Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

7th Nov 2016

Can you believe how much work it is to prepare even one dish for a potluck Thanksgiving meal? I'm always surprised. My family will travel 4 hours for Thanksgiving, so I don't actually bring this dish to our family meal. But any time I'm invited to a potluck during this time of year, this recipe is my go-to.

It's a cranberry, jalapeno cream cheese dip. I'm not a bold eater, and so all these flavors mixed together made me nervous. Jalepeno and cumin with sweet cranberries and cream cheese? Let me tell you. This flavor combination is astounding. 

I did make it for Thanksgiving one year when we ate with my husband's family. My sister-in-law and I stood in the kitchen "sampling" it and hoping the other guests wouldn't nudge in on our bliss. The best part was eating the leftovers schmeared on a bagel the next morning. 

The recipe calls for serving with crackers--you can eat it on any crunchy thing you'd like. Like a spoon...

(My big cheat is that I've stopped buying the cranberries fresh and just started buying canned cranberry mold)

This vegan sweet potato, lentil, mushroom shepherd's pie has become not only a Thanksgiving favorite (we have a few vegans at our table, but all of us enjoy eating it!), but it's also become my go-to new mama meal. It's a stick-to-your-ribs, hearty dish that mixes all the best flavors of autumn. 

As its creator says, "t's hearty, full of umami flavor, and looks and feels like a proper main dish, rather than a vegetable side dish that received a promotion." If you buy gluten free oats, this dish can accommodate any GF guests at your table, too! I add extra garlic. I always add extra garlic!

Finally, I don't know about the kids at your house, but mine don't readily agree to eat with silverware. Why is this? So I try to always bring something they are meant to eat with their hands. I've been digging these sweet potato corn cakes.

I omit the cayenne, because my middle son bristles at the merest sniff of even regular pepper. I don't often take the time to make things that require both mixing and frying, but these are worth the work. Not quite as sturdy as a pancake, but not so mushy/crumbly as cornbread, these corn cakes are what my kids eat while the rest of us enjoy stuffing and mashed potatoes. 

What are your favorite dishes to bring along to Thanksgiving dinner? Leave us a comment to share your traditions!