Thanksgiving Side Dishes - Help!?

Question

Hi all. I am desperately in need of 1 or 2 side dishes to make for Thanksgiving. So far we have 2 kinds of stuffing (one regular one with raisans) 2 types of potatoes (Pecan Crusted Yams and Regular Mashed Potatoes) and then I am making sauteed mushrooms and onions. Now what else can I make? I need another veggie dish that everyone will like. Other than just corn. And then something else. I am at a loss. This is the first time I am hosting it ever. I am 33 and my Husband and I just moved to a large townhouse where we will have room for this. It will just be 8 people so we don't need anything heavy or extreme or elaborate. My Mother suggested Cous Cous (we are jewish go figure) but I know my Husband (not jewish) will not eat that. He is your typical military guy meat and potatoes. So.... anyone have any ideas??? I was thinking about stringbeans in tomato sauce with almond slivers. But not sure. Help!!! If you have an idea, please also post recipe. Again, nothing elaborate. Simple. :)

Wow... thank you everyone for such fast and great replies! I think one of you nailed it.. too much food for just 8 of us. So, I think I will do one of the string bean dishes/caseroles as you suggested, Noodle Cogle (however you spell it) that's with Peaches and raisins right? I should know we have that on the holidays. And then Salad. So now I have:

Turkey
Mashed Pot's
Yams w/Marshmellows & Pecan crumble
Raisin/Cranerry Stuffing
Regular Herb Stuffing
Pear and Provolone Salad
Corn (off the cob)
Stringbean dish

Desert:
Pumpkin Pie
Chocolate Pudding Pie with Marshmellows, Choc Shavings and Whipped Cream.

How does this sound for 8 people?

Unfortunately half of us like a fruity stuffing and half traditional. Same with potatoes - half yams half white. So that is the reason for multiples of potatoes and stuffing. So..how does my menu look now? Thanks everyone!

Oh and Noodle Koogle!

And to the last/most recent post! Yes of course :) I have both types of cranberry sauce. Whole Berry (will do myself) and the other kind (solid)

Answer 1

Baked beans
dumplings
green bean casserole
deviled eggs
mint sweet peas
carrots in a ginger sauce

Answer 2

Green Bean Casserole is a staple at our Thanksgiving table:

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

2 cans julienne cut green beans
1 can cream of mushroom soup - undiluted
1/2 c milk
1 tsp soy sauce
dash of pepper
1(3 1/2 oz) can French fried onions (I use a large can)
(I also add either sliced or slivered almonds)

Stir soup, milk, soy and pepper until smooth. Mix in the green beans, almonds, and half the can of onions. Bake in preheated 350º oven for 25 minutes. Stir. Top with remaining onions. Bake 5 more minutes.

For occasions other than Thanksgiving, I like to add to the above recipe, sauteed onions and garlic, a can of mushrooms - either sliced or pieces and stems, and cubed ham. It makes for a whole meal and a "meat and potatoes kinda guy" would love it. This will be enough for your 8 people.

Answer 3

start with a soup as an appetizer. I suggest maybe butternut squash. Or do something out of the box! Maybe cook some greens with a piece of the turkey (it'll probably cook just fine boiled with the greens, btw you have to wash the greens well first) And since squash is a traditional autumn food, maybe cook spaghetti squash and serve with pesto or a spicy spaghetti sauce, its a spaghetti and a vegetable at the same time, i think its so cute!

Answer 4

'Cranberry Salad'...'Guarenteed to make everyone go nuts!! I have shared this recipe with so many people and each and everyone come back raving about it! Even people who don't care for cranberries like this recipe! Something that is so easy yet so eloquent!

Cranberry Salad


1 bag of fresh cranberries
1 cup of sugar
1 small can crushed pineapple drained.
1 cup walnut pieces
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 3oz box of red Jell-O (I use cranberry, but any can be used)
1 cup water
1 small carton of heavy whipping cream (1/2 pint)

Grind cranberries and add 1 cup of sugar, mix and let sit overnight. The next day mix 1 cup of ‘hot’ water with the Jell-O, sit in refrigerator until syrupy. Mix together cranberries, crushed pineapple, walnut pieces and mini marshmallows, mix in the syrupy Jell-O to this. Mix heavy whipping cream in separate bowl until stiff peaks and fold into the above mixture. Refrigerate until set-up.

Edited to add:

This recipe will blow the socks off of the canned type of cranberry sauces. Trust me, give it a try, you won't be sorry, I promise!! :-)

Answer 5

Cole Slaw
String Bean Casserole
Green Salad
Glazed Carrots
Roasted Root Vegetables http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_82539_PRINT-RECIPE-FULL-PAGE,00.html

Answer 6

choose one or more from my list
*green beans with tomatos as you said
*green beans with mushroom soup almond slivers and crispy fried onions
*broccoli and cauliflower
*peas, carrots and baby onions
*spinach with cheese sauce
*raw veggie platter with ranch dressing for dipping
*baby spinach leaf and tomato wedge salad

there are so many dishes you could do. You already have too much starch in the menu with 4 potatos and stuffing.

A good menu has lots of colors and textures. It has hot stuff, cold stuff, smooth stuff, crispy stuff.

Answer 7

Well, I usually prepare my stringbeans with corn, diced smoked sausage, garlic salt, pepper and chicken broth.

Try it as a side dish with dinner first to see if your hubby will like it...

Boil the the diced sausage in chicken broth, then add 2 cans of greenbeans and one can of corn. Season with garlic salt and pepper to taste. It's super simple and yummy!

Answer 8

Well, instead of the reg mashed potatoes, try to make garlic mashed potatoes. Or Sweet potato with marshmellow. Or corn bread muffins (no, trust me, they are not desert).

Answer 9

1.Baked sweet potato with butter,brown sugar,and marshmallows.
2.Steamed broccoli with rice(white would be best).
3.Grilled corn on the cob(with butter).
4.A mix of your favorite vegetables such as broccoli,cauliflower,carrots,and green beans in a butter sause or cheese sause.

Answer 10

Our favorites are: - Un-stuffing (stuffing, yet not filled; comes out greater acceptable cooked outdoors the chicken). - candy potato casserole - Mashed potatoes - Cranberry sauce - eco-friendly bean & bell peppers sauteed with butter & garlic - Asparagus, roasted with butter & garlic those are constantly on the table yet frequently we go with a one or 2 new and different element dishes each twelve months. frequently it rather is in step with what's clean on the marketplace. in the previous we've carried out glazed carrots, broccoli with cheese, broccoli rabe (Italian form), sauteed spinache and all varieties of squash.