Thanksgiving Mains and Sides from Trusted Sources
And you can even taste-test some TODAY if you get on the stick!
Did someone say pie? Indeed, yesterday’s newsletter rounded up five great sources for Thanksgiving and Christmas pies—complete with prices, ordering deadlines, etc. If you missed it, catch it here.
But who’s cooking the rest of the feast?
To me, roasting a turkey is the easy part. I still use the Roast Turkey recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book—it’s never failed me. The real key is getting a good bird. I’ll be ordering a fresh one from Campbell’s Nutrition Center ($2.89/lb), though they also stock frozen organic turkeys ($6.79/lb).
It’s the sides that eat up your time. Sure, make family heirloom recipes, but if your guest list grows, there’s no shame in calling for backup. Here are a few local caterers and a shop that can help.
Note: These aren’t sources I scraped from the web. I know these cooks and shops firsthand, and I’ve ordered from each of them—just maybe not these specific dishes. They’ve all earned my recommendation.
Get to Beaverdale Today—for a Taste of What’s to Come
Dinner Delights will be offering samples of their Thanksgiving sides today, November 11, from noon to 6 p.m. at 2713 Beaver Ave.
Andrea Love will be offering about a dozen selections—from brunch items like quiche and cinnamon rolls to sides like stuffing, scalloped corn, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy—and extra gravy.
Sides must be ordered by Wednesday, November 12th. (Note that her website says November 10, but her most recent email blast says the 12th—a day after today’s tasting!).
Order here: Dinner Delights Thanksgiving Store
Hop Out to Johnston for Award-Winning Food from
Cyd Koehn
Cyd Koehn has been named “Best Caterer” for the umpteenth year in a row by Des Moines Business Record. Take advantage of her award-winning reputation this Thanksgiving.
You can order the entire Thanksgiving feast, with turkey breast and all the trimmings. Or, look for her à la carte sides, including garlic knots, sage dressing, scalloped cheesy potatoes, four-cheese Brussels sprouts bake, queso corn, and much, much more.
Food must be ordered by Tuesday, November 25. Pickup will be Wednesday, November 25th, and Thanksgiving morning.
Feeling Fancy? How About Smoked Leg of Lamb or Roast Prime Rib?
Tangerine Food Company will offer citrus and herb-roasted turkey as well as a leg of lamb and prime rib, along with a fine list of trimmings: smoked Gouda mac-and-cheese, barbecue sweet potatoes, bacon-braised greens, along with some classics, such as garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn pudding, and more.
Food must be ordered by Saturday, November 22nd at midnight for pickup on Wednesday, November 26.
Feel Free to Share
Non-cooks on your list who want to bring something but don’t want to cook will appreciate this list. Feel free to forward or share!
Announcing The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Holiday Party
Paid subscribers to any Substack within the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative are invited to the annual holiday party. This year, it will be held on Wednesday, December 17th, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Harkin Institute (on the Drake Campus). The event will feature an intimate performance by The Weary Ramblers.
Each subscriber gets one ticket. Want to bring a guest? Additional tickets are available at the door for $35 per person. (A better deal: have them subscribe to my Substack—or any other writer within the collaborative for their own free ticket).
An RSVP form for paid subscribers is below this paywall.