"Midwest Thanksgiving"

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of time with loved ones. I have to admit, Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday. I love the time with friends and family, but the emphasis primarily eating seems unheathy. Each year my family has the same menu, for as long as I can remember:

Midwest Thanksgiving Menu

A giant Turkey

Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes

Cheesy Potato Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Candied Yams

Macoroni and Cheese

dinner rolls

Texas Corn Casserole

Oyster Casserole

Many pies

I leave each year feeling tired and needing a long walk. I am not used to eating such processed foods. All of the dishes have large amounts of fat and sugar. There is nothing fresh. I did ask if we had a fresh salad and the half joking response was, "This is Thanksgiving. We don't have salad on thanksgiving."

Why not? At one point in our family history, my grandparents had several fresh foods on the table, many from their own garden. At some point, Cambells Soup and Kraft took over our holiday meals...and nobody seemed to notice or remember how it used to be.

I have decided that from now on I will bring two fresh, real food dishes. The ingredients will be minmal, with a focus on featuring the actual food and it's delicious flavor.

Here is one of my favorite recipes for Steamed Green Beans:

Wash Beans, trim ends

While steaming beans, drizzle pan with Olive Oil, add finely chopped fresh garlic and mushrooms

Toss in Steamed Green Beans in saute pan

Lightly sprinkle Balsamic Vinegar or Lemon Juice (I use both)

Continue to toss in pan for 2-3 minutes, adding fresh herbs. I like Basil and Thyme. I also like spicy, so a tiny sprinkle of cayenne can be a nice touch.

Serve and Enjoy. The dish should have a vibrant green color and have a sharp flavor. I much prefer this dish to eating the cambells soup version. Tradition is nice, but so is taking charge of your own life and health. Here's a cheer to new traditions!