Thanksgiving has come and gone, but the memories of a Classic New England Thanksgiving will live on

Thanksgiving in New England is a time-honored celebration that is steeped in history and tradition. Thanksgiving embodies gratitude, community, and a deep connection to New England’s past. In New England, the season is marked by gatherings around the table adorned with heirloom linens, glowing candles, and abundant feasts of turkey, cranberry sauce, vegetables, and various types of pie.

The crisp autumn air, the crunch of fallen leaves, and historic homes, with warm glowing interiors create a nostalgic ambiance.

Thanksgiving in New England captures the essence of home, heritage, and the beauty of the autumnal season and the signal of a new season that is about to begin.

A classic New England Thanksgiving

A classic New England Thanksgiving was enjoyed at Sugarwood.  No fancy sides, no elaborate desserts, just a good old fashioned stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, green been casserole, peas with pearl onions, homemade cranberry sauce, my butterscotch rolls, apple pie, and pecan pie. 

My go to for stuffing is a couple bags of Pepperidge Farm herbed bread crumbs, one for the turkey and one to bake, then I just add diced celery, diced onions, butter, and chicken broth. It’s what’s on the package and it’s how my. mother made it too. Most times I mix a bag of cubed stuffing with a bag of regular stuffing

Creating a welcoming moment for guests

With the turkey still in the oven, and a few sides on the stove top in ceramic cookware, a mulled cider, that has been prepared in a cast iron dutch oven, scents the air and welcomes guests as soon as they enter the kitchen from the porch. 

A pre-packaged Mulled Cider Season Packet, added to cider, was modified by simply adding sliced oranges, sliced apples, and a cinnamon stick. warm and ready on the stovetop for when guests arrived. A little later a bottle of Apple Jack and Sugawrood 1790 was placed near the mulled cider.