Ah, Thanksgiving! It’s such a wonderful time to get together with your family and friends to enjoy each other’s company. You can get caught up on things, how everyone is dong, and so much more. There really is nothing quite like enjoying the company of your close ones, especially with some fabulous foods to go along with it. If you are serving up dinner for Thanksgiving this year, it is always a good idea to incorporate new foods into your regimen. How many times can we all indulge in the same cranberry sauce and turkey? (Well, turkey is essential.) What about adding something a little bit different this year—something like olives?
According to the George Mateljan Foundation, olives are not only delicious, but they are one of the healthiest foods in the world. For example, olives contain hydroxytyrosol, which is a cancer preventative. Not only that, but it helps to support healthy and strong bones. Sounds like a delicious health alternative, huh? Regardless of its health benefits, olives are fantastically delicious. If you want to rid yourself of the usual Thanksgiving recipes, then consider this recommended list of absolutely delectable alternatives.
1. An olive spread
Yum—this is way too delicious for words, and everybody at the table will enjoy it thoroughly. And—here’s huge plus—it only takes about fifteen minutes to make. Here is what you will need for this concoction:
- One cup of black olives, pitted
- One cup of green olives, pitted
- One cup of Lindsay olives, pitted
- Two cloves of garlic (make sure to peel these)
- Three tablespoons of balsamic vinegar)
- Three tablespoons of olive oil
After you have these ingredients, you will want to do the following:
Combine all three of the aforementioned olives in a container. Chop these olives and then add your balsamic vinegar. Refrigerate after night (or at least one hour, if you are really on a tight schedule) and then serve with your favorite bread. Enjoy!
2. Vegetarian tapenade spread
Let’s say that one of your friends or family members have recently become a vegan or a vegetarian. You will most likely want to fulfill their needs (and their stomachs!) Here is a delicious recipe which will not only satisfy the stomachs of your vegetarian friends and family, but anyone else who enjoys good food as well. This goes on great with crackers and could easily be used as another holiday recipe.
Ingredients:
- A half of a cup of black olives
- A half of a cup of cup green olives
- Two garlic cloves
- Two tablespoons of olive oil
- A teaspoon of black pepper
- Red peppers (if you prefer)
How to prepare:
If you have a food processor, then mix all of the ingredients together, or use a bowl and mix all of the finely-chopped ingredients together. Presto—you have a delightful cracker dip for vegans and vegetarians!
3. Citrus olives
This is a popular recipe no matter what time of year. For this recipe, you can choose between your own green or black marinated olives. For this popular treat, you will need the following ingredients:
- One medium-sized lemon
- A medium orange
- One cup of olive oil
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Two bay leaves
- Two chopped garlic cloves
How to complete this recipe:
First, combine the lemon and orange together and then put them into a saucepan. Then, add the rosemary, thyme, garlic, and bay leaves into the mix. When the pan is hot, remove it from the stove. Place your olives into a container before serving, and then add the lemon and orange oil on top, creating delectable marinated olives with a citrus taste.
Olives are a delicious alternative for Thanksgiving this year. The above three recipes are excellent ideas to try out this year instead of the same old routine.
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Michele Crock is a food lover and enthusiast. She lives in Vail, Colorado, where she enjoys some of the most delicious cuisine. Michele is always coming up with a new recipe, eager to share it with others.
