Ask Carolyn
Thanksgiving is next week, and if you haven’t started planning your meal, it’s definitely time to start. If you’re short on ideas or tired of making the same thing, that’s ok! I’ve gathered some of the best Thanksgiving recipes for you to wow your friends and family with at dinner. I’ve also added tips to help you cook faster, tastier, and healthier.
Bon appetit and happy Thanksgiving!
Au Gratin Potatoes with Gruyere Cheese
This is one of the best potato dishes. Period. Thinly-sliced potatoes are layered with heavy cream and cheese and baked until they’re melt-in-your-mouth tender. There are hundreds of au gratin potato recipes using a variety of vegetables and cheeses. This recipe uses gruyere, parmesan, and a bit of thyme.
These delicious potatoes are from Holly at Spend with Pennies. Get the recipe here.
Quick tip: Slice the potatoes using a mandoline to save time and ensure all the slices are the same thickness.
Browned Butter Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a Thanksgiving favorite. This baked sweet potato recipe adds browned butter to the potatoes once they’re baked, making them extra creamy and rich. It’s topped with avocado cream sauce, crispy bacon, and goat cheese. Mmm.
Tip: Cook your bacon extra crispy, so it’s easier to crumble. You can also make the avocado cream the day before to save time.
Italian-Style Roast Turkey
The person I got this turkey recipe from claims it’s “the last holiday turkey recipe you’ll ever need,” and he’s been making it for ten years. Broth, butter, and herbs are added to the pan while roasting to add extra flavor and keep the turkey moist. Using these ingredients in the roast adds extra flavor to the drippings as well, making the gravy even more delicious.
Quick tip: Face the turkey breast down for the first hour, then flip. This will render the back fat, which will run down into the meat and make it juicier. Use silicone gloves and have someone help you turn it.
Green Bean Casserole
Green beans are a staple of Thanksgiving for many families, but they don’t have to be plain and out of a can. This green bean casserole has fried shallots and a creamy mushroom sauce. To make things easier, you can prepare the shallots and sauce the day before.
This creamy green bean casserole is from J. Kenji Lopez-Alt at Serious Eats. Get the recipe here.
Tip: Always use fresh garlic and lemon juice – it tastes better, and it’s healthier. If mincing garlic is an issue, invest in a nice garlic press.
Dark Chocolate Mousse
If you really want to impress everyone at Thanksgiving, bring out this chocolate mousse after your dinner. You can serve it by itself, use it as a filling for crepes, or layer it into a cake. Best of all, it’s amazingly simple to make. You just need chocolate, eggs, sugar, and heavy cream.
This wonderful mousse is from Shelly at Cookies and Cups. Get the recipe here.
Tip: Serve with whipped cream and fresh raspberries. If you like cinnamon with your chocolate, go ahead and add a sprinkle!
All photos belong to the recipes’ creators.
by Venn Crawford