Thanksgiving is right around the corner and it’s time for Arden residents to put the finishing touches on the holiday dinner menu. Whether you’re hosting at home or bringing a dish to a potluck, sharing home-cooked meals with friends and family is what makes the Thanksgiving season so wonderful.

Arden residents can create their own farm-fresh meals with the fresh produce from the Arden farm. If you haven’t picked up your November farm share, here is what you can look forward to:

• Rosemary
• Basil
• Bell Peppers
• Jalapenos
• Yellow Squash and Zucchini
• Lettuce
• Cucumbers
• Radishes
• Papaya

With all of the fresh ingredients in your farm share, you may be wondering how you can incorporate them into your Thanksgiving meal. Well, wonder no more! We’re sharing our favorite recipes that are both delicious and easy to prepare in your kitchen.

1. Squash Chips

Squash chips are a healthy snack alternative to regular chips, and they pack a ton of flavor. These chips are very easy to bake and make for a perfect crispy side dish for your table. And unlike regular chips, you will have zero guilt about eating them!

Ingredients:

• 2 yellow squash
• 2 zucchini
• 4 cups cold water
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Cut yellow squash and zucchini into ¼-inch-thick rounds. Combine squash, zucchini, cold water, and salt in a large bowl. Cover and chill for 30 minutes, and then drain and pat dry with paper towels. Serve with your favorite dip as a fresh and healthy alternative to potato chips.

2. Garlic Roasted Radishes

Radishes are often a forgotten vegetable on holiday tables, but they are a perfect way to add some color and vibrancy to your plate. Roasting radishes also make a great healthy substitute for roasted potatoes but with far less starchy carbohydrates.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. fresh radishes, stems removed, ends trimmed; halved
• 1 tbsp. melted ghee, butter, coconut oil, or avocado oil
• ½ tsp. sea salt
• 1/8 tsp. black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon sage or rosemary
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°F. In a bowl, combine the radishes, cooking fat, herbs, salt, and pepper; toss until the radishes are evenly coated. Spread radishes out in a single layer in a large 9×13-inch baking dish.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes. After the first 10 minutes of baking, add the minced garlic and toss. Return to oven to bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until radishes are golden brown and can be easily pierced with a fork. If desired, serve with ranch dressing for dipping or drizzle it on top and garnish with garlic chives.

3. Papaya Pecan Streusel Cake

Everyone loves the classic Thanksgiving desserts like pumpkin pie or pecan pie. But what if you put a Floridian spin on a classic fall dessert? With fresh papaya from the Arden farm, you’ll have a new Thanksgiving tradition you can rave about. This Papaya Pecan Streusel Cake gives fall flavors a fresh, tropical twist that you and your guests can enjoy!

Ingredients:

Pecan Streusel

• 1 ¼ cups plain flour
• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup butter, chilled and cut into small cubes
• 1 ½ cups pecans, roughly chopped

Papaya Cake

• ½ cup butter, room temperature
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ cups papaya, mashed
• 1 ½ cups self-rising flour
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 360°F and prepare a 9-inch round cake pan.

Make the pecan streusel: In a bowl, mix flour and sugar. Add cold cubes of butter and incorporate into the flour mixture using your fingers until you have a crumbly texture. Add pecans and put the bowl in the fridge until needed.

Make the cake mix: Using a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy before adding vanilla pean paste. Add eggs one at a time, beating well before adding the next. Then, add mashed papaya and mix well. Add flour and baking soda and mix well.

Pour half of the cake batter in your pan, sprinkle half of the streusel mix and repeat until you have two layers of each. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until a skewer comes out of the cake clean. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes

Whatever you decide to make this year, enjoy a fresh, farm-to-table Thanksgiving with help from the Arden farm! Tag us on social media with your farm-fresh creations and let us know how you use your farm share!