Find New Thanksgiving Food Traditions

I know that my Thanksgiving table looks eerily similar to the one that my mom created when I was young, which was in turn a copy of the one her mom used to set. Family recipes, especially Thanksgiving food traditions, are passed down from generation to generation. I, for one, love covering my Thanksgiving sweet potatoes in mini-marshmallows and real Vermont maple syrup. But I have friends that say adding mini-marshmallows to sweet potatoes is practically sacrilegious! Every family has its own Thanksgiving food traditions. But if you’re looking to try out something new this Thanksgiving, why not take a creative spin on a classic and add some festive flavors to your table!

Pumpkin Lasagna

You’ve put pumpkin (or at least pumpkin spice) in just about everything this season, so why not lasagna? Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse found a way to merge his Italian roots with everyone’s favorite fall vegetable in this recipe for pumpkin lasagna with Italian sausage.

Cranberry-Horseradish Cream

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving dinner without some cranberry sauce for the turkey, right? Some families swear by the canned stuff while others prefer to make it from scratch, but if you want something with a little extra kick this Thanksgiving why not try this Food Network recipe for Cranberry-Horseradish Cream.

Creamy Fried Confetti Corn

This corn casserole recipe includes bacon, so clearly it needs to become a Thanksgiving food tradition for your family ASAP! With a short list of ingredients and pretty minimal prep time, it’s an easy addition to your Thanksgiving to-cook list.

Turkey Meatballs with Orange Cranberry Glaze

Got a ton of turkey leftover? This recipe for turkey meatballs with cranberry glaze is a great way to use up a lot of your Thanksgiving leftovers when you’re sick of sandwiches! You could also make these as a party platter for all the holiday gatherings your family plans this season. Just make them in bulk, freeze, and reheat!

Pumpkin Bourbon Shakes

Haagen-Dazs ice cream, pureed pumpkin and pumpkin spices, and bourbon – what more do you really need? These pumpkin bourbon shakes are a great adult-only dessert and easily made kid-friendly without the bourbon.

Bacon and Bourbon Thanksgiving Stuffing

Not to say that your mom’s stuffing recipe isn’t delicious, but if you want to make stuffing to the gourmet level this recipe for bacon and bourbon stuffing is sure to be a hit! Apparently, this recipe is big enough for a 24-pound turkey so plan on having lots of leftovers to serve on the side and to send home with your relatives!

Chipotle Sweet Potatoes

If you also think that mini-marshmallows should be kept far ahead from sweet potatoes, this recipe for chipotle sweet potatoes might be the side dish for you! If you’re the kind of family that loves the spice why not make your Thanksgiving table more heated (in the right way)!

What are your Thanksgiving food traditions? Are there any dishes that simply HAVE to be on your Thanksgiving table?

 

© Featured Photo by Mariha-kitchen from Getty Images