Great Main Course Meat Alternatives to a Thanksgiving Turkey

It's almost time to celebrate Thanksgiving Day again.A boneless beef rump roast is cut from above the
Most of us will sit down and enjoy the traditional turkeyback end of the hipbone. Generally this boneless roast
dinner with all the trimmings. There are a lot of peopleis rolled and tied. A rump roast that contains the bone
who might want to try something a little bit differentis known as a standing rump roast. I recommend a
this year. Here's a couple ideas for your Thanksgivingboneless rump roast since it is easier to carve. This is
meal.important when hosting a lot of guests at a
Standing Rib RoastThanksgiving Feast. Rump roasts are very flavorful
A standing rib roast is a cut of beef from the riband are always a hit. Generally you want to about one
section where rib-eye steaks are generally cut from. Apound of boneless roast per every two to three
lot of my customers know this particular cut as "Primepeople at your meal.
Rib". It's called a "Standing Rib Roast" because itDuck
includes up to seven rib bones and is most commonlyRoasting a duck for a Thanksgiving feast is an
cooked in a "standing" position. To ensure you haveexcellent alternative to turkey. Duck meat is darker
enough to go around, I recommend a serving size ofand usually more moist than meat from a turkey. Just
two people per rib, with a minimum size of three ribs.remember, ducks are also a lot smaller. I tell my
Anything less than that is basically a nice thick steak.customers to roast one duck for every 2-3 people.
Thanksgiving HamThis ensures that everyone has enough to eat.
Some of my customers love having ham for theItalian Thanksgiving
holidays. You can buy hams either boneless or withHow about an Italian Thanksgiving? Columbus did
the bone-in. As third a generation butcher, I alwaysdiscover (or re-discovered to be politically correct) the
recommend bone-in hams because they provide moreAmericas. For those who want an Italian theme to their
flavor and the bone can be used to make soup orThanksgiving feast you can add an Italian Roll. Italian
even ham and beans. You'll want to have about oneRolls are made from a thin cut round steak. Add a
pound of boneless ham per every three to four peoplelayer of mild or spicy Italian sausage to the round
or one pound of bone-in ham for every two to threesteak and roll it. This makes for a very flavorful
people or at your Thanksgiving meal.addition to your Thanksgiving feast.
Crown Roast of PorkSteaks
A crown roast of pork can capture the spirit of anyWho doesn't love a great steak? There's rib-eye's,
holiday since it can be decorated to match anyt-bones, porterhouses, and of course filet mignons.
occasion. A crown roast comes from the rib sectionEveryone has their favorite cut steak and any of
of the pork loin. It is called a crown roast because athese steaks are the perfect addition to a
butcher will take two rib racks and bend them into aThanksgiving meal. As your local butcher to custom
circle. The sections are tied together to create acut your Thanksgiving steaks to your specification.
crown effect. Bones are left in this roast to add to theMany people will stay with the traditional turkey for
flavor and moistness of the roast. Plus, it adds to theThanksgiving meal while others will skip turkey
presentation.altogether. Not sure if you're ready to skip out on
I suggest 1 rib bone per person or about ¾ of aTurkey this Thanksgiving? Stick with tradition, but serve
pound per person. Most Crown Pork Roasts roast willan alternative with your turkey. It may be the start of a
serve about eight to ten people. Ask us to tie a smallernew Thanksgiving Tradition. Whatever your choice,
roast if you are serving fewer people.enjoy the holiday.
Boneless Beef Rump Roast