The Think Global, Eat Local Thanksgiving

Photo: Lisa Romerein / Getty Images

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“I always have Thanksgiving with my friends and everybody brings a dish. Fortunately, my friends are good cooks.” Alice Waters, Chez Panisse

Time to give thanks...and to celebrate this year with the delicious harvest of the local farmers and food artisans in your area who bring to market the freshest produce, most sustainably and compassionately-raised livestock, gorgeous hand-made breads and delicious artisanal cheeses, preserves, and more.

When you shop locally for your Thanksgiving feast, you're celebrating the glory of real foods -- organic and heirloom vegetables, whole grains, fresh seafood -- most of which are raised without many hormones and pesticides. And because these foods are local, you reduce the number of miles between your plate and the farm which is important to those of us concerned about the over-use of fossil fuels.

To get you started deliciously, we've assembled fabulous recipes from top chefs, a compendium of the prettiest local pumpkins for your pies, tips for finding heritage turkeys, and more. Use as many local ingredients as you can find, buy organics for the rest...relax...and enjoy!

Appetizer -
Chef Waldy Malouf's Roasted Oysters with Shallots and Herbs

Soup -
Chef Waldy Malouf's Roasted Butternut Squash with Pear Soup

Bread -
King Arthur Flour Buttery Sage Rolls

Salad -
Chef John Sundstrom's Roasted Cinderella Pumpkin with Blue Cheese Crostata and Bitter Greens

Main Course -
Chef Michel Nischan's Baked Fresh Ham with Roasted Apple and Almond Salad
The Daily Green's Maple Glazed Turkey with Sage Infused Butter

Sides -
Chef Laura Pensiero's:

• Mixed Grain Risotto with Radicchio and Mushrooms
  
• Celery Root Salad
  
• Smoky Root Vegetable Gratin
  
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Baby Carrots and Pearl Onions
  
• Garlicky Spinach with Red Peppers and Golden Raisins

Dessert -
Alisa Smith's 100-Mile Diet No Spice Maple Pumpkin Pie
Chef Heather Carlucci-Rodriquez's Citron Butter Cookies with Mascarpone Mousse

100 Mile Diet co-author, James MacKinnon challenges us to Take Back Thanksgiving -- sharing his thoughts, recipes and cross-country local menus.

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