STUFFING

An often overlooked and underrated aspect of Thanksgiving dinner. A good stuffing is key, even if you just start with a simple StoveTop base and add your own touches to it.  A bad stuffing is a tragic loss.

BISCUITS

Another overlooked item that can make or break a meal. I've been to dinners that don't ever bother putting out biscuits! What kind of nonsense is that.

TURKEY

I know that it's odd to put the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving meal as low as 3rd on my list, but when compared to the next two items, I could actually live without the turkey.

CRANBERRY SAUCE

When I was younger, I was anti-cranberry sauce. I believe the main reason was the presentation of some weird jiggly blob that wasn't quite solid nor quite liquid, with the ridges from the can still imprinted on the sides. Blech. However, ever since my tongue was blessed with the glory that is REAL cranberry sauce, I have converted.

YAMS/SWEET POTATOES

I could stand to do away with the entirety of Thanksgiving dinner, save for this. Forget the mashed potatoes, ignore the corn and peas and green beans, no need for biscuits and turkey and gravy...I'll even give up my cranberry sauce.  All food pales in comparison to the majesty that are yams and/or sweet potatoes. I feel like once a month or so I find myself Googling "what's the difference between yams and sweet potatoes" and for about five minutes I have that knowledge before it slips my mind and I look it up again later. Regardless, these top my list of Thanksgiving foods, and might even top my list of all foods.