Thanksgiving With A Twist

Thanksgiving
is all about tradition, but that can also mean starting some new ones as a family.
We’ve got a great line-up of recipes that incorporate the foods everyone is
used to — but with some slight twists and tweaks. Now, let’s get to the
gobbling. — 

APPETIZERS

First
things first: You’ll need some sustenance throughout the day while you’re
working on the big meal. Real Simple
has an appetizing round-up of hors d’oeuvres that can be made a day or
two ahead of time (we love that!). When Turkey Time rolls around, just pull
them out of the pantry or fridge for an easy set-up. Try these two
delicious-looking but simple snacks — rosemary
pecans and goat
cheese spread.

To get
the kids involved, give them a few hands-on cooking projects. With a little
creative leeway, they can make Mini
Stuffin’ Muffins, which is also a great way to incorporate those stuffing
veggies into their meal; a Fruit Gobbler
that uses fruit, peppers and cheese to make a real-looking turkey; and Pigs-in-Pilgrim-Hats,
a clever Thanksgiving-themed alternative to the ever-popular munchies.

SIDE DISHES

Spice
up those sides. If you don’t want to serve the same ol’ mashed potatoes, the
possibilities are endless. Sweet Potato Cakes
from Weelicious that the kids will love, Yummy Delicious
blogger Kelsey Banfield’s Roasted
Thanksgiving Potatoes…we could go on and on.

Cranberry
sauce is a given; no Thanksgiving meal is complete without it. But rather than
plopping it out of the can, try one of Martha Stewart’s clever modifications
for Easy
Cranberry Sauce. Don’t Orange-Scented Cranberry Sauce and Cranberry Grape
Compote sound scrumptious?

For
all of the focus we put on the turkey
of Turkey Day, don’t forget about the vegetarians of the family. Babble has
assembled a list of yummy Meatless
Main Courses.
With flavorful fall dishes such as Fall Pasta with Butternut Squash and Pumpkin
Pizza on the table, we hope all of your guests will be stuffed after the meal.

TURKEY AND STUFFING

Now
for the main attraction—The Bird. If you’ve been preparing it every November
for years, you probably have it down to a science. But say you’re running low
on time, or the turkey didn’t thaw out completely, or you have a slight fiasco
with the oven. Rachael Ray has a quick solution to these problems with her Herb
Roasted Turkey Breast and Pan Gravy dish that only takes about an hour to
make, and she uses fresh bay leaves for a surprisingly woody aroma. Yes, it
won’t look like the traditional bird with legs, but it’s a fantastic timesaver
that will still please your dinner crowd. For your little ones who can’t quite
gnaw on a turkey leg yet, whip up this Turkey
& Rice dish so they can still partake in the food festivities.

And
instead of the usual stuffing, experiment with these variations—Sausage
and Chestnut or Fennel
and Apricot—that use unique ingredients.

DESSERTS

We’ve
come to the best part. Instead of just one dessert, make a smorgasbord of
fun treats, including Plymouth Rock Cookies, Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats and
several more courtesy of Family Fun’s cute Thanksgiving
Sweet Treats.

If
you’re a pie person, we’ve got some mouthwatering ideas. Of course, pumpkin and
pecan are holiday staples, but we’re sure that your guests won’t mind having an
array of pies to choose from. For a salty sweet indulgence, this Salted
Caramel Cheesecake Pie from Joy the Baker looks delectable. Or go the route
of the “mini” with these bite-size Apple Pie Cookies
for a twist on the original and Mini Pumpkin Pies from Taste Buds. They’re so
small that you can have two (or three, we won’t tell).

WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THOSE LEFTOVERS

Are
those five pounds of leftover turkey invading your precious fridge space? Food
Network has assembled an incredibly helpful package on what
to use those leftovers for, with recipes for everything from turkey chili
to turkey tetrazzini. Plus, there are also ideas to incorporate remaining side
dishes into potato croquettes or string bean pot pies, just to name a few.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINING (Outside
The Home)

Does
the thought of roasting, stirring, basting, stuffing and chopping for hours on
end stress you out? Forgo the four-course homemade meal, and take the family
out for Thanksgiving dinner. Yummy Delicious
blogger Carla Sullivan discovered these Manhattan
restaurants that will welcome parents and kids for a delicious Turkey Day
feast. Pay a set fee per person to enjoy the fixings and trimmings and all the
goodness of Thanksgiving outside of your own kitchen.