I thought I’d do a quick round up of some recipe ideas for Thanksgiving Day. You might not have your menu set, or maybe you’re looking for an idea for something to bring to the feast. Or, maybe you’re just looking for some light Friday afternoon reading ;)
I’ve got 16 Thanksgiving recipes to share with you for almost everything but the turkey. Let’s get started with appetizers….
Endive with Sweet Potato, Bacon and Chives– I just posted this one. You couldn’t miss it, but if you did I’m here to remind you that this is a great appetizer for Thanksgiving. The sweet potatoes are sauteed with the bacon and chives. Short ingredient list, super easy to make and it looks so pretty when you’re done.
Goat Cheese with Honeyed Fruits and Nuts– This is one of my favorite appetizers and it’s so, so easy to make. Chop up dried fruits and nuts, mix them with honey then let them nestle over and around a log of goat cheese. It’s a beautiful presentation with a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, creamy, crunchy and chewy. Wonderful on a cracker…and if you’re lucky enough to have some leftover, it is delicious spread on a bagel.
Onto side dishes…
Orange Vanilla Glazed Sweet Potatoes– There must be sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving. It’s a rule. My husband hasn’t learned that rule since he always says we can just do one potato, mashed or sweet. Um, no. We must have both and this one has become a new favorite. I love, love love the addition of orange flavor…the hint of vanilla and, yes, the candied pecans! (They should probably be mandatory too!)
Pineapple Coconut Glazed Carrots– I originally made these last spring, but they would be a perfect side for your turkey. If you don’t follow the rule of mandatory sweet potatoes, here’s a way to add some of that beautiful orange color with a less starchy veg. The fruity glaze is a nice change and the lime just brightens up the flavors perfectly!
Thanksgiving Kale– This recipe is good any time of year, but the first time we tried it, we decided it just tasted like Thanksgiving. It’s a sweet and savory recipe that’s got lots of traditional Thanksgiving flavor. It’s also a great vegetarian/vegan option.
Sausage, Fig and Cranberry Stuffing– This is a perfect choice for those of you who love a little bit of sweet in a savory stuffing. The sausage add so much flavor and the figs and cranberries are a festive and delicious addition.
Save room for dessert…
Apricot Cherry Slab Pie– If you haven’t made a slab pie, well, I think it’s time. This is a perfect pie for a crowd, has a great pie crust to filling ratio, slices like a dream into large or small pieces and will look like one giant pop tart once it’s baked up. Slab pie? It’s a really delicious way to do pie and will likely become a topic of conversation once it’s time for dessert.
Blueberry Galette– So, you don’t want to make one giant slab pie? Then this galette is for you. I give you my super easy all butter pie crust recipe that rolls out like a dream. All you have to do is pour your fruit into the center and fold it up. Couldn’t be easier. Couldn’t be tastier.
Caramel Apple Crostatas– Here’s another free form choice for pie. This time they’re single serving and, wait for it, covered with caramel. It’s my same easy butter pie crust recipe, just in smaller sizes. Feel free to make one whole pie though, just like you would with the Blueberry Galette above. (They’re the same kind of pie, “galette” is French, “crostata” is Italian.)
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip– So you don’t want to mess with a crust but you still want an impressive pie-like dessert? I’ve got you covered with this one. You don’t have to roll anything out, you don’t have to bake anything. Your biggest concern will be what amazing dippers you will use to scoop up this yummy pie filling. And it’s so pretty…I love this one for an “easier than pie” dessert.
Chewy Pecan Pie Muffins– Here’s another easy one. Seriously. They’re chewy and nutty and sweet and you can top them in so many different ways. They can look rustic or fancy and are perfect for a tiny sweet bite. Imagine a whole tray full of these babies. People always eat more than one, so that tray won’t be full for long. They also travel well, so if you’re packing up leftovers for your guests to take home, these are perfect for that.
Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake Cake– Maybe you want something even more impressive that isn’t a pie. This cake is ridiculously good. You get two layers of yum that are good enough to stand on their own, then you drizzle some warm caramel sauce on top! Heaven! My husband and kids made this cake for me for my birthday. Yes, the exact one you’re looking at in the photos. If they can do it, you can do it :)
Orange Olive Oil Cake– Ah yes…maybe you want something that’s sophisticated but simple. This is your cake. It comes together so easily, doesn’t have a lot of ingredients and is so delicious. The orange flavor is refreshing and this cake will win you over forever for olive oil cakes. You’ve got to try it. And if you have leftovers, it will make a lovely little addition to your breakfast table.
Speaking of breakfast…What do you eat for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning? Do you starve yourself until dinner? Or, do you start the splurging early? I think you should eat breakfast every day, therefore I’m giving you a few ideas to get you going. You can even make them ahead:
Brown Sugar Butter Pecan Scones– If you want to start off the day sweet and buttery, go for these scones. If you have guests staying over, these scones will be a wonderful morning treat. They are full of nutty fall flavor and are easy to munch on if you’re prepping for the big meal.
Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Cinnamon Spiced Yogurt– Why wait for the pie to have pumpkin? Make these waffles ahead and freeze them. Come Thanksgiving morning, just pop them into the toaster oven for a nice hot breakfast. The sweet yogurt topping adds a nice boost of protein and keeps them a little lighter than if you doused them with syrup. (Though they’re quite good with the syrup if you want to go that route.)
Spinach Feta Egg White Cups– This protein rich choice is great if you want to start the day light but healthy, before all of the splurging that’s likely to happen when it’s time for the big meal. It will take you less than five minutes to get these in the oven and you can make them ahead. Warm them up the next day in the microwave and you’ll have yourself a lovely little breakfast.
So there you have it…some inspiration for everything but the turkey. I’m still working on my menu, but I know that some of the things I’ve shared today will definitely be part of it :)