When Twitter and meme culture get together, things like Hanksgiving are born. What is Hanksgiving you ask? The time of year to celebrate Tom Hanks and all that he has brought to the big screen and into our hearts. Today, we are going to show you how to create the perfect Hanksgiving meal for your family and friends. Tune in, suit up, it’s time to get cooking.
“No Crying in Butterball”
If you want your Hanksgiving dinner to be in a league of its own, then you need to be prepared. The biggest mistake you can make is not giving yourself enough to prepare with a properly thawed turkey. Unlike a frustrated Jimmy Dugan, keep your cool and follow these simple steps.
Mashed Away
No turkey wants to be stranded on a plate all its own. A delicious side of mashed potatoes and gravy are the perfect complement to any Hanksgiving dinner. Castaway the old, traditional potato recipe and step up spud special with this tasty recipe.
Ingredients:
Catch Me if You Yam
Just like lovely Leo, Hanksgiving sides take many forms, but it’s up to you to stay hot on the trail to find the perfect yam recipe. The key is to use your seasoned skills to spot the difference between a sweet potato and a yam. Often used interchangeably, sweet potatoes are commonly sweeter, moister, and hold an orange hue while true yams are more dry with light/whiter cores and bark-like skin. Use your investigative skills this holiday season and toss in the mix for a nice spread.
Filling Ingredients:
Topping Ingredients:
Directions:
The Green (Bean) Mile
Just like The Green Mile, green bean casserole is a dish that stands the test of time. Touted by delish.com, green bean casserole is the number one staple dish for any Hanksgiving meal. These two icons collide to make your Hanksgiving one surely not to be forgotten easily. The homemade version is best – trust us, you don’t need that cream of mushroom in a can.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs green beans
- Kosher salt
- 2 tsbp olive oil
- 1 lb your favorite mushrooms (We suggest cremini mushrooms)
- 5 tbsp butter
- ½ tsp of dried thyme
- 1½ tsbp flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cup heavy cream
- 3 garlic cloves – grated or minced
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- Pepper to taste
- ¾ cup French’s fried onions
Directions:
Roll-ar Express
No magical Hanksgiving journey is complete without a big basket of rolls. Butter them up, dip them in gravy, or eat them plain if you like. Think of these rolls as the hot cocoa to the Polar Express ride – delicious and impossible to do without.
No recipe for this one – just load your instacart up with Sister Schubert’s rolls. We all know everyone will eat too many of these, and you don’t want to spend 10 hours in the kitchen just on rolls alone.
“Reach for the Pie”
In this case, it’s positive encouragement, not a threat from your favorite cowboy toy. This classic pie recipe would even make Sid place nice for a slice. Sure to be among many childhood favorites, pumpkin pie has definitely solidified its place on the menu, just as Toy Story has cemented its place in Tom Hanks & Disney history.
Ingredients:
- 1 15 oz. can of Libby’s canned pumpkin
- 1 12 oz. can of evaporated milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 pie shell
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground clove
- Whipped cream (optional, but highly suggested)
You’ve got every recipe you need for an epic Hanksgiving meal here. At the very least pop some popcorn, grab a box of chocolates, and kick off your Thanksgiving festivities with some of the best movies of our time.