Thanksgiving Shake-Up (or 40+ Recipe Ideas) - Dinner: A Love Story (2024)

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Every year around this time, Andy will turn to me and say something like “I think it’s time to shake things up a little at Thanksgiving.” Mmmm hmmm, I’ll respond, and if I wore glasses, I’d raise my eyeballs over the frames for a sec before turning back to doing what I was doing, which is, most likely reviewing last year’s menu with my mom. It’s not that I am ignoring him, exactly. It’s more that I know myself by now. I’ll spend a lot of time poring over books and websites looking for interesting twists on tradition, only to end up right back at…tradition. Our menu, as outlined inHow to Celebrate Everything, is classic, and, I might add, perfect: My Mom’s Herb-Roasted Turkey with Gravy, Confetti Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Raisins, Sausage and Apple Stuffing, Cranberry Relish, Potato Gratin with Gruyere, Horseradish Mashed Potatoes (yes, two potato recipes, need I explain?) andmy mom’s world-famous Chocolate Pudding Pie. We definitely introduce new recipes into the equation (application permitting) but other than that cranberry relish from a few years ago, I can’t remember a dish that was good enough to be permanently entered into the rotation.

One thing that happily, evolves, however, is the crew in the kitchen. The older the kids get, the more they want to partake in the preparing, realizing, smartly, that the kitchen is the center of the action. When my nephew, Owen, texted me last week to ask me for a Thanksgiving assignment, I told him I’d send him a few options because most of the MVPs were already taken by his sisters and cousins. Turns out I came up with a pretty comprehensive list of options, excluding the turkey, that I thought you’d be interested in, too. Maybe it’s time to shake things up a bit in your house? Let me know how it goes.

co*cktails & Snacks

Epic Thanksgiving Cheeseplate(photo: Gaby Dalkin)

Boulevardier

Manhattans

Crudite with an array of these dips

Brown Sugar Spiced Nuts

Pomegranate and Orange Peel Fizz Mocktail

Vegetables

Best Shredded Kale Salad (vegan; photo credit: Oh She Glows)

Brussels Sprouts, Apple, and Pomegranate Salad (above, photo credit Deb Perelman)

Fennel-Apple Salad with Walnuts

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Grapes and Walnuts

Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Meyer Lemon, and Quinoa Salad

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Hasselback Butternut Squash with Bay Leaves(photo credit: Bobbi Lin)

Roasted Carrots with Creamy Nuoc Cham Dressing

Creamy Green Bean Casserole

Roasted Cauliflower with Breadcrumbs and Anchovies

Smashed Carrots with Feta & Mint

Orange-braised Parsnips and Carrots

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And another Green Bean Casserole with Mushrooms & Fried Onion Rings

Heirloom Apple and Celery Salad

Holiday Slaw with Kale and Butternut Squash

Stuffing & Potatoes & Casseroles

Herbed Potato Gratin with Roasted Garlic and Manchego (photo credit: Petrina Tinsley)

Cheesy Potato and Kale Gratin with Rye Croutons

Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Classic Scalloped Potatoes

Challah, Mushroom and Celery Stuffing

Thomas Keller’s Bread Pudding

Cheesy Sausage and Sage Stuffing

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Kale and Caramelized Onion Stuffing (photo: Deb Perelman)

Cracklin’ Corn Bread

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Butter & Rosemary

Scalloped Potatoes with Caramelized Fennel

Thanksgiving Casserole for Everyone (gluten-free, vegan)

Pies & Tarts

Meta Given’s Caramelized Pumpkin Pie (via Facebook reader Libby; photo by James Ransom for Food52)

Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pie

Cranberry and Cornmeal Upside Down Cake

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Salted Caramel Apple Pie(photo credit: Jennifer Causey)

Meyer Lemon Tart

Joy the Baker’s Sweet Potato Pie (via Facebook reader Whitney)

Apple Gingersnap Crumble

Bourbon-Pecan Pie

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The Thanksgiving menu fromHow to Celebrate Everythingbegins on page 49.

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Gratuitous Chocolate Pudding Piepic. (Photo by Chelsea Cavanaugh for DALS)