Thanksgiving Side Dishes
What makes the holidays special for folks? Is it time spent with family? Maybe it is time away from work. It could be gifts, catching a few more hours of shuteye, or it could be the food.
Yeah, of course it is the food!
There is something special about holiday foods though. It is not like we cannot eat them at any other time of year. It is, in all honesty, that we generally just do not.
As you sit at your table this year, enjoying the warmth inside that so starkly contrasts with the cold outside, We hope you truly enjoy your turkey and the requisite accoutrements that make this holiday so deliciously satisfying.
Yeah, of course it is the food!
There is something special about holiday foods though. It is not like we cannot eat them at any other time of year. It is, in all honesty, that we generally just do not.
As you sit at your table this year, enjoying the warmth inside that so starkly contrasts with the cold outside, We hope you truly enjoy your turkey and the requisite accoutrements that make this holiday so deliciously satisfying.
It Is All About the Side Dishes
Turkey is definitely the grande dame of the holidays, but it is the side dishes that catapult it to that status. If you are wondering how you are going to make a stand out meal that dazzles and delights, look no further than our festive side dish suggestions.
Soups, Salads, and More
Sometimes it is best to stick to the traditional. At other times, venturing down culinary avenues you have never explored can be pretty exciting, too.
Cranberry Sauce
While some prefer the relatively gloppy, canned cranberry sauce, making it is relatively simple. Using about a cup and a half of fresh or frozen cranberries and stirring then into a cup of boiling water, cup of sugar, and perhaps a splash of orange or apple juice, you can make a truly delectable sauce that your family will want more of.
Green Beans Almondine
Fancy recipes abound for this dish, but it certainly does not have to be a difficult endeavor. You can use fresh or frozen (thawed) green beans, that are cooked in enough water to cover the bottom of a pan, until they are al dente. In a saucepan covered with a touch of oil, stir fry fresh almonds (you can chop them or put them in whole) and fresh garlic. When they are almost done, mix in the green beans, add soy sauce to taste, and voila!
Tzimmes
Tzimmes, a traditional Eastern European, Jewish side dish, can be made by anybody, for any holiday. Because two of its main ingredients, sweet potatoes and carrots, are so often part of Thanksgiving and other holiday meals, it seems that there is no better time to add this cultural twist to a time honored tradition.
You start preparation for this dish by boiling chunks of sweet potatoes and carrots in a medium to large size soup pot. Let the vegetables boil and get soft until all, or at least most of the water is absorbed. After that, you can add chopped dates, prunes, or even pineapple to the mix. Add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves and allspice to taste, and mix together the way you would mashed potatoes. This is a sweet, satisfying dish that brings both color and homestyle flavor to the tables it graces.
Tzimmes, a traditional Eastern European, Jewish side dish, can be made by anybody, for any holiday. Because two of its main ingredients, sweet potatoes and carrots, are so often part of Thanksgiving and other holiday meals, it seems that there is no better time to add this cultural twist to a time honored tradition.
You start preparation for this dish by boiling chunks of sweet potatoes and carrots in a medium to large size soup pot. Let the vegetables boil and get soft until all, or at least most of the water is absorbed. After that, you can add chopped dates, prunes, or even pineapple to the mix. Add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves and allspice to taste, and mix together the way you would mashed potatoes. This is a sweet, satisfying dish that brings both color and homestyle flavor to the tables it graces.
In Search of More Side Dishes
While traditional dishes are often expected, there is no law that says you cannot try new recipes. For example, Waldorf salad, pumpkin meat pie, creamed butternut squash soup, honeyed carrots, sage rice pilaf, and homemade applesauce are time consuming but not difficult to make. Additionally, they can add brightness, in both taste and hue, to the gray days that often mark the holidays.
Whatever you make, venture out of your comfort zone with just one dish, and see where that takes you. You can introduce ethnic foods or stick with what has always worked for you. We hope you have wonderful holidays and remember that you can eat all of these foods year round, too!
Happy Holidays to all!
While traditional dishes are often expected, there is no law that says you cannot try new recipes. For example, Waldorf salad, pumpkin meat pie, creamed butternut squash soup, honeyed carrots, sage rice pilaf, and homemade applesauce are time consuming but not difficult to make. Additionally, they can add brightness, in both taste and hue, to the gray days that often mark the holidays.
Whatever you make, venture out of your comfort zone with just one dish, and see where that takes you. You can introduce ethnic foods or stick with what has always worked for you. We hope you have wonderful holidays and remember that you can eat all of these foods year round, too!
Happy Holidays to all!
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