By: Dallin Rahlf 

I can feel your anxiety through the computer. You have been charged with the Thanksgiving meal or have some large job to accomplish in order to have the best array of food in town. Whether you’ve got the whole thing or just a part, the daunting task of preparing the highly anticipated meal of the year casts a large shadow of expectations. 

There are some folk that claim the Thanksgiving meal to be the epitome of the best homemade food. We’re talking everything made with love, tenderness, cooked to perfection with little room for error. Do you have what it takes to throw the best Thanksgiving meal ever? Of course you do, for you are wise in your ways, and have come to Dallin at the GetOutPass for guidance. You might ask, “Dallin, what on Earth do you know about Thanksgiving?” Well, to that I answer that I have been a part of dozens, well into the 30’s. I consider myself a Thanksgiving expert, and my advice will surely prove that. Follow our list below for Thanksgiving must haves. 

The Entrée 

The very reason many decide to participate in the craziness that we call the Thanksgiving day meal is the entrée. Tradition states that you have two options here to keep things classy: turkey or ham. Both are excellent, both have varying difficulties in preparation and different pairings that go well with them, but you really can’t mess up picking either of these two. Be sure to check out my tips on how to thaw out your piggy or bird. 

Turkey is the most classic food you can provide on this Thanksgiving day. Ham is second, but you know what? There is absolutely nothing wrong with paving your own traditions with your friends and family. Let everyone else eat turkeys and hams! You could create a brand new way for your proud family name to celebrate the day gathered around the table. I once had brisket on Thanksgiving, and believe it or not, it was awesome, and I never questioned the family’s character for dishing up something that wasn’t one of the Big Two. Maybe you do something entirely vegan. Maybe you go out to Golden Coral or IHOP. Maybe you switch it up every year, and the switch up itself is the tradition! Building traditions together is much more important than whatever food is the centerpiece of the meal. 

The Potatoes 

I have some friends and I’m married to a certain someone that would claim that the spuds deserve more praise than they get. They are the Luigi to the Mario, the Robin to the Batman. They are the unsung heroes that are perhaps more responsible for the success of the meal than they are ever praised for. 

Potatoes are a wonderful side dish because the possibilities for them as a side dish are endless. Boil them. Mash them. Stick them in a stew! Samwise Gamgee was one to enjoy there variety of potato dishes. If you’re swearing for ideas, stick with mashed potatoes and gravy. Very easy to make, very easy to impress, very tough to mess up. Throw in some garlic if you want to spice it up a little bit. Twice baked potatoes are easy, delicious, and look quite fancy. If you want to have a side dessert as a dessert, go with some marshmallow sweet potatoes. Sounds gross on paper, but is straight up scrumptious in the mouth. 

The Bread 

Once again we come to another unsung hero in the tale of Delicious Thanksgiving Entrées and Friends. Whether they’re homemade or thrown in the oven from some bag of frozen rolls bought in large masses, rolls are the massive thighs in the body builder of a Thanksgiving feast. Don’t overlook their simple presence: rolls are the perfect filler when someone needs just another bite or two of something. Plus, your picky eaters will likely be ok with eating 5 of them. Not the healthiest lunch in the world, but it’ll get the job done.

I took the liberty to write out a little poem about them.

A mixture of flour and a little yeast 

To sit at the side of the slain beast

Is something that you might understand 

To be more scrumptious than thou hast planned.

Sitting in a bowl—the mountain high!

Praises and songs should pierce the sky!

For nothing compares to buttery delight 

That makes wings of dreams take flight.

Covered in butter, jam or plain, 

Like snowflakes are two never the same.

So please when I yell—bash not my skull—

“Hey yo momma! Pass me a roll!”

Thank you. 

Dessert 

Dessert, dessert. This is how you end the day. This is the 4th quarter. This is the finale after the climax of the movie. How will you wrap up the epic tale that has been your Thanksgiving feast? When it comes to desserts, don’t overthink it. Sometimes, less is more, and the simpler, the better. A little ice cream goes a long way. Some store bought pies (particularly Costco) can be a cheap and easy way to bring the meal to a close. 

My father has made his famous Rainbow Jell-O since before I was born. It’s a time consuming task, but the payoff is a beautiful, simple dessert that everyone loves. This is a great opportunity to start a tradition of your own. There are desserts that look really impressive that are easy to pull off. You could wow your friends and also make something that can be easily done year after year. Something that comes to mind is a lava cake that I made one year (and, I might add I won the dessert contest, so… year) and it got rave reviews. Don’t be afraid to try something new! 

Drinks 

Drinks an certainly be the easiest part of the day. Soda gets the people going for sure. If you want to spice up the drinks that’ll be great for kids too, mix a 50/50 ratio of cranberry juice and 7UP. For some sugar free options, look for those Kirkland sparkling waters or Ice drinks. Very yummy to go with the feast you’ve created!