I love how my Thanksgiving table reflects the traditions of my family, closely resembling the beautiful feast my mom created when I was a child, which, in turn, mirrored the delightful meals prepared by her mom. Family recipes, especially those for Thanksgiving, truly connect us across generations! One of my favorite family recipes is topping sweet potatoes with mini marshmallows and a drizzle of real Vermont maple syrup—it's simply divine! Every family has its unique Thanksgiving traditions, and if you're feeling adventurous this year, why not add a creative flair to classic dishes and explore some festive flavors? It could lead to a wonderfully memorable holiday!
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