What do you like to serve as sides with your Thanksgiving dinner?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

What do you like to serve with Thanksgiving dinner besides rolls, gravy, and dessert? This is a multiple choice poll.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I chose all of the above since I cook them all. I have also had a broccoli and rice casserole and a spinach dish that I got from Paula Dean.

[barbszy]

I chose Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce (Ocean Spray, the kind in a can) and OTHER:
Mashed rutabagas with butter and pepper
Creamed onions
Corn

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, what are creamed onions? I love onions, so creamed onions sound great!

[barbszy]

DeBora, they are pearl onions in a cream sauce. I get them frozen, already made, in the little box--BirdsEye. They're soooo good!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, I will have to look for it. I never knew it existed!

[Lizzie-boo]

I chose all but the green salad. That made me smile because years ago when my mother would make a big holiday meal, she'd always make a big green salad (with the other multitude of side dishes she always made) and always bemoaned the fact that she was the only one who ever took some of the green salad. One year, my husband felt bad for her and took a little chunk of lettuce and put it on his plate and said, "Ok, Mom, now you're not the only one."

Liz

[barbszy]

LOL Liz! Think we must be related. The same thing used to happen at holiday gatherings at my great-aunts' home!

[sosoftail]

I have to make a list I have so many side dishes so I don't forget anything. Everyone eats at my house so I feel like I am feeding an Army and no one brings any dishes. I have to cook sometimes a couple of days ahead as my oven will only cook one baked item at a time.

One favorite is corn souffle. They used to think it was homemade but I finally let the cat out of the bag. Stouffers makes a delicious corn souffle but they are in small containers. I buy at least 10 of them and put them in a big pan. Bake until thickened and turning golden on top.

I am thinking about adding a homemade squash casserole this year or at least attempt it. A nearby restaurant serves it and it is so good! They only have it on the menu a couple of times a month and I already asked and they don't freeze it. They said it falls apart and gets too watery with freezing. They won't have it on the menu the rest of the month so I have to try and make it. I have a few recipes I got off this site I may try so keeping my fingers crossed.

I can give you my menu for this Thanksgiving.
1.Turkey
2.Ham
3.Dressing
4.Mashed potatoes
5.Giblet Gravy
6.Mac & Cheese
7.Sweet Potato Souffle
8. Corn Souffle
9.Green Beans
10.Possible Squash casserole
11.Potato Salad
12.Coleslaw
13.Carrot Suoffle
14.Rolls
15 Red Velvet Cake

Considering other options but that is it for now. We don't eat it all in a day but it will last a few days. Lots of leftovers. I basically have mostly the same thing for Christmas. Sometimes I add a pie or two. Our biggest meals of the year and the only time I have so much at one time.

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!;)

[Lizzie-boo]

Barb, if I could be related to anyone, I'd pick you!

Sosoftail,
Wow, I got full just reading your list. What kind of squash casserole are you interested in? Lots of good cooks visit this site and Family Corner, and if you can give some particulars, maybe someone has a recipe like one you're looking for.

Liz

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Sosoftail, your meal looks so delicious!

[myan]

home made "Minced Meat Pie" but with my late husband gone and my children are all grown up and moved away, my present husband nor his grown children don't like it. :(

[Coll]

Our sides are stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, pie, veggie trays and sometimes mac salad.

[cat lover]

Okay everybody, now I'm hungry! LOL Supper is cooking right now though!

This year it is going to be simple for DH and I. Dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, cranberries, and peas. I don't at this time plan anything else, but you never know! LOL DS#1 works second shift now so he probably won't be around and DS#2 is married and his wife usually cooks him a nice meal. They are all being like us basically; they don't want to have to travel on holidays either!

[Barb]

we have other things beside sweet potatoes but it is one that is always on the menu for Thanksgiving.
we also have the green bean casserole for one of the kidx enjoys making this.
it really depends on where we are to what we have on the menu but it always sweet potatoes.

[Lizzie-boo]

Our menu has evolved over the years, too. When I was growing up, my Mom loved plain baked sweet potatoes (with just butter), so that's what we had. I really liked (and still do) them just that way.

On the other hand, my husband grew up with candied sweet potatoes, so that's they way he likes them. For the holiday, I tend to make them his family's way, and other times of the year, I'll make them plain (my favorite way).

Liz

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Lizzie, I usually candy my sweet potatoes and put marshmallows on top. But, I am with your mother on the way I personally like mine. I like just butter, salt, and pepper on mine.

[cat lover]

This is another way for stuffing; this one is good at other times when you have more time to play around with it, but if you have the time during the holidays it adds a surprise to the regular stuffing!

Stuffing


5 cups firm white bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 cup milk
1/4 to 1/2 cup butter
1/4 pound kielbasa, diced
2 cups onions, diced
3/4 cups celery, diced
1 1/2 cups mushrooms, large dice
1/4 cup port wine
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
3/4 tsp dreied thyme
3/4 tsp powdered sage
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup dried apricots dyced
1/2 cup pecans, broken in pieces
1 pound chestnuts, roasted & peeled
1 large egg, lightly beaten


Spread bread on a cookie sheet and let it dry out overnight. Place it in a large bowl and pour 1/2 cup milk over and toss lightly. Set aside.Melt butter in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook stirring often till the meat is lightly browned. Remove it with a slotted spoon. Cook and remove the onion and celery the same way. There should still be a generous film of fat in the pan and if not add butter.Raise heat to medium-high add the mushrooms and cook stirring often till browned. Add the mushrooms to the bread bowl and pour the wine into the skillet. Stir it around to loosen all the browned bits and then pour into the bread bowl. Add seasonings, fruit and nuts and toss till all is combined. Toss in the eggs. Add more milk only if very dry. Cook at 325 till heated through in a greased casserole.

[cat lover]

This is a new recipe for me; I tried it the other day and liked it as something different so thinking of making these for the sweet potato dish this year


Spicy Chipotle-Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes

3 large sweet potatoes or yams
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground chipotle chile pepper
salt

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wash and scrub the sweet potatoes. Cut each sweet potato into bite size chunks.Add the sweet potato pieces, olive oil, cinnamon, and chipotle to a gallon size storage bag. Close the storage bag and shake making sure all of the spices are evenly distributed on the pieces. Spread out the spiced sweet potato pieces in an even layer onto a baking sheet. Salt to taste. Bake the sweet potatoes in the oven for 15 minutes then using a spatula to turn them place them back in the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes. If you like them crisper you can add a few minutes make sure to check on them so they don't burn. Serves 6

[blessedmomof04]

I make oyster stuffing. Dh says it isn't Thanksgiving with out it. I always take some to my dad after Thanksgiving. He loves oyster stuffing also. He has made the comment to my mom that I am the only one of the 3 girls that cooks like her. So I make sure I take stuff to them when I make certain things.

[Lizzie-boo]

I made my version of my Mom's recipe for sausage/bread dressing. I watched a couple of FoodNetwork shows in the last couple of days that dealt with stuffing and it was interesting to see some amazing versions. I'll probably make my traditional favorite for Thanksgiving, but I may try a new version for another meal.

Liz