Gobble Game Plan Day 2
Today, I want to focus on some good Thanksgiving side dishes, not the essentials which we will cover tomorrow. These are the lesser, but still beloved sides. Recipes that will never steal the show, but they do help round everything out. These dishes are simple and should be in my opinion for several reasons. First, there is usually a lot of rich food at Thanksgiving so having some basic options helps even things out. Second, you may have some folks who do not really like a lot of the traditional rich Thanksgiving items and this gives them some basic options. I confess I do not understand these people. Are they the same ones who go to chick-fil-a for breakfast and order something other than a chicken biscuit? Perplexing to me, but nevertheless, I am gracious and accommodating. Third and finally, remember the kids. Kids can be picky eaters so having some basic options for them is essential too. Think of these as loveable sidekicks. Everyone loves sidekicks. The sweet friend Piglet is to Pooh. The assistance of Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes. What Goose was to Maverick or Robin to Batman. The beloved Duckie from Pretty in Pink and one of my personal favorites, Chewbacca, Han Solo’s trusted pal. Admittedly, these sidekicks are way better than these side dishes, but they serve a purpose. Also, if you are not hosting, these are some easy options to contribute if you are looking to bring something to a gathering. So here we go.
Delicious Testimonials
- Waldorf salad: I love this recipe. With apples, celery, and pecans, it is light and fruity and goes well with the traditional Thanksgiving spread of Turkey, sweet potatoes, and dressing. It is not complicated and takes little time which is another bonus.
Waldorf salad: Recipe here
- Southern Green beans: This is another great simple recipe from my mother-in-law that adds a green vegetable in the mix. These green beans are tangy and sweet and have lots of flavor for being so easy.
Recipe:
4 strips of bacon cooked and crumbled
1 small onion, chopped
1 lb. of green beans
2 cups of chicken broth
¼ cup brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions: Cook bacon in skillet and add onion. Add green beans and broth. Simmer and reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender stirring occasionally. Remove lid and raise heat to medium high simmering until most of the liquid is gone. Add brown sugar and stir to coat. Cook until sugar makes a glaze (2-3 min). Add salt and pepper as needed.
- Paula Dean’s Corn Casserole: This dish is creamy, yummy and therefore another great option as a side to compliment your Thanksgiving meal. It is simple so there is a good chance the kids will eat it too.
Corn Casserole: Recipe here
- Seasoned Green Peas: Here is another easy green vegetable that is also simple. The pearl onions add great flavor to this dish. Honestly, you can eat the peas and onions cooked together as is but follow this recipe to add some additional seasoning. This vegetable has been referred to as ‘little green basketballs’ in my house so eat up sports fans.
Green Peas: Recipe here
These are four good options for rounding out your holiday meal with some simpler, lighter dishes.
This time of year, acorns, like leaves are everywhere. I love acorns. It is the only nut that comes with its own hat, resembling a beret. Here are a couple of activities you can do with the kids using these super fashionable nuts. Being the big nerd that I am, I try to be sure and work in some educational moments for the boys when we do these. We talked about the acorn being the fruit of the oak tree and that each one contains a single seed. Once the seed germinates, it produces the taproot that will anchor the tree for the rest of its life. Some oak trees can live to be 1000 years old. Acorns are also considered to be a lucky symbol. Click the links below to make some cute animals with your acorns.
- Pinecone owls: These little guys are adorable. Quite frankly, I intend to incorporate them into my holiday decor somehow. Grab a pinecone, some acorns (with berets) and a few other things and you are ready to go.
Pinecone owls: Instructions here
- Acorn Squirrels: Here is another cute option for doing something fun with your acorns. This does require some supervision given that it involves a hot glue gun. My 5-year-old always requires supervision, so this is not new for me. I did not have craft fur and was not able to find any so I grabbed some pipe cleaners in a package that had grey, brown and tan. I took a couple of brown and tan ones and looped them around and glued them to the back. Once dried, I could fluff the tail a bit. I used grey pipe cleaner pieces for the arms and feet also. Super glue works great too if you do not have a hot glue gun.
Acorn squirrels: Instructions here
For an easy treat that is acorn-themed, follow the instructions at the link below to turn donut holes into acorns. My boys love donuts and this is a treat they can help with, making it even better. Add chocolate, sprinkles and a pretzel stick and your little nuts can snack on acorns too. Except these acorns are somewhat tastier than the real thing.
Acorn donut holes: Recipe here
Bonus Testimonial
I want to take a minute to talk about an easy acorn squash recipe. My mom made these when we were growing up and I loved it. Since we are discussing acorns, I wanted to add it as an extra side dish, not necessarily for Thanksgiving, but certainly a good fall recipe. With brown sugar and butter, what is not to like?
Acorn squash: Recipe here
There is one other all-time great sidekick that I hope you will incorporate into your holiday tradition: Snoopy. We watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving this year with the boys and I had forgotten how great it was. Lucy and the football, Peppermint Patty, and Linus’s explanation and prayer. It really is so sweet. During one scene, when Charlie answered a call, I got to say, “Hey look boys, that is what a phone used to look like.” They gave me weird looks and I had one of those moments of realizing just how old I am. Watching this together was a great way to keep the focus on why we celebrate Thanksgiving and just like Linus (or someone) said, just be grateful for being together. I hope you get some quality time with your favorite sidekicks this holiday season.
Tomorrow: The Thanksgiving essentials
