The new holiday lineup at Starbucks and fall-themed decorations throughout UB’s campuses can only mean one thing: Thanksgiving is right around the corner. With Thanksgiving break less than two weeks away, UB students are eager to get home to their families’ annual festivities and enjoy holiday foods.
These foods topped their list of favorites:
Macaroni and cheese
Macaroni and cheese is a classic side dish made by combining pasta with an indulgent buttery cheese sauce. For many it hits the spot year round as a casual meal, but at Thanksgiving it is often served as an elevated side dish.
“My mom makes it really good. It comes out really cheesy,” sophomore public health major Libby Tielens said. “She always bakes it in the oven and puts bread crumbs on top.”
Mashed potatoes
You can call any crushed potatoes “mashed potatoes,” but generally, this dish consists of cooked potatoes mashed and slightly creamy or whipped and creamy combined with butter, cream, and sometimes extras like bacon, cheese, or garlic. Their richness makes people go back for seconds, and maybe even thirds..
“They're so versatile. They're so delicious. You can add garlic to them, they can be presented in a sweet way, you can even make them with sweet potatoes or regular potatoes,” sophomore nursing major Mia Kralijev said.
Everything but the Turkey
Although turkey is usually seen as the star of this holiday’s show, Kralijev plans to stay far away from the bird on her dinner table this year.
“I think that turkey is overrated and we should have chicken instead. Turkeys are cute and they don't deserve to die,” Kralijev said.
Sweet potato casserole
Unlike Kralijev, senior business administration major Joseph Horton plans to enhance the meal’s main attraction by savoring it with the sugariness from his favorite side dish.
“The marshmallows on top of sweet potato casserole add a nice, desserty feel that really compliments the savory turkey and acts like a gateway into dessert. It's the best way to make sweet potatoes, in my opinion,” Horton said.
Like macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes, there are a variety of ways to execute sweet potato casserole. Horton’s ideal approach features an unlikely ingredient that is destined to take this side dish to the sweetest level.
“I add pecans in it, but it’s also good without them. If possible though, you have to top it with caramel sauce,” Horton said. “It's a thing at [Cracker Barrel]. When they make sweet potatoes, it has canned pecans, brown sugar, butter, and caramel drizzle on top. I don’t want it any other way.”
Stuffing
Although every side dish has its appeal, stuffing is extra special. Its herbal flavors are exclusive to Thanksgiving, allowing it to always be a holiday favorite.
“I feel like it’s a food that you only really eat on Thanksgiving, which makes it my favorite,” said sophomore communication major Megan Kolb. “I like it with or without meat, but it’s probably better without.”
Pumpkin pie
Most people complain that they feel full halfway through their second dinner plate. But let’s be honest, the Thanksgiving meal is never truly over until you’ve had dessert.
“Pumpkin pie is definitely my favorite Thanksgiving dessert,” senior computer engineering major Vladimir Seminole said. “It's very creamy with a good texture and good flavor. It just tastes amazing.”
Although its delicious taste is what mainly contributes to pumpkin pie’s popularity, one student favors this dessert because of the prominence it had during his childhood.
“I think it tastes good, but in all honesty, it’s not just that,” graduate neuroscience student Zachary Palmo said. “I have memories of eating it with my mom. Both her and I love it. It’s like a little bond we share.”
Apple pie
A warm slice of apple pie, topped with vanilla ice cream, is another perfect end to any Thanksgiving.
“Its only real competition is pumpkin pie, and by Thanksgiving, I’m already sick of all the pumpkin-flavored stuff,” senior political science and philosophy major Jack Green said. “Plus, fried apples on their own are great.”
No matter what your favorite holiday dish is, it’s important to remember that Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to show gratitude and spend time with loved ones. But let’s be honest, gobbling down all the fixins is pretty good too.
The features desk can be reached at features@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
