Happy Thanksgiving!
Celebrating Thanksgiving traditions, travel volume this year is higher than ever. Expect flight cabins to fill up faster in 2024 than last year, and rooming options to disappear earlier. Travel may be up across the board, but baby boomers are leading the way this fall, with 47% of the generation booking trips this season. Thatâs also a marked year-over-year increase, as just 34% of boomers traveled in the fall of 2023.
Locales in the Pacific Northwest and New England coast top the list of most popular Fall holiday destinations domestically, according to Travel Magazine. Meanwhile, the top trending international destinations for Americans are in Japan. Tokyo and Osaka are the cities trending the most in searches on So, if youâre traveling this holiday, the team at River North Law Group wishes you safe and happy holiday travels.
And when we arrive, weâll appreciate old traditions and create new ones, welcoming generations we might be meeting for the first time. Thanksgiving offers a splash of creativity and innovation in cultural cuisine. Here, we take a look at three of the most popular ways hosts and influencers are making non-traditional plans for Thanksgiving.
Traditional Thanksgiving Turkey
The singular family tradition, which anchors the holiday for so many is the Thanksgiving turkey. America consumes an estimated 46 million turkeys each holiday season. Thatâs nearly 80% of Americans featuring turkey in holiday meals. A typical traditional Thanksgiving turkey feast might include a combination of green bean casserole, mashed sweet potatoes or yams, creamed spinach, and Brussel sprouts. Cranberry sauce, a wide variety of stuffing and rolls, hot from the oven, complete the traditional table setting.
Recently however, you may have noticed a departure from the traditional table to more imaginative Thanksgiving dining alternatives. These are just a few of the Thanksgiving Dinner ideas and fascinating stories weâve discovered to wish you the best holiday ever.
Best of Both Worlds
Begin by understanding that you donât have to give up your favorite traditions in order to try something new. You can add a dish or two, even an appetizer, to family festivities to change it up or refresh the routine.
Ree Drummond helps you to find creative ways to include unexpected main courses, fun Thanksgiving side dishes, tasty appetizers, and more. Think: pumpkin risotto, crab-stuffed mushrooms, sweet potato curry, and cauliflower gratin. Looking to skip the roasted turkey? No problem! Try a tender roast beef or an easy slow cooker pork chop recipe instead! You can also choose from one of the vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner ideas, like creamy butternut squash pasta or mushroom gravy. Once you have your non-traditional Thanksgiving menu planned out, all you need to finish the meal is a dessert that's equally unpredictableâlike say, a chocolate Thanksgiving dessert! Get more ideas at this link.
Hispanic Thanksgiving Traditions
Thanksgiving has culturally significance and is a federal holiday in many Latin American countries. For some, Thanksgiving traditions date back to the colonial era. In Mexico, Thanksgiving is referred to as DĂa de AcciĂłn de Gracias, and families gather for a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey, tamales, and mole.
In other Latin American countries such as Colombia and Venezuela, Thanksgiving Day focuses more on religious roots with Thanksgiving Masses in churches followed by a traditional, celebratory feast. Puerto Ricans also have their own tradition of ensuring thanks are given to loved ones by presenting Thanksgiving cards or gifts that say âGraciasâ on them.
For Latinx communities across the 50 states, Thanksgiving is an American tradition enriched by generational recipes. Bringing Latin cuisine to the holiday table; some families replace turkey with pernil, which can feel warmer than its traditional counterpart. Alongside a traditional turkey, South American side dishes can bring a whole new flavor to the family gathering. From Hornado de chancho, to elotes, and empanadas, there is no end to the possibilities for spicing up a family feast. Youâll find ideas for recipes at Remezcla.
Vegan Thanksgiving
You donât have to be Vegan to find these Thanksgiving ideas attractive. Food allergies, and an assortment of other circumstances may require forgoing a meat entrĂ©e. However, it doesnât mean sacrificing a delicious meal with warm fellowship of friends and family. On the contrary, you may find some of these dishes fulfill your dream of a non-traditional holiday reunion. Of course, taking your meal preparation into plant-based territory can feel a bit intimidating.
But Running on Real Food makes it easy. Their Thanksgiving includes dishes that are just as satisfying as traditional ones, packed with the same fall flavors we all know and love. The spiciness of pumpkin, the heartiness of a thick gravy, and the warm fluffiness of stuffing can all be accomplished in vegan-friendly waysâbelieve it or notâand they offer resources to show you how.
Find vegan recipes that explore cuisine without using a single egg, pat of butter, or dash of milk. And of course, since itâs Vegan, thereâs zero meat involved. But if you experiment with two or three dishes, you may find guests wonât notice the winged gobbler missing from the table. Running on Real Food Vegan Thanksgiving.
A Small Plate Thanksgiving Feast
Are you weary of the toll of stuffing yourself to the brim, and running over with the biggest meal of the year? Well, hereâs an idea to get your stuffing down to size. Instead of filling a large plate to the outer margins, try a series of small plates that shift the focus entirely. You can go from the traditional sit-down dinner to a more casual fellowship of delectable small plate treats. Add music for atmosphere, and transport your guests to a refreshing Thanksgiving that wonât add 10lbs.
Eating Well has an irresistible assortment of recipe ideas. From pepperoni basic tomato puffs, to honey garlic bacon wrapped shrimp or Brussel sprouts, you might try the recipe for spicey deviled eggs or garlic balsamic slow-cooked pork shoulder. Youâll find them all here.
Of course, with dishes this rich, we canât guarantee your Thanksgiving offers fewer calories. But whoâs counting?
All of us at River North Law Group are wishing all of you and yours a warm and memorable Thanksgiving Holiday and a most delicious feast! We invite you to meet our team.