Here on California’s Central Coast, our warm temperate climate means we can get outdoors all year, even during the holidays. Being about 10 miles inland from the ocean helps keep our days relatively cool in summer and warm in winter. Evenings can be chilly, especially in the winter, but fall is the perfect time for an outdoor Thanksgiving meal!
There are other ways to create a fun unconventional Thanksgiving meal, California-style, from farm-fresh ingredients and artisan options to grilling the turkey or reducing overall sugar. Laid back or fancy, it’ll be the best holiday ever.
Our Meadow View Townhomes at Rice Ranch have large, open kitchens and cozy outdoor spaces, perfect for entertaining. They are perfectly nestled among 580 acres of open space, on the edge of a charming small town, halfway between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Rice Ranch is close to wineries, breweries, and restaurants, as well as minutes away from the Santa Ynez wine country, Central Coast beaches, year-round golf courses, Cal Poly, and San Luis Obispo. Plus, access to our private Summit Club is included.
We’re here to help you make it a California holiday—read on for 5 ways to have a Californian Thanksgiving.
1. Go unconventional.
California is anything but typical. And that means you can change any Thanksgiving tradition you want. Here is a fun guide to getting rid of older holiday customs and creating some new ones.
Another fun idea that will also save you time, is cooking your Thanksgiving dinner all in one pan. Check out these sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner recipes that will satisfy you.
Instead of traditional pumpkin pie and other pumpkin or apple desserts, try a Southern staple with fall flavor instead: sweet potato pie with pecan pie topping.
2. Make it sourdough.
California is known for its sourdough bread, from San Francisco Wharf’s clam chowder soup bowl at Boudin Bakery to artisan sourdough experts like Tartine Bakery and Acme Bread. Even though sourdough didn’t get its start in California, there is a rich history here, beginning with the gold mine rush days when miners brought their own sourdough starter with them so they could have more tasty and nutritious bread when food was scarce. In a place where ingredient focus is paramount, sourdough has evolved into a staple for gourmet restaurants, artisans, bakers, and even home cooks.
Enjoy this sumptuous sourdough stuffing with unexpected flavors. It’s so good!
3. Have Thanksgiving dinner outdoors.
Since many Thanksgiving dinners are served prior to 5 p.m., serving outdoors is a great option. Our homes are perfectly planned for indoor-outdoor living, so make sure to decorate that patio, and enjoy the November sunshine along with your turkey.
4. Serve grilled or fancy turkey.
You can even cook your turkey outside! If you like to deep-fry your turkey, you are used to cooking outside, and cooking it on a grill or BBQ will be much easier (and healthier). You can grill the whole turkey or just grill the turkey breasts.
Or, consider these fun fancy ways to cook your turkey.
5. Cook Thanksgiving dinner with less sugar.
Cutting down on sugar seems to be the latest way to get healthy in California, and is especially helpful if anyone in your family needs to reduce sugar for medical reasons. Guests with diabetes will be so glad to be able to eat anything on the table!
You can try an entire Thanksgiving menu with no added sugar, as well as bake traditional desserts with sugar substitutes.
About Rice Ranch New Homes
It’s easy and fun to have a California Thanksgiving here in Santa Barbara County! So, come home to Meadow View Townhomes at Rice Ranch, where location, luxury, and lifestyle become one.
