Punchbowl Blog

This post was written by Stephanie Fader, Sr. Marketing Manager

Thanksgiving is coming up next week and if you’re like many, you’ve probably already started planning your menu. It’s interesting to see how the traditional Thanksgiving dinner has evolved over the years. While many of the popular dishes found around the Thanksgiving table are foods that the Pilgrims are believed to have eaten, there are a number of traditional dishes that were introduced much later and some that are missing from the table entirely.

Seafood, for example, was one of the dishes that was served at “The First Thanksgiving” in 1621. Specifically, fish, lobster, and clams. Makes sense since this “First Thanksgiving” took place in New England where seafood is abundant. Today, however, we rarely find seafood around a traditional Thanksgiving dinner table. Instead, we serve turkey, squash, berries, and fruit - all of which were present that “The First Thanksgiving.”

As for traditional side dishes and desserts, those can vary greatly by region. Popular staples, however, include green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cornbread. For traditional Thanksgiving desserts, it’s all about pie! Pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie reign as the top Thanksgiving desserts.

Need inspiration for your Thanksgiving dinner? Check out a few delicious facts about the culinary delights that Americans will be feasting on this Thanksgiving:

• 248 million turkeys are raised in the U.S., weighing 7.11 billion pounds
• 750 million pounds of cranberries will be made into sauces and jellies
• 2.4 billion pounds of sweet potatoes are used to create this quintessential side
• 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins will be used to make everyone’s favorite dessert
• 266.1 million pounds of cherries will be used for this tart and fruity pie
• 2.01 billion bushels of wheat are needed as wheat is the essential ingredient of bread, rolls, and pie crust
• 656,340 tons of green beans will be ready to go in your casserole dishes

Still need recipes for your Thanksgiving dinner? Check out our full list of Thanksgiving ideas!

This post was written by Stephanie Fader, Sr. Marketing Manager

Gobble, gobble, gobble! Grab your fine-feathered friends and get ready for a fun and delicious holiday. Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away! If you plan to host Thanksgiving this year, here are a few tips for planning your Thanksgiving feast!

• Plan your guest list: Things to consider include space and accommodations, cooking time and preparations, the number of adults and kids, as well as overnight guests. Get more tips for planning your Thanksgiving guest list.

• Send Thanksgiving invitations: Once the guest list has been determined, send out beautiful Thanksgiving invitations. Punchbowl offers a variety of free invitations in popular Thanksgiving motifs.

• Create a delicious menu: It may seem obvious, but a delicious menu is key to a successful Thanksgiving. The main dish and sides are often filled by family favorites. However, you can still wow your guests with creative and easy Thanksgiving appetizers this year.

• Set the scene: Create a warm and inviting Thanksgiving for family and friends with small, but charming touches such as beautiful Thanksgiving table decorations and creative place cards.

• Thanks guests: On this holiday of giving thanks, don’t forget to thank guests for attending your Thanksgiving dinner. After the event, send free Thank You eCards to your guests.

Is your tummy rumbling yet? Whether you like to use recipes that have been passed through the family for generations or want to try something new, a delicious meal is a wonderful way to bring people together. For even more Thanksgiving ideas and recipes to help you plan, check out all of our Thanksgiving dinner ideas!