How to Have a Very (Puget) Sound Thanksgiving

Every area of the country has it's own culture, it's own way of being local. Especially when it comes to the holidays! All of us here at Burien Chevrolet love living in the Pacific Northwest, so if you have family visiting and want to show them a very Puget Sound Thanksgiving, here are some ideas:

• Don't skip the turkey. But also don't be afraid to add some pink to your table with SALMON. That's right, salmon is a great addition to any Thanksgiving feast. The host shouldn't make the turkey and the fish, so don't be afraid to ask for/offer help! If not a whole salmon with dinner, any kind of salmon dip or appetizer works great, too.
• Mushrooms. While the scientific survey of us asking around produced few people who actually have mushroom gravy (unlike what this article says), mushrooms as sides or ingredients are very common at the Thanksgiving table in Pacific Northwest. Add them to your sauteed green beans if you want to give them a try!
• Brussel sprouts. Oh yeah. They may be an acquired taste, but nothing says holiday dinner like steamed brussel sprouts. Or bake them with bacon bits.
• Don't forget about the sweet potatoes with marshmallows (only native grown and sold, please) and fruits that we have in abundance here in the Pacific Northwest: apples and pears! There are so many ways to incorporate them and it makes your table uniquely local.
• Go light on the Native American references of Thanksgiving. We love the local Puget Sound Native American communities and understand they may see Thanksgiving differently than the traditional viewpoint.
• Be prepared for rain. Even if you have a huge backyard, be prepared for all those kiddos to be stuck inside because it will probably rain.
• Apple Cup! Really, Thanksgiving is just Apple Cup eve. Where are the good little Cougar and Husky fans leave out Thanksgiving leftovers before they go to bed for the football gods and have gravy dreams of their team hoisting the trophy at the end of the most important game of the season.

Need some more ideas and even a timeline? This article breaks down what you need to do and how far in advance to make sure everything is done in time for dinner!
What are some of your favorite things that make your Thanksgiving uniquely local? We want to hear!