{"id":14203,"date":"2013-11-05T06:00:16","date_gmt":"2013-11-05T14:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=14203"},"modified":"2016-11-20T00:19:19","modified_gmt":"2016-11-20T08:19:19","slug":"25-stress-less-thanksgiving-sides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/25-stress-less-thanksgiving-sides\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Stress-less Guilt-less Thanksgiving Sides"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Spicy<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n

I led off with Authentic Suburban Gourmet’s lovely\u00a0Spicy Pear and Honey Crostini<\/a> 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!<\/p>\n

\"Parsnip-and-Carrot-Gratin,<\/a>
\nRoot vegetables rule in this pretty\u00a0Parsnip and Carrot Gratin<\/a> – Liz the Chef<\/p>\n

\"Red<\/a><\/p>\n

No need to be apprehensive about chestnuts:\u00a0Red Wine Braised Chestnuts and Pearl Onions<\/a> – Cooking on the Weekends<\/p>\n

\"Sweet-potato<\/a><\/p>\n

Two autumn favorites star in this stunning\u00a0Heirloom Apple and Sweet Potato Tian<\/a> – Jolly Tomato<\/p>\n

\"Pomegranate<\/a><\/p>\n

Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce<\/a> – Family Spice<\/p>\n

\"Apple,<\/p>\n

A fresh, lively Apple, Walnut, Endive and Arugula Salad<\/a>\u00a0from Mimi Avocado brightens the palate.<\/p>\n

\"Coffee-Toffee<\/p>\n

After tasting this award-winning Blue Ribbon Coffee-Toffee Pecan Pie<\/a> your family will demand it every year! Thank Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious.<\/p>\n

\"Green<\/a><\/p>\n

Rolls seem boring when you can have\u00a0Green Chile Cornbread <\/a>– Nibbles and Feasts<\/p>\n

\"Celery<\/a><\/p>\n

The under-used celery root is the perfect low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes:\u00a0Celery Root Pur\u00e9e <\/a>– Liz the Chef<\/p>\n

\"Cranberry<\/a><\/p>\n

Recruit the kids to cut out star shapes for\u00a0Cranberry Jicama Appetizers <\/a>– Jolly Tomato<\/p>\n

\"Cauliflower<\/a><\/p>\n

A guilt-less gratin with only 1 T. of butter and very little cheese:\u00a0Cauliflower with Manchego and Pancetta<\/a> – She’s Cookin’<\/p>\n

\"Truffled<\/a><\/p>\n

Add a luxurious touch with\u00a0Truffled Potato Gratin<\/a> – In Erika’s Kitchen<\/p>\n

\"Creamy<\/a><\/p>\n

A surprising and delicious combination: Creamy Swiss Chard with Coconut<\/a> – Sippity Sup<\/p>\n

\"Chorizo-Sausage-Pear<\/a><\/p>\n

Kick things up a notch with spicy Chorizo Pistachio Pear Stuffing<\/a> from Presley’s Pantry<\/p>\n

\"Asian<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0An elegant fresh green salad balances all the rich fare.\u00a0Asian Pear Salad with Cranberries & Pecans<\/a> | She’s Cookin’<\/p>\n

\"Roasted<\/a><\/p>\n

This beautiful edible blossom could steal the turkey’s glory! Roasted Delicata Squash Blossom<\/a> – My Man’s Belly<\/p>\n

\"Hatch<\/a><\/p>\n

Spice up your cranberry sauce! \u00a0New Mexican Hatch Chile Cranberry Sauce <\/a>–<\/p>\n

Shockingly Delicious<\/p>\n

\"Garlic<\/a><\/p>\n

Change things up in the potato category with Garlic Herb Smashed Potatoes<\/a> –<\/p>\n

Cooking on the Weekends<\/p>\n

\"Roasted<\/a><\/p>\n

Weary of the ubiquitous green bean casserole?<\/p>\n

Try Roasted Green Beans & Scallions<\/a> – Sippity Sup<\/p>\n

\"Herbed<\/a><\/p>\n

Or, brighten up those spuds with herby goodness. Herbed Idaho Mashed Potatoes<\/a> –<\/p>\n

In Erika’s Kitchen<\/p>\n

\"Moist<\/a><\/p>\n

For the traditionalists at heart, Moist Stuffing with Swiss Chard<\/a> to up the nutrition factor –<\/p>\n

Family Spice.<\/p>\n

\"Chanterelle<\/a><\/p>\n

A Cream of Chanterelle Mushroom Soup with Fennel Sprouts<\/a> is sure to impress your family and friends – Rustic Garden Bistro<\/p>\n

\"Corn<\/a><\/p>\n

Like Southern spoonbreads, this luscious Corn Pudding with Hatch Chiles<\/a> is a crowd pleaser – She’s Cookin’<\/p>\n

\"Guajillo<\/a><\/p>\n

Spice up the spuds with Guajillo Spiced Scalloped Potatoes <\/a>– Nibbles and Feasts<\/p>\n

\"Pumpkin<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0This gorgeous Pumpkin Flan<\/a> could easily replace the traditional pumpkin pie as a family favorite – Presley’s Pantry<\/p>\n

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, \u00a0if you’re craving more – check out the last year’s roundup<\/a> and my Collection of Stress-less Thanksgiving Recipes<\/a> at Foodie.com . Thank you to all my friends for sharing their creativity \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n