please? LOL..your line up of food is amazing..Love the bread..I adore carmelized onions…and oh sweet potatoes and marshmallows…I don’t talk to mine 🙂
WANT TO MAKE!!!! Challah Onion Pockets!!!
I’m thankful we can all be together this year. My favorite is the stuffing I bake outside of the turkey
Mashed potatoes are my favorite! And cranberry sauce! And anything butternut squash! And… oh, I love this holiday. 🙂
It all looks so delicious!
I can’t wait to try the soup. The pie and cake also look great. Actually, it all looks wonderful!
Everything looks so amazing!! I especially would love to try that soup.
everything looks delicious, especially the cinnamon buns!
me me
The onion pockets look delish!
The soup looks really good. I’m always looking for different squash soup recipes!
You make everything look so easy. The cinnamon buns and those sweet potatoes cassarole I’m going to try to make. Looks great.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
I want to learn to make these, I have never seen such a great sweet potato recipe that I actually wanted to eat! Also the Challah pockets are a clever and delicious idea, certainly going to be practicing these for next year (can’t learn in two weeks!)
These are all so succulant! (sp?) I know for sure many of them will be making it to my table. I find often that candy yams/ sweet potato casserole is TOO sweet but the picture is great! Thanks for more awesomeness Jamie!
sounds like an awesome menu! Hope everything comes out good!
Yum! Everything looks fabulous!
I sounds like a really great idea
It all sounds delicious, though I’m not a fan of stuffing.
What strikes me from Jamie’s article is the happiness she and her family feel in Israel…this makes Thanksgiving really special…May you grow from strength to strength
Challah Onion Pockets look oh so good!!
I often make a parve pumpkin-almond crunch pie or a chocolate pecan pie for dessert when we have turkey. I’ve answered the milchig fleshig question by making Thanksgiving a two-day “chag.” One meal is dairy — all of the butter and whipped cream. One is meat. Problem solved.
I usually make pecan pie for Thanksgiving, especially if traveling since it doesn’t need refrigeration.
All the food looks delicious and thanks for the videos!
Everything looks so delicious. Getting me inspired for our family Thanksgiving celebration. I’m going to try your pumpkin pie for dessert!
All the food looks so good—I may try the butternut squash soup this year!
The Challah Onion Pockets look AMAZING!
Everything looks DELICIOUS! Can’t wait to try out the challah onion pockets!
Looks like a great meal, but I’d leave the marshmallows off – too messy to eat. Then we could have coconut ices for dessert.
I hope to prepare the Green Bean Three Onion Saute for this Shabbat. The Cinnamon Buns look delicious – maybe I’ll prepare them next week.
Really want to make a mini Thanksgiving dinner. Everything looks so good..
I am thankful for my family—both my parents are 92 and healthy! My son and family live in Israel; I am thankful he is happy there. I am thankful I do not cook Thanksgiving—my sister does! I do all the Jewish holidays and take a break now. But I love your recipe for green beans as a side dish and the bundt cake looks yummy! Not necessary to do so many desserts tho. . .people will be stuffed already.
I love Thanksgiving…all that cooking and baking. There will be turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, baked potato soup, rolls, homemade jam, fruit salad, cranberry fluff, stir fried green beans, pumpkin roll, pumpkin pie and another dessert I have not chosen yet. I make something new every year.
the challah looks awesome!
I am Thankfull for my family and the fact that we got through Sandy easy compared to others. My favorite Thanksgiving dish is the sweet potatoes, without the marshmellow!