Find Thanksgiving Success with Local Produce and Ingredients

By Hannah Lee Leidy | Wednesday, November 14, 2018

I can’t believe it’s already time to start planning our Thanksgiving menus. Of course there will be turkey, sweet potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce. Other matters are always up for debate: regular, cornbread or oyster dressing, biscuits or rolls, scalloped or mashed potatoes, green bean casserole or Brussels sprouts? And, let’s not even talk about the dessert spread (if you want my opinion, though, the more the merrier).

Photo: Cotton Gin Inn

After planning our menus, it’s time to start grocery shopping. In the spirit of Small Business Saturday’s approach, this blog helps you discover local ingredients and products that you can use to cultivate your Thanksgiving meal this year.

The go-to starting point is the Edenton Farmers Market. Open every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., this is a one-stop shopping spot for meats, vegetables, baked goods and a few additional items to complete your Thanksgiving event. Select sausage for your dressing, ham hocks for the greens, eggs for baking and milk for cooking.

The assortment of colorful, fresh vegetables from farmers across the region will make your dinner table look like a rainbow. Make savory side dishes with the beets, new red potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, butter beans, collards, kale, pecans, apples, Scuppernong grapes and other items that Mother Nature provides.

Baked goods at the Edenton Farmers marketThe farmers market is also a great place to take care of breakfast and dessert on Thanksgiving Day. Pick up a sweet assortment of treats from Edenton bakers. Enjoy a piece of apple spice bread or a cinnamon roll while watching the Thanksgiving Day parade on TV. Stay fueled during your cooking marathon with the help of snacks like cheese crisps and fudge. After the table has been cleared, settle down with a slice of apple, pecan or coconut pie and listen to family members swap stories of old. The best part is that these already baked goods help you spend a little less time in the kitchen.

Remember: An essential part of a successful Thanksgiving table is aesthetic. You can take care of that too with crafts from the farmers market. Handmade festive decorations, beeswax candles and floral arrangements add an elegant and homey touch to a scene that would make Martha Stewart beam. Grab a couple bars of homemade soap too; we need clean hands if we’re cooking all day.

Photos: Edenton Farmers Market

For me, Thanksgiving preparations aren’t complete without a trip to Layden’s Country Store. Nothing makes a leftover turkey sandwich better than their hoop cheese, and many people buy Layden's country ham to season their Thanksgiving collards. And, that short drive to Belvidere feels like a little adventure with the tree leaves boasting fall colors.

Nothing Fancy Cafe holiday take-out menuSometimes there’s just not enough time to make all the food everyone wants on Thanksgiving. That’s okay; you don’t have to admit defeat. Get a little help from Nothing Fancy Cafe’s holiday take-out menu. They can help cover anything you need, and they have full turkey dinners for parties of all sizes. Choose side dishes that range from classics to the eateries’ signatures, like Dolly’s corn pudding or apple cheddar casserole. There are also plenty of pies and cakes to top it off, including pumpkin, sweet potato and chocolate chess. This allows you to exchange hours in the kitchen for quality time with your loved ones.

Menu: Nothing Fancy Cafe

For some of us, cooking is simply not on our Thanksgiving agenda. Let the Cotton Gin Inn take care of everything for you by attending their Friendsgiving Supper Club from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday. They present a French twist on traditional Thanksgiving fare. Indulge in chive mashed potatoes with sherried turkey dressing, shaved Brussels sprouts and sweet potato soufflé. It’s a no-stress and delicious way to spend the holiday!

We’re lucky to live an area with such amazing local businesses that help us take care of our holiday needs. Give your thanks to them by supporting them this Thanksgiving. For more information on where you can shop for local ingredients and goods this holiday, check out our Edenton Shopping section.                                                                                                                                                                        

 

About the Author Hannah Lee Leidy
Hannah Lee is a fiction and creative nonfiction writer living on the Outer Banks. She graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. Traveling is her passion, but nowhere ever feels as much like home as the Outer Banks. When not planning her next trip or adventure, Hannah Lee loves aimless drives down the Beach Road, spending copious amounts of time in coffee shops and reading every short story collection she gets her hands on.