Thanksgiving desserts

Thanksgiving is almost here! We’re just a few days away, and many of you are probably making a to-do list, ensuring everything is ready to go for the holiday. 

While it almost feels as if Thanksgiving has become a forgotten holiday – it seems to be lost in the shuffle between Halloween costumes and candy and then, suddenly Christmas carols and decorations – it is certainly a holiday that should not be overlooked. 

Thanksgiving is a day to slow down and count our blessings, to enjoy family and friends and delicious food. It’s a day to relax and reflect…and eat!

Time to slow down
When I was growing up, Thanksgiving didn’t feel as rushed or stressed as the other holidays. We set a pretty table, used the fancy China dishes and everyone took their time savoring the meal. Sometimes we all went around and said something we were thankful for that happened that year. Other times we all shared our favorite part of the meal.

When we were done eating, some of us cleared the table while others washed and dried dishes. Then we’d settle in to watch some football, or take a nap (or a little of both) before we busted out the board games and made leftover turkey sandwiches as day gave way to night.

Thanksgiving always followed a predictable routine but there was something comforting about that. 

I have fond childhood memories of waking up and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade as my mom started popping food in the oven: the turkey first and then staples like her sweet potato casserole and stuffing.

We always had two kinds of cranberries, too. The fresh ones made on the stove top with a cup of sugar because that’s what mom and grandma liked best. We also had the canned version, too – you know, the one that still showed the can indentations when you slid it onto the plate – because that’s the kind my dad liked best.

We’d always have mashed potatoes and gravy and green bean casserole and pumpkin pie — without these, it just didn’t quite feel like a Thanksgiving meal. And now that I’m grown with a family of my own, these items still make it to the table, even if we’ve added other dishes into the mix. 

That’s what makes Thanksgiving what it is, isn’t it? The routine, the traditions, the memories mixed in with the meal. We gather around the table and eat with our loved ones, and we repeat recipes because without those generational dishes, it just wouldn’t quite feel like Thanksgiving.

Here at Ashley’s, we know there are favorite bakery items that make their way to your table each year. For some of you, Thanksgiving might not be complete without butterscotch rolls or sand tarts or butter flake rolls. You may need to start the morning with one of our delicious coffee cakes. We love that we are part of that tradition, and we are honored to have a place at your table, right next to grandma’s apple pie and uncle Joe’s famous sweet potato casserole. 

If you forgot to place your order, relax and give us a call. We’ll do our best to accommodate your order before Thursday. 

Easy does it
We know there will be plenty of traditional dishes and family favorites served up this year, but we also thought we’d share a side dish or two, in case you’re hosting and want to offer a different option, or you’re headed somewhere and want to bring something tasty (but perhaps easy to do!). We really like this recipe from Love and Lemons for Balsamic Brussel Sprouts. It’s not too hard to make but offers a tasty twist on a classic vegetable.

And if you want to bring a dish that looks like you put more time in than you actually did (hey, we get it; we’re busy too!), here’s something easy to try – turn premade mashed potatoes into a casserole.

  1. Scoop two to three pounds of (premade) mashed potatoes into a baking dish.
  2. Top with shredded cheddar cheese, bacons and scallions.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly. Garnish with green onions.

From our family, and our table, to yours, we are thankful for you this holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!