HELP! MIL just asked me to bring a side dish to Thanksgiving dinner. But she is still making all the usuals. She wanted something extra that was "different." I have been all over various recipe sites and can only come up with variations on the usuals. I need something completely different. So, do any of you ladies have holiday favorites that aren't necessarily 'normal' for most families to serve?
My mil makes a cranberry dish that has fresh fruit in it and it is really good. I don't have the recipe here. I will have to ask her for it, then I'll post it. It is something the kids always fill up on and it is the first thing gone.
Stuffed Mushrooms. 10-20 White or Brown Mushrooms 1-2 cups of grated cheese (see note below) 1/8th -1/4 cup Mayonaise 1/8-1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/8- 1/4 tsp onion powder Take stems off white or brown mushrroms in a bowl combine any three grated cheeses you have on hand- I haved used cheddar, fontina, jack, parm, colby, mexican blend, Italian blend, swiss, I mean we have used them all. then add some Mayo enough to moisten it. then some garlic powder and onion powder. fill the mushroom tops- bake on a cooling rack over a jelly roll pan Oven temp 350 for ten -15 min. until the cheese begins to brown and bubble. YUM. Different.
I'd love to have it. I'd like a couple of good ideas that I can take to DH and see which he thinks his family will like best.
That sounds like a good one! I'll have to ask MIL about oven access that day, as she's usually got it stuffed full right up until it's time to serve. But with only 10ish minutes of baking time, it shouldn't be a problem. I'll see what DH thinks.
Broccoli Cornbread 2 boxes Jiffy Cornbread mix 6 eggs 1/2 cup chopped onions 1 1/2 tsp. salt 8 oz. cottage cheese 1 box chopped frozen broccoli, thawed and drained 2 sticks butter Prehat oven to 325°. Melt butter in a 9x13 pan. Mix all other ingredients together, then pour into the pan with the butter. Bake for 45 minutes.
I make rice and peas for DH...his mom is from panama and it's something his aunt used to make every year. So now I make it for him (only I cheat a little but he doesn't notice a difference) I cook 2 cups of rice (white is his favorite for this but brown works equally well) in 3 cups of canned coconut milk and one cup of water (or use 4 cups of coconut water) Then I add in 1 1/2 - 2 cups of green pigeon peas (canned are ok, but frozen is best just be sure they are cooked first), then I put it in a dish and serve. It's easy and super yummy. His aunt actually takes the time to shred fresh coconut and make coconut water...I don't have that kind of time.
Jackie- the cornbread sounds great, but is it really 2 sticks of butter? Do you melt the butter and pour it in the pan without mixing it in the cornbread? DH makes spicy sweet potatoes. We steam sweet potato slices (do ahead and keep in fridge). When it is time to assemble, DH melts some butter and adds crushed red pepper flakes to a small skillet, then adds in as many sweet potato slices as will "brown" easily. Repeat steps. The boys have ALL requested this one for dinner this year! MT3
NOTE: I edited the recipe, to say that the broccoli should be thawed and drained (but not cooked!) YES it REALLY takes TWO sticks of butter (!!!). You melt and pour it into the pan, and then dump all the other stuff on top of all that melted butter.
This is one of my family's favorites. It's yummy and easy to make. Green Beans Almondine (I always use the frozen) 1lb green beans or 2 (9 ounce) packages frozen French-cut green beans 2 tablespoons slivered almonds 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 teaspoon lemon juice (fresh lemon juice is best, can also add a little of the zest) Directions Slice fresh beans French style and cook, covered in a small amount of boiling salted water until crisp-tender. (Or cook frozen beans according to package directions). Drain. Cook almonds in butter over low heat, stirring occasionally, until golden. Remove from heat and add juice. Pour over beans.
Here is the cranberry recipe - Cranberry Salad 1 bag fresh cranberries 1 frozen bag of strawberries, cut up, I also like mixed frozen berries, gives more flavor.( I usually double the recipe and do both. 1 large can crushed pineapple 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 1 lg box sugar-free raspberry jelled cook cranberries with 1 cup water till cranberries pop. Mix gelatin and jello together and stir into cranberries until dissolved, add cut up berries, stir, add the can of pineapple with juice. Chill or can make 8 individual Jell-O’s
Thank you Jackie! Wow, that is alot of butter! My MIL and I are the only ones who like green beans, so I usually fix a small dish (with Amy's mushroom soup) for she and I. The almondine recipe looks like an interesting change for us! MT3
You could always try doing something traditional or common for their ancestry. If they're Polish make sauerkraut & keilbasa or perogi. If they're German, make German Potato Salad (I personally am not a fan of this, but dh's family loved it when I made it). If they're French - french bread & baked brie. I love having at least one dish that's traditional for some part of our heritage at every holiday. It makes it seem more about family & history and less about the comercialization so common with holidays now.
well, i always make broccoli, rice and cheese casserole. it isnt a traditional thanksgiving thing for us, but i just started doing this 3 years ago for my dads side, and now they all request it, lol. if you want the recipe, let me know!
