Thanksgiving is just a few days away but preparations are already beginning. There’s a lot of grocery shopping yet to go and I’m never sure how I will get everything done in time. Just recently we were rather touched when our youngest son, Nathaniel, declared Thanksgiving to be his favorite holiday. That’s a sophisticated choice, if you ask me, given the other candy and gift-laden holidays. But Nathaniel is one of those sensitive and sentimental souls and his choice made me ponder why Thanksgiving has such an attraction.

Well, first of all there is food and we all love food. But one of the reasons we especially look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday is the time with family. At Thanksgiving we focus more on family time and less on the hustle and bustle of shopping for gifts. It is also a wonderful reminder of how blessed we are and an opportunity to give thanks to God.

We can take inspiration from some great thinkers who have pondered the wisdom of gratitude:

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ― Epicurus

“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.” 
― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:17

“You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” – Psalm 118:28-29

Paleo Thanksgiving Recipes

Today I’m sharing the Paleo Thanksgiving Recipes we will be having this year. There are tons of paleo Thanksgiving roundup posts around lately and they are great for seeing a lot of recipe options in one place and finding new bloggers to follow. The only trouble for me is I sometimes get a bit overwhelmed with the choices. So to keep things simple I am just posting recipes that would make up one totally wonderful paleo thanksgiving feast. It’s not to say you have to make ALL these recipes to have a great holiday meal – but they pretty much cover the gamut of traditional Thanksgiving recipes. Many of these are my own time-tested and beloved recipes but a few are finds from around the internet that look and sound delicious. I can’t wait to give the new recipes a try.

Turkey Brine

brine in panTurkey Brine 

How to Brine a Turkey

turkey and brine in bagHow to Brine a Turkey

Roasted Turkey

paleo roast turkeyHow to Roast a Turkey

Paleo Gravy (Umami Gravy)

umami gravyUmami Gravy from Nom Nom Paleo

Gluten-Free Cornbread Dressing

cornbread dressingGluten-Free Cornbread Dressing (my one grain indulgence!)

If you would like a grain-free dressing as an alternative you should try this paleo dressing.

Paleo Cranberry Sauce

cranberry_sauce1Paleo Cranberry Sauce from Multiply Delicious

Maple-Glazed Sweet Potatoes

paleo sweet potatoesMaple Glazed Sweet Potatoes (vegan) from Detoxinista

Endive Salad with Watercress, Radishes and Walnuts

Endive Salad with dressingEndive Salad with Watercress and Radishes and Walnuts (optional Goat Cheese topping)

Cauliflower “Mashed Potatoes”

paleo mashed cauliflowerCauliflower “Mashed Potatoes”

Twice-Baked Cauliflower

If you eat dairy you might like to try Twice-Baked Cauliflower that contains Greek yogurt and cheese.Primal Twice-Baked CauliflowerTwice-Baked Cauliflower

Oven-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Smokey Bacon

Oven-Roasted-Brussel-Sprouts-8Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Smokey Bacon by The Healthy Foodie

Paleo Dinner Rolls (Grain-free)

paleo dinner rollsPaleo Dinner Rolls

Paleo Pecan Pie Tart

pecan pie cooling on rackPaleo Pecan Pie Tart

Paleo Pumpkin Pie

paleo mom pumpkin piePaleo Pumpkin Pie from The Paleo Mom

So, there you have it! We’re looking forward to a Happy and Healthy Paleo Thanksgiving full of gratitude to God for our blessings. Here’s wishing all the best to you, dear readers. Happy Thanksgiving.

What are you grateful for this year?

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