How To Give Thanks in Orlando

We’re just a month away from one of the real highlights of the American year, and it’s time to talk turkey.

Yes, that means the annual Thanksgiving holiday is in sight – the fourth Thursday in November, which is November 24 in 2022 – and, for anyone in town that week, you need to know how to celebrate or where to go for a genuine seasonal dinner with all the trimmings.

Just to start with, this is a major culinary occasion and, for many Americans, it actually puts the typical British Christmas dinner in the shade.

It is a veritable feast of gargantuan proportions, and something the locals take very seriously. It definitely features turkey, and the full range of side dishes is quite mind-boggling. It is also the family gathering highlight of the year (think of the movie Planes, Trains & Automobiles).

So, What do we do at Thanksgiving?

If you’re feeling adventurous, this is the time to demonstrate your big-time cooking chops. Put simply, the kitchen is Thanksgiving Central, and you’ll need practically every cooking utensil and pan at your disposal.

The key, obviously, is the turkey, just as we would serve for Christmas dinner at home. Stuffed and roasted, it is THE centrepiece of the occasion, and there are no short cuts. You need a big bird – and a big oven!

Then there are all the accompaniments, starting with mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole topped with toasted marshmallows (yes, really), green bean casserole, gravy and stuffing, as well as cranberry jelly, cranberry sauce and, in some instances, cornbread.

Oh, and it just has to be followed up with pumpkin pie for dessert, a delicious smooth and spiced mixture of pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice.

If it sounds like a LOT of food, that’s because it is. But you’re not supposed to eat it all at once (BIG rookie mistake!). The idea is you are making enough for two or three days, plus meals to send home with your guests, as Leftover Dinner is another Thanksgiving tradition.

It is a tall order even for the most seasoned cooks, but if you pull it all off, your family will be totally in your debt for years.

Do you Have a Recipe for all the Thanksgiving Favourites?

If you’re up for the challenge, we figure you probably know how to cook things like a turkey and mashed potatoes, but the more esoteric items like green bean casserole, cornbread stuffing and sweet potato casserole might need more explanation.

Green Bean Casserole:

this isn’t especially complicated, as most of the ingredients come in a can and every supermarket will stock them. It was created by Campbell’s in 1955 and is pretty much a 10-minute job. Here’s the Campbell’s recipe:.

Sweet Potato Casserole:

this one might need more explanation, as it uses a root vegetable we don’t see much of in the UK and it sounds too sweet to be a regular dish, but stick with it and you’ll discover a lovely addition to a traditional roast. Here is one of many, many variations; each family will have their own version: Here's a good version:] (https://www.spendwithpennies.com/sweet-potato-casserole/).

Cornbread stuffing:

a neat alternative to traditional British stuffing, and ideal with turkey. Here’s a good BBC recipe, though it isn’t the traditional Southern cornbread.

Cranberry sauce and relish:

almost as vital as the turkey, a good sauce and/or relish is another seasonal highlight. Try this one for the cranberry sauce (press the cooked cranberries through a sieve if you prefer a smooth sauce with no skins): then check out this recipe for the relish:.

Pumpkin Pie:

you simply can’t do Thanksgiving without this dish, hence you need a classic recipe for it:.

And the whole thing:

When you need a good guide to a dazzling range of Thanksgiving recipes, with many variations on the theme, here’s the BBC again with the whole list:.

What if I can’t manage to cook for Thanksgiving in my Villa?

Don’t worry, the Thanksgiving Police won’t be knocking at your door if you don’t fancy this epic cooking challenge!

Many families choose to go out for their big dinner and, seeing as this is Orlando and restaurants know they need to cater for visitors who either can’t or don’t want to cook for themselves, there will be plenty of choice for that all-American experience.

Many hotels will offer a Thanksgiving buffet on the day itself, while other restaurants add traditional menu items for the week.

The Visit Orlando tourist organisation has compiled a handy list of options for that special day’s dinner, breaking it down by three areas, International Drive, Lake Buena Vista (and Disney), and greater Orlando, and you can see it on this link.

If you’re staying at the fabulous Encore Resort at Reunion, you can even order the whole, extensive meal for delivery to your villa, with enough for eight people (and plenty of leftovers!).

Visiting Disney? Book Thanksgiving Dinner at Raglan Road

Finally, for a true taste of the occasion with a gourmet twist and a nod towards home cooking, take note of this year’s Thanksgiving Day meal on offer at our favourite Irish bar and restaurant, Raglan Road at Disney Springs.

This classic venue serves up the full dinner platter – butter and herb roast turkey, roast garlic mashed potatoes, duck fat roasties, honey glazed carrots, bacon braised Brussels sprouts, sausage meat and walnut stuffing, plus red wine jus with cranberry sauce – for a bargain $38/adult and $18 children 3-9.

This Thanksgiving extravaganza will be served all day from 11am to 10.30pm, but it must be booked in advance via the Raglan Road Opentable page

And, as well as a slap-up meal, you can enjoy all the fabulous live music and entertainment that Raglan Road presents on a daily basis.

An Irish-American tradition? Why not!

Have you had a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner? Tell us about it on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages… and don’t forget to interact with us on Pinterest, too!.