Than Roast Turkey and Cranberry Sauce
But for those of us dreading the family gatherings this holiday entails, not everything is always peachy.
If you have family members that drink heavily, constantly battle for the title of loudest person and tell crude jokes at the expense of their kin, you know what I'm talking about.
Unfortunately, that's my dad's entire family.
My mom – a Martha Stuart type – always puts on an extravagant show for Thanksgiving, although that show is usually interrupted by the drunk hollering of her family in law.
My two families don't agree on much, except for one thing...
An unusual sweet I discovered last year while looking for a dessert to share at Thanksgiving.
I was in search of something that was not only memorable, but healthy, too.
That's when I discovered roasted chestnuts.
Delectably sweet, roasted chestnuts.
And with America tipping the scale as the third fattest country on the planet, roasted chestnuts are a healthy treat that won't sit on your hips like other traditional goods.
Four ounces of these nuts contain only 140 calories, making them the least fatty nut of all.
Not to mention they're the only nut containing vitamin C.
And they're naturally sweet. So sweet there was even research into developing chestnuts as a source of sugar in the early 1800's.
I soon realized that roasted chestnuts were my ticket to uniting both sides of my family.
Just knowing their fruit could ferment into beer was enough reason for my dad to try them.
And my grandpa Chuck, a rigid history buff, appreciated the roasted chestnuts a little more as he repeated its history to anyone willing to listen.
Our whole family benefited from trying something other than the usual pumpkin and apple pie.
And it's no surprise this way my family's first time indulging in roasted chestnuts.
Have you ever tried roasted chestnuts...
Not many people have.
They're only harvested five months out of the year, so they're not a typical item you'd find at any grocery store.
And since roasted chestnuts are low in fat and cholesterol and gluten free, they're a smart treat to have as a regular in your kitchen cupboard.
If you'd like to try some of these roasted chestnuts go through the Girolami Farms. They harvest their chestnuts fresh every three days and are quick to deliver.
But remember, they're only harvested five months out of the year, so order your roasted chestnuts now to ensure they'll be around for Thanksgiving.
