Think Ahead Thursday: Thanksgiving Side Dishes
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I mentioned when I started this series that we were going to be talking through some of the holiday eating traditions. I do have ulterior motives as I am planning for the holiday menus ahead of time to try and get a handle on the craziness that will be my life come the holidays and the birth of baby #2.
Today, I thought it would be helpful to talk about Thanksgiving side dishes. In our family (maternal mother’s side) we have a big tradition of getting together. There are lots of side dishes as there are usually more than 30 of us gathered and a significant number of bottomless male stomachs to consume food. Thanksgiving usually includes these staples: seven layered salad, stuffing, mashed potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, scalloped corn, and pickled beets (just to name a few).
I am making the assumption that most of us will at least have a turkey that we partake in at this meal. Are there some traditional side dishes that you like to make sure are on your menu? Are there certain recipes that you prefer not to make that actual day, but instead have prepared ahead of time? Please share.
If you have a specific recipe please feel free to include it below as well or to leave a link to the recipe on your site. Or you can email it to me. I can’t wait to hear about your Thanksgiving traditions.
I host Thanksgiving, so I make the turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie squares every year. Some years I make homemade egg noodles out of my Betty Crocker cookbook. My in-laws bring the cheesy hash brown casserole and the corn casserole with the cornbread mix in it.\n\nI’m guessing that my green bean casserole is not very freezer friendly with the sour cream, but I do assemble it a few hours ahead. I am still amazed at how many people have tried and like my family’s (yes, I’m THAT Amy) recipe:\nhttp://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grandmas-Green-Bean-Casserole/Detail.aspx\n\nThis recipe is nearly identical except for the blend of spices to the pumpkin dessert that we serve instead of pie. I make it the night before serving:\nhttp://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Pie-Squares/Detail.aspx
I think you know most of the foods I eat on Thanksgiving. One of my favorites is Grandma’s scalloped corn. MMMM.
When we’re home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, I make this cranberry sauce (which I think could freeze or can well): Cranberry Chutney. That link also has my cherry cheesecake pie recipe, which is always a big hit and I’ve been bringing to the family Thanksgiving for several years.
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Jello with fruit
Succotash (sp?)
Green bean casserole
Corn/Creamed Corn/Sour Cream/Cornbread – can’t remember name
And a various assortment of pies
Good luck!
Every year, I host a huge Thanksgiving with an assortment of h’orderves, two turkeys, ham, two types of gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean cassarole, mashed sweet potatoes with bourbon, honey glazed carrots, nutmeg brussel sprouts, cornbread dressing, regular dressing, cranberry relish, rolls, pecan pie, pumpkin pie and chocolate torte. I wish I could figure out a way to do some things early – I already do the cranberry relish and pie crusts earlier in the week, but something to help with the overload (esp. with apps) would be great!
No if’s and’s or but’s, gotta have Green Bean Casserole and mashed potatoes!
I make pies for our Thanksgiving dinner at my husband’s parents’ house. I always make them ahead of time, at leas a day or two, so there’s less to make on Thanksgiving day.
I don’t know about scalloped corn, but we always have my grandmother’s corn pudding. Yum Yum!
I make the desserts ahead of time. I have a wonderful roll recipe that I make ahead and freeze then let rise and bake that day.
We have turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, chilled olives/pickles/celery/carrots and pie. \n\nI can do both sets of potatoes the day before and put in a casserole dish with a top to slide in and reheat on the day. The raw veg tray and cranberry sauce are also can be waiting in the refrigerator. I usually ask my mom to bring the pies so those get baked in her oven.
Last year, I hosted Thanksgiving, and I had an 8 month old, who is rather clingy. I planned to have ALL my side dishes be prepared ahead of time…they were all casserole-type dishes that just needed to be cooked on the day-of. I didn’t have a TON of sides, but I did have a mashed potato casserole, yams, green bean casserole, and stuffing. It worked out perfectly. It was the easiest Thanksgiving ever. I think I’m going to always do it that way, even when I don’t have the baby-excuse.