Celebrate the Harvest with Your Tastiest Thanksgiving Dinner Yet!

Posted : September 14, 2020

Our blog is chock full of great ideas for fun things to see and do in York Durham and Headwaters. We are always adding new content and updating old posts, but sometimes you might stumble upon something from our vault. If this article has inspired you to hit the road, be sure to double-check that the featured stops in this post are still welcoming visitors.

Is there anything more iconic than Thanksgiving dinner? Succulent turkey topped with rich gravy, fluffy mashed potatoes next to a scoop of fresh cranberry sauce and a stack of harvest-fresh veggies. And then there’s dessert. Which to us, here at York Durham Headwaters (YDH) means pies! Lots and lots of pies!

Heatherlea Farm Shoppe Caledon Pie

We love celebrating the harvest with friends and family. Whether you savour a traditional feast with recipes passed down from generation to generation, or if you enjoy recipes that reflect dietary choices or your country’s palate, you’ll find in-season ingredients you need to make a smashing meal in YDH.

The Main Event

Let’s talk turkey. The main course is what draws the ooohs and the ahhhs. Cooking a big bird isn’t an everyday event and the chef deserves a round of applause for sheer culinary brilliance! Just like an artist creates masterpiece on a pristine canvas, so too should you have the very best ingredients for your pièce de résistance.

If it’s turkey you’re after, you’ll want to visit Landman Gardens and Bakery. While you’re there, you could even pick up condiments like fresh cranberry sauce and chutney.

Landman Gardens Bakery

Carving Turkey

Some families like to mix up the main course. If beef paired with rich, rich gravy is your jam, get yours at the Heatherlea Farm Shoppe and browse their selection of essentials (like farm fresh eggs) and sauces for inspiration for sides.

Canada’s premiere duck producer can provide a new take on the main course! Visit King Cole Ducks Ltd to pick up a ready-to-cook or ready-to-serve duck. This is a listing in the York Farm Fresh guide – check out the map for participating farms, farmers’ markets, and food festivals and fairs.

Looking for a vegan or vegetarian main? We love browsing Pinterest for ideas like pumpkin risotto, which frankly, we can’t stop thinking about! You can get your gourd at Knox Pumpkin Farm, which is a stop on A Country Path, a scenic self-guided driving tour.

Heatherlea Farm Shoppe Caledon Gourde

The Side Effect

Treat your taste buds to the very best of the season with unforgettable side dishes!

For fresh biscuits, potatoes and foraged veggies, stop in at the Orangeville Farmers’ Market. If juicy corn is on your shopping list, pay a visit to Albion Orchards – just one of the fine listings in the Headwaters Farm Fresh guide!

Top off your table with a bright bouquet of flowers at the family-run Rock Garden Farms, and browse their irresistible array of fresh-picked fruit and veggies.

Fresh Sunflowers

The Grand Finale

Clear the table – it’s time for pie! What’s your favourite slice? We can never decide between pumpkin and apple, so we usually have a piece of each. After cooking a full-on feast, we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to outsource dessert! If so, Spirit Tree Estate Cidery has you covered! Their baked goods are truly decadent, and you can pick up sparkling apple cider to pair with your meal. If you’re determined to bake your own, more power to you! Bring your family to the apple orchard at Archibald Orchards and Estate Winery (a listing on the Durham Farm Fresh guide). Pick from 11 kinds of apples from small trees that are the perfect height for kids.

apple picking

Nothing tastes better than fresh

Life is busy. We get it! Though it might seem counter-intuitive, we believe that carving out the time to shop and cook mindfully benefits body and soul. As you source local ingredients, be sure to talk to farmers and producers and ask them questions about cooking their products. You’ll make connections with the community and get insider tips on cooking an unforgettable feast.

fresh from the field

Want the latest YDH news, delivered fresh to your inbox? Great! Sign up for our newsletter for blog posts and upcoming events.

Keep in mind that due to COVID-19 precautions, some of the activities may not be fully available, as well, you may need to purchase tickets online – make sure you check the locations website for more information to ensure a safe visit for all.

York Durham Headwaters Go to Home Page