A Few Sides to Go with the Turkey, Dressing, Gravy & Mashed Potatoes!!!

Here are a few of my favorite sides. 

Broccoli Salad

Excellent Salad for Thanksgiving or any Festive Occasion

1 head of broccoli in small pieces                 Dressing              

1 medium onion, chopped                            1 cup mayonnaise

½ cup white raisins or dried cranberries        ½ cup sugar

1 cup pecans                                           2 tsp. vinegar

½ lb. bacon, cooked crisp & crumbled

Prepare all ingredients except bacon and add dressing.  Chill.  Sometimes I do this the day before or a little before serving.  Just before serving, crumble the bacon on top and serve.

Corn Casserole

1 can Creamed Corn                                    1 cup Sour Cream

1 can Whole Kernel Corn                              ¼ cup butter

1 box Jiffy Cornbread Mix                              1 – 1 ½ cup grated Cheddar Cheese

¼ tsp. garlic powder                                    1 Tbsp. Chopped jalapeno

2 eggs                                                        

Preheat oven to 350.  In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, garlic powder, eggs, sour cream, jalapeno and melted butter. Pour into a greased 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and top with Cheddar. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand for at least 5 minutes and then serve warm.

Cranberry Sauce

Easy to Make – With Hint of Orange

12 oz. cranberries                                        1 cup orange juice

1 cup white sugar                                        optional:  ¼ cup Grand Marnier

 In a medium saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in the orange juice.  Stir in the cranberries and cook until the cranberries start to pop, about 15 -20 minutes.  Remove from heat and pour into bowl.  Sauce will thicken as it cools.

Spinach Creamed

5-6 strips bacon, diced                                    2-10 oz. pkgs. frozen spinach, thawed

¼ cup fine chopped onion                                        and well drained         

3 Tbsp. Butter                                              ½ tsp. salt & ¼ tsp. pepper

3 Tbsp. Flour                                                1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1 ¼ cup half and half                                     ¼ cup parmesan cheese

Cook bacon in a skillet and when almost done, add onion.  When onion is tender and bacon is crispy, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.  In a large sauce pan, melt butter and stir in flour until smooth.  Gradually stir in cream.  Bring to boil over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring.  Reduce heat, stir in spinach, seasonings, cheese, bacon and onion.  Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until heated through.

Sweet Potato Casserole

3 cups Sweet Potatoes                                 Topping:

4 Tbsp. Butter                                              ½ cup Butter

¼ cup Milk                                                   ½ cup Pecans

¼ cup Brown Sugar                                       ¼ cup Flour

1 tsp. Vanilla                                                ½ cup Coconut (optional)

                                                                 ¼ cup Brown Sugar

Whip together potatoes, butter, milk, brown sugar & vanilla.  Place in buttered casserole.  Mix topping and spread on potatoes.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.