Anna Every year we start preparing for the holiday season earlier and earlier. Halloween decorations seem to fight for space along with summer patio decor. Christmas gets celebrated in July. Large businesses hold black Friday deals in July, and pumpkin spice lattes start creeping around the fringes of coffee menus as early as August! With everyone celebrating so early, I decided it was time for a new tradition! Introducing Thanksgiving in June!
Thanksgiving??? In June???
You heard that right! I might be the only person on the planet who celebrates Thanksgiving in June, but it makes perfect sense! Why not celebrate the bounty of late spring and early summer with a delicious thanksgiving feast! Sourcing fresh produce in the PNW is pretty easy. You have fresh rhubarb, early blueberries, carrots, new potatoes, green onions, and herbs a plenty! I LOVE all the colorful foods! Since traditional Thanksgiving fare tends towards the beige and orange color palette, their summer counterparts are downright vibrant! 😀
Let’s Talk Menu!
Miso Sage Butter Turkey Thighs
Summertime heat discourages long bouts of baking, so I opted for roasting turkey thighs. It was much faster than a giant turkey, turkey thighs were easier to source, and it didn’t heat up my kitchen too much! Win win! Thoroughly rubbed down with miso sage butter, these delicious turkey thighs were extra juicy, fresh, had a crackling crisp skin, and was a very comforting bite.
Bagel Crouton Stuffing
Look how beautiful and fresh this stuffing looks! I adore everything bagel croutons. Mixed with sourdough bread, seasoned with fresh herbs, and topped with fresh green onions, this has become the best bite of thanksgiving for me. Don’t worry! The recipe will come soon! I cannot wait to share this with you! 😀
Chai Spiced Rhubarb and Blueberry Sauce
I absolutely adore cranberry sauce. Since you can’t find cranberries in the summer, I looked for other fruits that bring the same bright, tart, and refreshing palette cleanse that cranberries do. Thanksgiving in June needed it’s own shining sauce star, so let’s give a hand to Rhubarb blueberry sauce! You can totally skip adding the chai spices to this recipe, but I hope you give it a try. It’s a very special treat! You can find the recipe here!
Made with chai tea (thanks Suttle Tea!), fresh rhubarb, and seasonal blueberries, this is a beautiful vibrant sauce that excites the taste buds and brings a fun summery twist to Thanksgiving dinner!
Rhubarb Phyllo Crisp
I LOVE a traditional pie. I love making pies every fall! However, summer calls for simpler and quicker desserts. Introducing my rhubarb phyllo crisp. The recipe will be coming soon, but I truly believe phyllo dough is the best pie crust replacement known to man. Flaky, crispy, light, and crunchy phyllo dough marries perfectly with any pie filling. I paired my rhubarb crisp with airy, luscious, homemade whipped cream. Delicately sweet and laced with hints of vanilla, this was a pleasing end to our thanksgiving summer feast!
Purple Sweet Potato Pie
The final treat that graced my summery Thanksgiving table had to be inspired by pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving wouldn’t and couldn’t be Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie! I opted for a happy purple sweet potato. Baked in a brown butter macadamia nut crust, this was a beautiful ode to the tried and true pumpkin pie! I am still working on this recipe, but hopefully I will share it with you soon!
Happy Thanksgiving in June!
This was the second consecutive year I have celebrated this family holiday, and I am already looking forward to next year’s spread! If you like thanksgiving food as much as I do, don’t wait for November! Make your own Thanksgiving in June and have a party! If you try this family tradition out, take some pics and share your summer Thanksgiving feast with me!
Happy Eating!
~Anna
