When the colonists landed at Plymouth and celebrated their first Harvest Festival in their new land, they did it with what they had, some of which was very different from what they were used to growing, preparing, and eating in England. We tend to forget—they were making it up as they went along.

So, utilizing the ingredients of a now well-established feast, I’m going to look with new eyes at the ingredients I’ve found in my “larder.” I am not going to speak to the cooking of the turkey, because this is well covered in many other venues. All I will mention is that turkey can be rendered dry and unhappy through overcooking the breast. Breast meat has no interstitial fat, so it easily overcooks. For the best results, cook the breasts separately, well-larded under the skin with butter flavored with herbs, salt and pepper, and a sprinkling of spices. And put it in the oven a good half hour after the rest of the bird has already started cooking.

Here I am giving you some new ideas to explore, using typical ingredients, to bring a little fillip to the timeworn feast. They will deliciously accompany and gorgeously garnish the resplendent, moist turkey.

People often overload on the nibbles before the Thanksgiving celebration. Have a selection of three or so little bites, to take the rage out of your hunger and line the tummy so you don’t get overly pixilated waiting for Aunt Augusta while the turkey’s tanning to a burnished brown in the oven. A little lightness, a touch of fish, some buttery pastry to protect the tum, are all that’s needed to start the feasting.

Make them small, well-seasoned, with a touch of “different” about them. The rest of the meal bears the tread of the familiar. The nibbles are an opportunity to introduce something with a little flair. “Go on—give it a try, Uncle Joe. I made it especially for you because I know you like cheese.”

The dinner often begins with soup. Here’s a traditional squash soup, but we’re adding some fresh corn, which thickens and lightens the soup at the same time. And, to cut the rich flavor, a dollop of pomegranate juice folded into a sabayon to top it off prettily but with an acid touch.

The main course, the turkey, is accompanied by potatoes and plenty of vegetables. But here are polpetti, potatoes mashed with cheese added, rolled into balls, coated with crumbs, and fried. A light ragout of peas, fava and Brussels sprout leaves, blanched and tossed with butter and a splash of orange juice. A galette of thinly sliced golden beets, baked and sprinkled with toasted pumpkin seeds. Mushrooms with a smattering of cranberries, baked and topped with a hazelnut crumble. And for the vegetarians, a spinach, parsnip, and olive frittata that will go nicely with all the other veggies offered.

And after the richness of the turkey one needs a respite to revive the palate to truly appreciate dessert, so how about a refreshing salad of arugula, mint, celery, and fennel dressed with a pear dressing sorbet?

And, just because it’s Thanksgiving, I think offering two desserts is quite appropriate! A pumpkin trifle with gingersnap ice cream and a rummy date cake that is a close cousin to sticky toffee pudding. Here are some suggestions for inventive appetizers and sides—with recipes for four of them.

Then certainly we will all have plenty of thanks to give!

Menu

Sweet potato, kale, cheddar, and maple pecan lollipuff

Carrot tartlets with citrus yogurt

Oysters with roast apple and horseradish mayonnaise

Squash-corn soup with pomegranate sabayon

Juniper and thyme roast turkey with mushroom-hazelnut-cranberry crumble

Pea, fava, Brussels sprout–leaf ragout with orange butter sauce

Golden beet galette with pumpkin seed crumble

Potato-cheddar polpetti

Spinach, parsnip, olive frittata with pickled radish

Arugula, mint, celery and fennel salad with pear sorbet dressing

Pumpkin-raisin-pecan trifle with gingersnap ice cream and Bourbon caramel

Rummy-date cake with banana cream

Sweet Potato, Kale, Cheddar, and Maple Pecan Lollipuff

Yield: Six amuse portions—about 36 puffs

Equipment: two-quart saucepan, wooden spoon, measuring cups and spoons, small saucepan, small metal mixing bowl, rolling pin, small pastry brush, small sheet tray, 6-inch wooden skewers

Ingredients for filling:

2 tablespoons butter
¼ C minced shallots
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 C finely diced sweet potato
¼ teaspoon chipotle in adobo sauce or minced jalapeño
2 teaspoons toasted ground cumin
½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 C blanched, chopped kale, stems removed
1 tablespoon flour

1 C grated cheddar
1 whisked egg

1 tablespoon butter
1/3 C rough chopped shelled pecans
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

2 sheets store-bought Dufour puff pastry
Flour for dusting board
1 egg

36 six-inch wooden skewers

Method:

For the filling, heat a two-quart saucepan. Add butter. When melted and bubbling, add shallots and sauté till light golden. Add garlic and cook for two minutes.
Add diced sweet potato and stir to coat.
Add chipotle, cumin, cinnamon, thyme, and salt and pepper.
Cook till all are combined and potatoes almost tender.
Fold in blanched kale and flour, stirring. Cook another two minutes.
Cool.
Melt butter in small saucepan. Add pecans and toast lightly. Add maple syrup and vinegar. Cook till syrupy.

While mixture is cooling, butter the insides of mini muffin tin tray.
Roll and trim puff pastry into 2¼-inch squares.
Add kale, cheddar and pecans to filling. When all combined, fold in whisked egg.
Lightly brush the pastry square edges with egg wash.
Place a teaspoon of filling in center of pastry. Take opposite corners of pastry and pinch together. Take the other two corners and pinch together, pull the four corners together, and seal into a nub. Place nub side down in muffin tin. Repeat until all are complete.
Brush the pastry packages with egg wash.
Place muffin pan on small sheet tray and bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 17 minutes, till golden brown.
Skewer when cool.
Reheat for service.