Stuffed: New Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

I'm sure I'm not the only one who anticipates the fourth Thursday of November with the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning. Thanksgiving is a day devoted, not only to eating until you have to leave the table to unbutton your pants, (which I completely support) but to giving thanks for all of the good things in life.

To me, the day-to-day minutia in life are what makes it pleasurable. The sound of rain hitting the air conditioner when I'm falling asleep, a well-behaved baby on a flight, the deli near your office making your sandwich with just the perfect amount of honey mustard. 

Yes,it's the little things that make life what it is. Likewise, it's the side dishes at Thanksgiving dinner that round out the table. The turkey is nice, but it's nothing on its own. It needs thick, savory corn pudding and rich, creamy melt-in-your-mouth mashed potatoes topped with gravy in order to star as the lead.

This year, inspired by the blogosphere, I've pulled a few new things to try this year for Thanksgiving. I've already road tested a few of them:

Herb Buttermilk Biscuits

Corn Pudding

As much as I like trying new recipes, there is one that I found on Cooking Light a few years ago that has since become a mainstay at the table.

Cornbread Stuffing with Dried Cranberries

Ingredients:

2 8.5 ounce boxes corn bread muffin mix (I use Jiffy)
3 T. Olive Oil
2 cups chopped onion
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups chopped carrots
2 Tbsp. fresh, chopped sage
1 cup dried cranberries
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup FF lower sodium chicken broth, plus extra for moistening, if necessary.

Directions:

1. Prepare corn muffin mixture according to package directions and set aside to cool. When bread has cooled, cut into bite sized pieces and break onto a baking sheet. Bake at 350F for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown and slightly hardened.

2. In a large, nonstick skillet,* combine olive oil, onions, celery, carrots and sage. Cook on medium for about ten minutes. Add cranberries, broth, salt and pepper and cornbread pieces. Toss well to mix and add extra broth if necessary.

3. Cover and cook on low for 10 minutes to allow flavors to blend.

*Note: I recommend using a LARGE skillet for this - the biggest one you have. This recipe claims to serve 10-12 but makes a LOT of stuffing. We are usually 4-6 people and always have a ton of leftovers.

Most nutritionists will tell you that when you eat a meal, you should fill your plate with 50% vegetables, 25& carbohydrates and 25% lean protein. Even though turkey is a staple, this rule goes out the window on Thanksgiving. I know that potatoes, stuffing and bread are always the leaders on my plate.

What are your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes? What is the one that you simply can't live without on Thanksgiving?

Comments

[Joanna]

that stuffing looks to die for! i'm trying a new one this year. i hope it turns out edible. haha

i like those sweet potatoes. it's a cool take on a such a sweet food. i usually end up eating sweet potatoes the entire night. i just can't help it.

[Adam]

I totally agree with the little things, like side dishes, movies, whatever. Those little things are what makes the day :)

And speaking of sides, I love that cranberry cornbread. Oh man I would eat the whole flipping pan of that :)

[annie]

My favorite side is the stuffing for sure. I have never tried the cornbread stuffing but it looks delicious.
I'm not cooking the dinner, just bringing a side of Butternut Squash Gratin (Giada Delaurentiis recipe) along with me. It is fabulous and different from the usual "sweet" take on butternut.

[alexa]

cranberries! and gravy, i only eat gravy once a year and i put it on everything for this meal.

i'm hungry already.

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

On the rare Thanksgivings when I make a traditional meal, it's always the stuffing that is most popular (cornbread and sausage), along with a potato and fennel gratin. I could (and often do) skip the turkey altogether.

[Emily]

Gosh, I love stuffing. I can't wait!
Wheeeeee!

[Elra]

Your cornbread stuffing sounds so delicious.
From all of the thanksgiving dishes, I must admit that I side dish like this is my favorite.
Cheers,
Elra

[grace]

ooh la la! your stuffing is so colorful and festive, not to mention healthy and undoubtedly tasty. happy thanksgiving to you!

[susan]

You're not gonna like this. I love the frozen peas with those little white onions, love them.

[Anna]

Your post is making me want it to be Thursday! I can't wait to eat all that food! Looks delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[DD]

That stuffing looks divoon! My favorite leftover by far-- hot, cold, whatever. Let the eating begin!

[sharon]

Your lineup sounds quite tasty! I'm more of a Thanksgiving side dish person myself. I love corn pudding and sweet potato casserole.

I never make stuffing, but now I kind of want to. I banned myself from last minute grocery trips, though!

[Jessica]

I love Thanksgiving. We aren't very adventurous on the menu but I love everything we make, especially Apple Crisp. And duh, turkey!

[magda]

What a great post! This time of year is perfect for reflecting on the "side dishes" of life, and you capture that so well--and with such beautiful pictures! Very well said.

The dish I'm most looking forward to is what my dad calls "kicked up mashed potatoes." It isn't really a Thanksgiving dish, per se, but it's so delicious. It's basically mashed potatoes that have everything in them--cheese, bacon, scallions, cream, and the like; really bad for you, but so, so good. I'm hungry just thinking about it.

There's really nothing I don't like on Thanksgiving, and I love the leftovers--the turnkey sandwiches and plates full of reheated sides. So amazing.

[mandy]

I love my mom's stuffing. My great grandma used to make the best noodles, no one has been able to come close though.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

[RecipeGirl]

Those look like some terrific choices. This year my fave was a butternut squash gratin that I made. Hope you had a terrific Thanksgiving!

[lmcanning]

Your list sounds delicious.

My can't-live-withouts:

cranberry sauce....yam's with dried apricots and toasted walnuts and sage mashed potatoes...yep, can't live without the mashed potatoes!
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

[kate]

My sister makes killer cranberries and we have to have our stuffing a certain way, but other than that we like to take our liberties on new things to see what they are like. I finally found out this year, however, that most of my family doesn't like yams. They could have told me as much!

I need a good corn pudding recipe.

[Aggie]

I can't live without my grandma's stuffing and cranberry sauce...although I ate a ton of the stuffing these past few days I'm considering making it again soon b/c it is so good!