Help me with a side dish?

Question

Am going to eat Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow with my guy's family....have never met them before and I freakin' volunteered to bring a side! I thought of things that will be easy...so I can't possibly mess it up and embarass myself.....but then that could look bad, too...like I didn't really try. Ideas on what to make? Mashed potatos and green bean casserole are not an option since someone else is already bringing those.....I kinda was thinking about something simple and common....but with with a spin on it...like I can make really good home made mac and cheese using....but my guy seems to be turning his nose up at it.....or cream corn....where I put frozen corn in the crock pot...add some pepper...some garlic powder...a stick of butter and a block of cream cheese....help?

Answer 1

Actually, I am bringing homemade mac & cheese, we have lots of kids at our Thanksgiving. I also really like to cream corn. I have used that recipe and everyone always loves it.

Answer 2

Well, mac and cheese is always a hit.
I use 1 block of velvita cheese, 1 stick of butter and a whole box of elbow mac & cheese.
1. I boil the macaronie.
2. I drain it
3. I put the butter in the pot along with the block of cheese, cut up into small pieces and 2 cups of milk (Sometimes if it seems dry you may need more milk)

And WaLa!

Sweet Potato Caserole-
A sweet potato casserole recipe, made with mashed sweet potatoes and a crunchy pecan topping. Scroll down to see more sweet potato recipes.
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter
.
Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans
PREPARATION:
Combine first 6 ingredients. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 to 2-quart casserole dish. Mix remaining ingredients together and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, until hot and browned.
Serves 6 to 8.

Cole Slaw-
Ingredients
Amount Ingredient Preparation
2 pounds cabbage green, quartered, cored and shredded fine
3 tablespoons vinegar cider or malt
2/3 cups mayonnaise
1 each onion small, grated (optnl)
2 each carrot medium, grated
4 teaspoons salt

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, toss the cabbage with the vinegar and salt.
Grate the carrots and optional onion directly into the bowl. Add the
mayonnaise and toss well.

The slaw can be served immediately, but it is much better -- more melded
and tender -- if allowed to stand and tossed occasionally for 30 minutes to
1 hour. For a very limp slaw, refrigerate several hours or overnight.

The law on cole slaw is cabbage and vinegar. All the rest is
interpretation. Adjust the recipe to taste: Add more mayonnaise,
substitute sour cream or yogurt for some (but not all) of the mayonnaise,
or add a supplement of one or the other. Add diced green and/or red pepper
if you have one, celery or caraway seeds if you like that kind of thing, or
shredded celery for an extra fresh taste.

Answer 3

a really easy scalloped potato recipe: I have made this so many times that I don't use measurements - so bear with me
potatoes - you will have to adjust for how many people will be there - say 2 med potatoes per person? - cut them in thin slices
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup - or two cans depending on the amount of potatoes - you can use any cream of soup - broccoli, chicken, whatever
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup of milk - again depending on amount of potatoes and soup
- grated mozzarella or swiss cheese (not cheddar)
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 medium size onion - diced
- Italian seasoning (optional)
make a layer of potatoes, onion/garlic mixture, and cheese and repeat to fill a 2 qt casserole, ending with cheese
- mix soup, milk and seasonings in a bowl and pour this over the top of the layers
- bake at 400 for 1 hr or until potatoes are tender
- these are the best scalloped potatoes ever and easy to make and I always bring them when asked to bring a side and I always get rave reviews

Answer 4

# 1 Au gratin Cauliflower

I use the frozen cauliflower it's faster.

Get 2-4 bags (depending on how many people) Cook the cauliflower till it's ALMOST done
Use a throw away baking pan, drain cauliflower
add about 1/2 stick of butter
a splash of milk
1 large bag of cheese (depending on how cheesy you want it you can add more or less of the cheese)
Mix together throw in the oven on 350 for about 1/2 or until cheese is melted and it's hot all the way threw.

#2 Candied Carrots

You can either use fresh or canned whole carrots depending on how easy you want to make it for yourself.

Once again use a throw away tin pan.

If using canned carrots use several cans, If using fresh use several bags.

1 stick of butter
Add brown sugar (this varies) I use about 1/2 cup
Add about 1/2 to 1 cup of water (fresh carrots)
Canned carrots only use about 1/2 cup or LESS

If you fresh carrots you will need to put in the oven @ 350 for about 1 hr or until tender. If using canned then it's only about 1/2 hour or until hot.

Add either marshmallows or marshmallow cream which ever you prefer. Toss back into oven until marshmallows are melted or the cream gets a brown color.

Answer 5

This is a good side dish that I like to do for people that is nice and simple.

about 1/2 cup olive oil
2 lrge onions, sliced thinly
4 large garlic cloves, chopped
10 oz. eggplant chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
10 oz. yellow or green zucchinis also cubbed
2 large bellpepper red, yellow or green
1 lbs. tomatoes, chopped
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup stock chicken or vegetable
salt and pepper to taste

Chop up everything up. Combine everything together in a large bowl and mix to coat everything evenly. Transfer everything to a baking dish, cover with foil and cook it in the oven for 45 minutes at 350. Everyone loves it and I always come home with an empty dish.

Answer 6

Have you ever used http://allrecipes.com/? You can serach side dishes by holiday (T-giving) or by ingredient - I swear by it. I'm making pies to take to my boyfriend's family tomorrow. Is someone else already doing dessert?- because a pumpkin pie would be easy and classic. You could bring a salad - theres a really easy recipe you can do with spinach or baby greens, blue cheese or feta, dried cranberries, pecans or walnuts, and a poppyseed dressing. So easy you can buy all the ingredients and put it together at their house tomorrow so it will be fresh. Good luck, I'm sure they will like whatever you bring.

Answer 7

Here are a few ideas.. Sweet Potatoe dish,with marshmellows on top, Cream corn pudding, creamed onions or a 7 layer salad.
Sorry, I don't have the recipes on me, I am at work, but I'm sure you can google them, if they sound good to you.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Today I made a cranberry compote. Very simple.
1 bag fresh cranberries
1 cup packed brown sugar (I bought pre measured)
1/2 cup chopped dried apircots
1/4 cup cider vinger
2 tbsp. minced ginger
1 sm. onion chopped
1 sm. orange unpeeled, seeds removed, chopped
salt
Put all into 3 qt. pan, bring to boil, then simmer about 30 minutes. (until thickend)
refridgerate until well chilled.
Good Luck and Happy Thanksgiving!

Answer 9

Do some asparagus wrapped in prosciutto.
Steam the asparagus and then wrap a bundle of them maybe 4 or 5 in one piece of prosciutto. It looks great on a platter and it is really good. I am going to make that corn.

Answer 10

Broccoli Mac & Cheese! Make Mac & cheese with Velveeta and add steamed broccoli at the end. Pretty, yummy and easy!