Side Dish to Bring to Thanksgiving Dinner

I guess I would recommend a dip because they aren't very hard and people can try a little bit at a time.

I've literally had people fight to get more of this Spinach Artichoke dip- http://www.food.com/recipe/spinach-artichoke-dip-1209

I made it as an appetizer at a gathering once and people ate it like it was a side because they liked it so much! It is probably everything that is wrong with American Food but good lord it is good! ;)

The two dishes I cannot show up to Thanksgiving without are: Sweet Potato Souffle ( a bit of effort due to having to peel and chop the sweet potatoes) and Party Mashed Potatoes (hardly any effort at all if you use the Hungry Jack Mashed potato flakes) and the recipe is on the back of the box.

Baked macaroni and cheese

Stuffed mushrooms

Fresh green salad

Potato salad

I would ask the host(ess) what the menu is and what you can bring. She or he may have a dish that they'd love to have but don't know how to make or don't have time to make.

Whatever you do...no green bean casserole. It's an insult to food...

I was also going to say corn soufflé (casserole, whatever). You can google somme recipes, but the one I loooove, has 2 cans of corn, 2 more cans of creamed corn, some amount of cream and eggs and a bunch of chopped chives mixed in. Aso some seasonings. Sorry I don't know the proportions offhand but it is super easy and gets rave reviews.

I'm not sure what your husband's cousin is making. But if they are not making fresh cranberry sauce, that would be a great thing to bring. It doesn't get much easier than boiling fresh cranberries with water and sugar as instructed on the Ocean Spray bag. And I believe cranberries are the only fruit that is native to America.

If you feel like making a little more work for yourself, fresh cranberries ground in a hand grinder with oranges, then mixed with sugar is even fresher tasting and very delicious. I made it in the food processor once, but it came out better grinding the berries and oranges in a hand cranked meat grinder.

Either way, I vote for cranberries! And if no one ate them, I'd grab what's left and enjoy it at home! Good luck!

Corn casserole...easy!

Butternut squash soup is good.

You didn't say where they immigrated from, most american dishes are versions of thing brought over from where ever we immigrated from.

Martha Stewart's website has great easy recipes and holiday side dishes or main dishes.
That is where I get my holiday recipes from.
And it has always been a hit.
I only choose the recipes which I think are easy and won't take much time.
ie: I have made Brussels Sprouts and a pearl onion side dish.
Both hits, even with my kids.

I have some relatives that are so just into "routine" dishes and are not adventurous eaters. Oh well. But I bring different dishes each time, and ones that they don't usually bring. They only bring the same ol'
dishes every darn year.
Which I get bored of.

One of my favorites: Green Bean Casserole wit the crunchy onion things on top.

sweet potatoes - easy and delish

I second the cranberry idea! Yummy, easy and healthy (if you don't add too much sugar). And like the other mom said, if it doesn't get eaten, hooray! Delicious leftovers for you!

Yams (w/mini marshmellows & brown sugar) baked

Mashed potatoes

Baked veggies (sliced w/grilled onions, shredded gruyere cheese)

My go to dish is a cranberry dessert.

2 small boxes cherry jello
1 can crushed pineapples
1 bag fresh cranberries rinsed
2 cups sugar
1 cup chopped nuts optional (walnuts or pecans)
2 cups water

Put cranberries in sauce pan pour in water. Cook over low heat until they pop like pop corn. Turn off heat. Add pineapple, sugar and jello. Mix well. Pour into glass dish and put in fridge to set over night.

Topping
1 bag mini marshmallows
6oz cream cheese
2 small cartons of heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar

Place all topping ingredients in chilled mixing bowl EXCEPT SUGAR. Mix on high til whipped cream is formed. Mix in sugar. After jello mixture is set Frost it with whipped topping mixture.

People love this. We put it out on the table during dinner but some people like it for dessert

My favorite green bean recipe:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Green-Beans-with-Cherry-Toma...

I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!

I agree with the corn casserole. Easy and a good alternative to dressing.
I use Jiffy corn muffin mix.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/awesome-and-easy-creamy-corn...

Go to Frenchs.com (or copy and paste this link) and look up the grean bean casserole - it's yummy and very easy to make!!

http://www.frenchs.com/recipe/frenchs-green-bean-casserol...

My sister brings it every year and I never grow tired of it.

Good luck!!

I would ask the hostess. Of course I always appreciate what people bring, but for big meals, sometimes we don't need a 5th vegetable or a 3rd starch. So none of them will really be eaten because there are too many choices.

If you ask her, you'll know what kind of things she needs more of and be able to narrow it down from there.

However, when we do NOT host at our house (which is rare), we are always requested to bring broccoli casserole and my husband's homemade dressing (stuffing).

think back to your childhood & choose a dish which has meaning for you.

I have a cranberry recipe that's wicked good!

I bag whole fresh cranberries
1c. Sugar
1c. Water
Let it do it's thing, boil til they pop let it go @10 mins.
Remove from hear add 1 small jar apricot preserves/jam
& 1 tsp lemon juice. Stir in. Chill.

Serve over cream cheese w/honey wheat or plain wheat thin type crackers.
Slivered almonds on top optional.

Total crowd pleaser and is very yummy on the Turkey like regular cranberry sauce.

roasted butternut squash with butter and maple syrup...yum and super easy.

http://www.marthastewart.com/859171/maple-roasted-buttern...

Yeast Rolls from Hardees