Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because not only do I get to eat awesome food, but I get to spend the day with family. I know many people have their baked turkey and mashed potatoes, but if the Pilgrims had landed in Louisiana, things might have gone a little differently! This year my husband and I hosted both of our families (about 20 people) and decided to do it Cajun style! We set the mood for a Cajun holiday with centerpieces made from moss and oyster shells and the Treme’ soundtrack playing in the background. Treme’ is an HBO series that is shot in New Orleans, so their soundtrack is just a wonderful mix of Louisiana music. The Saints also helped with the Louisiana-love when they won the game against the Cowboys! Here was our menu:
Appetizers:
Fried alligator bites with chipotle tartar sauce
Cranberry and Louisiana pecan goat cheese log
Onion and cranberry tartlets with bacon and gorgonzola
Boudin-stuffed beignets
Main Course:
(2) Fried Turkey
Honey Ham
Spinach Madeline
Sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and Louisiana pecan crumble
Oyster rice dressing
Macaroni and cheese
Eggplant and Crawfish Dressing
Cornbread dressing/stuffing
Brioche rolls
Cranberry Sauce
Dessert:
Pralines
Tarte-a-la-bouille pie
Louisiana pecan pie
Mississippi Mud Pie
Pumpkin Pie
The Decorations
Cajun Centerpiece
- Table Centerpiece
Cranberry and Louisiana Pecan Goat Cheese Log
Fried Alligator Bites with Chipotle Tartar Sauce
- Boudin-Stuffed Beignets
Main Dish
Cajun-Fried Turkey
Honey Ham
The Food Table
Oyster Rice Dressing
Dessert
The Dessert Table
Tart-a-la-bouille Pie
Pralines
Mississippi Mud Pie
- Louisiana Pecan Pie
Extras
My niece Kelsie and her boyfriend Matt
My husband visiting with his dad and grandfather
- My dad helping with the carving
Thanks for looking, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
lovely menu! i also joined foodbuzz 24×24 this month and it’s been great knowing about how fellow foodies did such amazing thanksgiving meals! i love all your dishes especially the cheese log which looks so flavorful but with a definite crunch. you definitely had a wonderful thanksgiving!
lovely meal haven’t had some of these before looks like everyone had a wonderful time
Congrats on getting to do a 24×24! Everything looks delicious, and that goat cheese log would have disappeared in no time at my house.
Wow this looks awesome!
I’m coming to your house next Thanksgiving! Everything looks amazing, now I can’t stop thinking about an alternate American history wherein the Pilgrims did land in Louisiana!! I know historically, seafood has been a part of Thanksgiving, but having grown up in a landlocked state (Kentucky) it seems like so strange to have oysters and crawfish on Turkeyday.