No, becasue they can be … or pretend to be … an appetizer.

What about something like a cassoulet? Meat eaters tend to read anything centered around beans as a side dish, so even though cassoulet has meat, it could pass as a side (you can easily tweak a recipe to be more bean-centric and use the meat for flavor).

You can probably do the same for any bean main dish. Mmm, feijoada.

Do the turkey makers know that some people won‘t be eating turkey? I’d want to know.

It's not abnormal for people to serve ham and turkey. The gluten/dairy free are tougher than thinking of a protein to bring.

one of the persons having had a dairy allergy and has never developed the taste for dairy after outgrowing it

This perplexes me. The person *had* a dairy allergy but has outgrown it. So, no dairy allergy. However, they never developed the taste for dairy after outgrowing it. So there's one person who doesn't like dairy? Can't that person just avoid whatever has dairy?

I like the sides better than the turkey, but I'm okay with the turkey. For years my daughter and niece were vegetarian, but they ate everything else besides the turkey and gravy.

If bringing Swedish meatballs is acceptable then that is probably what it will be. Easy to eat and the no-turkey eaters will all eat it and any sides they "fancy" will work with it. Even turkey eaters can have them too as you said as appetizer or with the meal. However they choose.

It is well known who doesn't eat Turkey so no-one to tell.

Oh I love cassoulet, but the rest aren't so big on beans so maybe not best for this group.

Ham is a regular fare for Christmas with left over Turkey from Thanksgiving so tends to be our go to for then, but they often have a lot of sugar (I'm type 1 diabetic so avoid that), but I can see how that wouldn't be out of place.

Bunny the person with the dairy issue is also one of the no-turkey people so the dish to substitute for that needs to be friendly in that regard. Of all other things they will avoid any of the dairy dishes, which is a fair share generally, but with not eating Turkey and no dairy and having some texture issues it tends to be limited options.

How about the Mushroom Bourguignon recipe that Dee was so kind to post form me a couple days ago? Others could put it on potatoes. I'm going to have to make it this weekend....can't stop thinking about it.

@1929Spanish-GW if you're referring to the Mushroom Bourguignon recipe here, it is not gluten free with the regular (wheat) all-purpose flour.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6321742/may-i-ask-a-nyt-cooking-favor

Could be worth experimenting with gluten free all-purpose flours though.

As someone who has recently been diagnosed as gluten intolerant (immune response, possibly celiac but unconfirmed), you have to keep an eye out for thickeners in sauces since it's often wheat flour. Even traces can cause serious distress for people with gluten intolerance or celiac. It's incredibly frustrating.

Would they eat game hens? They can be cooked ahead and reheated easily. You could cut them in half as one hen is more than anyone would need on Thanksgiving.

You could do a rice stuffing with sausage. Or just go off the Thanksgiving beaten track and do Ma Po Tofu or something. My ex is Chinese American, and Thanksgivings with that side of the family always had the most interesting mix of dishes (Grandma would bring chicken feet).

It looks like the flour is just used as a thickener so you could use cornstarch instead which would solve your gluten-free problem.

Thanks all! I've not heard anyone voicing a disagreement to the Swedish meatballs so that's what it will be since I don't feel it competes or adds sort of another main protein entrée or at least may not be viewed as doing so and competing, but will be eaten.

@pricklypearcactus - that dish seems very interesting and seems to me like it could be an alternative to stuffing. However as you noted we need more on the protein side of things right now, but I've filed that recipe away as I would like to try it - assuming I could find millet to buy without having to by a huge amount.

Do you have a good GF recipe for Swedish meatballs (and is the traditional cream sauce/gravy diary okay)?

Are you sure feathers will be ruffled if you bring your assigned side and a ham? :)

@Fori - the traditional cream sauce doesn't include flour at all. You cook the cream down to thicken it, but we mainly eat meatballs without the gravy as does a huge majority of the country when doing it at home. I'm talking only of bringing the meatballs as those not eating Turkey also doesn't eat gravy or can't have the gravy which is likely part of why not eating the Turkey either because it is just very plain without. Many recipes of swedish meatballs uses bread crumbs, but others uses potato flour or potato fibers. I use potato fiber as it is more bloodsugar friendly.

Not sure if that would ruffle feathers or not with ham as it could potentially be used as part of an appetizer, but being a type 1 diabetic and since all ham in the US appears to have sugar as part of ingredients it isn't my first choice so since I'm bringing it I'm being a bit selfish there. As to ruffling feathers with another non-traditional protein dish - yes that has happened.

Dietary limits + sensitive hosts? You have my sympathy!

Sounds like the meatballs might work. I know I'd be scooping those up instead of turkey.

I suppose tamales aren't traditional enough?

Being a veg, I haven't eaten Swedish Meatballs before, but if it works for your family with dietary restrictions, do it! I could see how it might be considered "rude" to bring a competing traditional main course (like a roast or a second turkey) to compete with the turkey bringers, but I can't see anything wrong with bringing another meat dish if it will give your family something to eat. Sounds like you're experienced cooking GF, so that'll be a huge help for your GF family member(s). Being newly diagnosed GF, I'm filled with anxiety about hosted meals so I would feel very comforted to know someone like you was bringing food I could eat. Very thoughtful. I hope you have a wonderful meal!

Lyfia.s so sorry that you have to deal with someone who doesn't entirely accept different diets. Perhaps if you send a note in advance naming the names of people who can't eat or won't eat certain things they will be forewarned at least if not understand that you are feeling a gap by bringing a meatier side.

As a chicken and fish atarian plus GF sensitive I would definitely appreciate your efforts and would smooth things by telling the host how appreciative I am that they were accommodating of my needs as well. Perhaps you could enlist someone else's aid in complementing the host on their generous nature and maybe unruffling possibly ruffled feathers. As you can see I'm not beyond a little sugar coating. :-)

I'd bring a ham with some gf biscuits.

You probably know this already but Jules gf flour is excellent.

Yes to Bunny’s excellent suggestion! You could make them small so they look like appetizers, just bring a lot of them 😁

lyfia , would you mind posting your Swedish meatball recipe. All of mine are not dairy free. I would love a tried and true dairy free. The gluten is not a problem, but it wouldn't matter if it was, especially as it might be needed in the future.