No
doubt about it, at the Thanksgiving table, turkey is king. While it is important to keep the traditional
roasted turkey in its center stage role, many cooks allow themselves a bit of
creative expression with the turkey’s accompaniments and side dishes. And what better place than Italy to turn to
for inspiration?
In
preparing this year’s dinner, why not choose to maintain the uniquely seasonal
point of view of the Thanksgiving holiday, but adapt the flavors using an
Italian sensibility? A simple way to do this is to consider adding
a pasta dish to your Thanksgiving menu.
Celebrity
chef Mario Batali’s “Conchiglie ripieni dei "resti"” is an easy take
on a classic Italian cannelloni dish. It
directly translates as shells stuffed with leftovers, but the uniquely
Thanksgiving flavors make it perfect for the main event itself. The presentation is made perfect in a baking
dish that travels easily from the oven to the table, and it looks as beautiful
as it tastes.
Part
of the reason Thanksgiving dinner is so delicious is because it activates the
receptors in our brains that conjure memories of past Thanksgivings. So choose to keep with tradition, yet
innovate, Italian style. Add a pasta
dish to the meal, as well as serve in-season produce like potatoes, pumpkin, Brussels
sprouts and green beans. This is the
philosophy of Thanksgiving all'Italiano: enjoying fresh, seasonal fruits and
vegetables and meats at the table with your loved ones.
For
Mario Batali’s Thanksgiving “Conchiglie ripieni dei "resti"” recipe,
click on the following link: Happy
Thanksgiving!
