Thanksgiving & Autumn Dishes
I think that Andy Williams song has it wrong…
I honestly don’t think Christmas is the “most wonderful time of the year”. I think fall is …and Thanksgiving.
Maybe it’s the weather…the brightly colored leaves, the cool crisp air that lends to tucking under a quilt.
Maybe it’s the food…I just love autumn harvest…butternut and spaghetti squash, roasted beets and carrots, fresh brussels sprouts, kale, apples, figs and sweet potatoes. Seriously, the turkey on the Thanksgiving table doesn’t excite me nearly as much as these items do.
But just in case, I thought I’d refresh you on some past dishes I’ve made that would be perfect for this time of the year OR your Thanksgiving table. Click on the links or the photos. Both will take you to the posts you desire!
So let’s just get the big bird out of the way…here are some Talking Turkey tips for ya.
Want something a little more cozy and intimate than a bi ol’ giant bird?
Try my Turkey Roulades, stuffed with fresh cranberry and apple stuffing.
Get your house smelling fantastic and have Mulled Apple Cider ready all day long in your crockpot!
Okay, now that we’ve got THAT out of the way, let’s talk about the truly important items…the starter and side dishes.
As a starter, butternut squash is one of my favs… try my Butternut Squash Bruschetta with Sage Pesto.
And some Butternut Squash Bisque wouldn’t be too shabby either. Especially with Sage Cream.
And incidentally, it’s fabulous as a side dish all by itself! If you need instructions on How to Roast Butternut Squash…just click here!
Once you roast it you can make this salad that just hollers “FALL”! Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Cider Vinaigrette.
Or if you prefer beets, try my Beet Salad with Garlic Vinaigrette. (learn how to roast beets here).
It isn’t Thanksgiving without some Fresh Cranberry and Apple Relish!
For side dishes, you must make these Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Pine Nuts!
Try these Holiday Mashed Potatoes for a change from plain ol’ mashed taters.
And a favorite among everyone lately are Roasted Vegetables. SO GOOD!
Here is a different kind of side dish – Baked Squash. Yellow squash, butter, eggs and breadcrumbs are all mixed together and topped with more crispy bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.
Probably my kids’ favorite side dish. Probably because they’re aptly named Good as Dessert Sweet Potatoes.
These are a also a must serve at our house. Green Beans Almondine. Much better for than that cream of something casserole too but super delicious!
This is our bread of choice….my Poblano Spoonbread. It’s our southwest way of saying Thanksgiving carbs with a bit of a kick!
For dessert you MUST have pumpkin. And being that I love there are several I can recommend…
Pumpkin Crisp. So good we like it better than pumpkin pie!
Maple Pumpkin Creme Brulee. Need I even go into words here?
Pumpkin Cookies with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting. Kids go nuts for these.
Fun for the kiddos?
And lastly – Candy Corn Popcorn Balls!
I hope you enjoy some of our family favorite recipes this Thanksgiving. If you do, please come back and tell me about them! Happy cooking!
