Thanksgiving should not be about stressing out, but about enjoying time spent with family and friends. Of course, special wines and libations and a table groaning with the bounty of the season is part of the celebration. Still, the cooks in the family should not be sequestered to the kitchen. To help all the cooks out there, I sent smoke signals to some of my favorite bloggers to once again share one or two of their favorite Thanksgiving sides with you.
One thing I am grateful for this Thanksgiving is the ever-widening group of friends that food blogging has brought into my life. These men and women inspire me when my kitchen creativity is ebbing and motivate me to keep on plugging away on those days when the fun of sitting in front of my computer for hours escapes me. So, without further ado, feast your eyes on these 25 simple and sensational dishes with a high healthy quotient – I know there is a dish here that is calling your name!
I led off with Authentic Suburban Gourmet’s lovely Spicy Pear and Honey Crostini because you absolutely MUST have a tasty tidbit to keep the hunger pangs at bay while the bird is in the oven and savory aromas fill the house!
Root vegetables rule in this pretty Parsnip and Carrot Gratin – Liz the Chef
No need to be apprehensive about chestnuts: Red Wine Braised Chestnuts and Pearl Onions – Cooking on the Weekends
Two autumn favorites star in this stunning Heirloom Apple and Sweet Potato Tian – Jolly Tomato
Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce – Family Spice
A fresh, lively Apple, Walnut, Endive and Arugula Salad from Mimi Avocado brightens the palate.
After tasting this award-winning Blue Ribbon Coffee-Toffee Pecan Pie your family will demand it every year! Thank Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious.
Rolls seem boring when you can have Green Chile Cornbread – Nibbles and Feasts
The under-used celery root is the perfect low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes: Celery Root Purée – Liz the Chef
Recruit the kids to cut out star shapes for Cranberry Jicama Appetizers – Jolly Tomato
A guilt-less gratin with only 1 T. of butter and very little cheese: Cauliflower with Manchego and Pancetta – She’s Cookin’
Add a luxurious touch with Truffled Potato Gratin – In Erika’s Kitchen
A surprising and delicious combination: Creamy Swiss Chard with Coconut – Sippity Sup
Kick things up a notch with spicy Chorizo Pistachio Pear Stuffing from Presley’s Pantry
An elegant fresh green salad balances all the rich fare. Asian Pear Salad with Cranberries & Pecans | She’s Cookin’
This beautiful edible blossom could steal the turkey’s glory! Roasted Delicata Squash Blossom – My Man’s Belly
Spice up your cranberry sauce! New Mexican Hatch Chile Cranberry Sauce –
Shockingly Delicious
Change things up in the potato category with Garlic Herb Smashed Potatoes –
Cooking on the Weekends
Weary of the ubiquitous green bean casserole?
Try Roasted Green Beans & Scallions – Sippity Sup
Or, brighten up those spuds with herby goodness. Herbed Idaho Mashed Potatoes –
In Erika’s Kitchen
For the traditionalists at heart, Moist Stuffing with Swiss Chard to up the nutrition factor –
Family Spice.
A Cream of Chanterelle Mushroom Soup with Fennel Sprouts is sure to impress your family and friends – Rustic Garden Bistro
Like Southern spoonbreads, this luscious Corn Pudding with Hatch Chiles is a crowd pleaser – She’s Cookin’
Spice up the spuds with Guajillo Spiced Scalloped Potatoes – Nibbles and Feasts
This gorgeous Pumpkin Flan could easily replace the traditional pumpkin pie as a family favorite – Presley’s Pantry
I hope you found some inspiration among these delectable dishes. All but one of the recipes above are vegetarian, and many are gluten free or can be modified for gluten free diets. And, if you’re craving more – check out the last year’s roundup and my Collection of Stress-less Thanksgiving Recipes at Foodie.com . Thank you to all my friends for sharing their creativity 🙂
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Glam Media. The recipes were curated by me and contributed by a group of wonderful friends.
Ally's Kitchen
My gracious!! What a glorious post!! Love this, Priscilla…fabulous options and new ideas!!
Lisa {AuthenticSuburbanGourmet}
Thank you for including me in your Thanksgiving post! I am officially hungry right now AND finding some wonderful new dishes to add to our family feast! 🙂
Lizthechef
What a round-up! Thanks for all your effort here – love the collection.
shockinglydelicious
This is a fabulous collection of recipes, and a great resource for Thanksgiving cooks! Thank you for including my stuffing and cranberry sauce!
laura (Tutti Dolci)
Wonderful resource of Thanksgiving sides, all of these look so tasty!
sippitysup
looks fantastic. GREG
Valentina Kenney (@cookingweekends)
Love this collection of recipes and thank you for including me! 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes
What a mouthwatering roundup!
Karen
What a wonderful roundup of dishes…perfect for Thanksgiving and all through winter.
Damaris @foodie
This round-up is fabulous! So many great ideas.