The best Thanksgiving side dishes are those which are enjoyed for the first time, or every year as part of Thanksgiving tradition. Classic recipes like stuffing, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes or more extravagant side dishes like unique casseroles, oyster stuffing are consumed by millions of Americans on Thanksgiving Day.http://www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/fss/consumers/allturk.htm Although turkey, ham, goose or duck tend to be the focal point of the Thanksgiving meal, the side dishes are equally important and significant to this celebratory meal.http://festivals.iloveindia.com/thanks-giving/traditional-side-dishes/index.html
Thanksgiving Side Dish Options
- Casseroles are versatile and can be made with a wide range of ingredients. They can also be kept simple with ingredients like macaroni and cheese.http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/best-ever-green-bean-casserole-recipe/index.html
- Cranberry sauce can be prepared in a variety of styles, or can be purchased in the can and is a standard accompaniment to turkey and fowl.http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/cranberry-sauce-recipe2/index.html
- Potatoes lend themselves to scalloping, mashing, baking, frying, boiling and stuffing. One form or another typically finds its way to the Thanksgiving dinner table.http://allrecipes.com//Recipes/side-dish/potatoes/Main.aspx
- Soup can be a satisfying accompaniment to any meal. Using fall ingredients such as squash or pumpkin and spice can customize it for a Thanksgiving meal.http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/thanksgiving-soups
- Dressing, also referred to as stuffing, can be as simple as bread and butter, or can be extravagant with fruit, nuts and exotic mushrooms. Often cooked inside the turkey cavity, it can also be sauteed or baked alone.http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/old-fashioned-stuffing/Detail.aspx
Thanksgiving Side Dish Trivia
- Green bean casserole was developed in 1935 and it will be served in over 30 million homes across America this holiday season.http://www.campbellkitchen.com/SpecialtyHolidayGreenBean.aspx?specialty=holiday
- Stove Top stuffing was first sold in 1972 and sells more than 60 million boxes each Thanksgiving.http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/23/national/23siems.html
- Stuffing is called "stuffing" when cooked inside the turkey, chicken or goose or duck and "dressing" when baked separately.
- The words "cranberry sauce" are used in the song "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles for no apparent reason.http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beatles/strawberry-fields.html
- The word stuffing was first printed in 1538http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/stuffinghistory.htm
- 40 million green bean casseroles are consumed each year on Thanksgiving Day.
- The first recipe for pumpkin pie wasn't published until 1685.
- More than 94% of Thanksgiving dinners include cranberry sauce.http://www.foodreference.com/html/fthanksgiving.html
Healthy Sweet Potatoes Casserrole Recipe
In a large pan of cold water place 3-4 large sweet potatoes, about 3 pounds. Cook until very soft, easily punctured with a fork. After done set aside to cool.
In a food processor mix 1/2 cup of whole, toasted, unsalted almonds and 1/4 cup of turbinado sugar. Process to a coarse mill, no whole almonds left. Put aside.
Peel cooled sweet potatoes and put into bowl. Mash with whisk and add 1/2 cup of heavy cream, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix well and place in an ungreased 9 X 9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with nut and sugar mixture. Bake at 350 degree oven about 25 minutes.
Southern Dressing Recipe
Ingredients needed: 1 cup chopped green onions, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, 1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage, 1 recipe of Jiffy cornbread mix or about 12 oz of your favorite recipe of cornbread, 1 1/2 cups (about) chicken broth or a boxed type or make your own! Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add all sausages and cook until brown and cooked through, breaking up bulk sausage with back of fork, about 5 minutes. Add onions, celery and red bell peppers. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Stir in green onions, thyme, hot pepper sauce and sage. Transfer sausage mixture to large bowl. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Stir stuffing mix into sausage mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Bake turkey stuffing in baking dish: Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 15×10x2-inch, 13×9x2-inch or 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish, using size called for in recipe. Add enough broth to stuffing to moisten (about 3/4 cup to 1 1/2 cups.) Transfer turkey stuffing to prepared dish. Cover with buttered foil, buttered side ...
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
In America, Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November
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Fact:
Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October
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Fact:
Turkey is the traditional main dish
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Fact:
Thanksgiving dinner is often served in the afternoon
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Fact:
Traditional dinner includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie
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Fact:
One of the busiest travel days of the year
