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November 24, 2013

A Thanksgiving Brainstorm

THANKSGIVING ROUND UP // shutterbean

OK. Thanksgiving. Oof. It’s less than a week away. Are we ready?? I just wrote out my TO-DO list and thankfully it’s not as bad because I got older/wiser and decided to divvy up responsibilities. I’ve got turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dinner roll & gravy duty this year. Oh and I’m gonna add a few appetizers as well.  The cleaning the house part is what I’m worried about most. But that’s a whole other post all together! If you’re looking for some fail-proof/no fuss recipes, I dug into my archives for you.

Thanksgiving, WE GOT YOU!

BAKED ARTICHOKE SQUARES

Thanksgiving wouldn’t be thanksgiving without my mom’s Baked Artichoke squares. The best part is that you can totally make these the night before & reheat. My mom is bringing these this year! Yahoooo.

APRICOTS with BASIL GOAT CHEESE & ALMONDS

Don’t they look pretty?! The colors will brighten up an appetizer assortment.

CARROT COCONUT SOUP

I was thinking that you could make these into soup shooters & pass them around as appetizers. YUM

SAUSAGE JALAPEÑO HUSHPUPPIES

If I get my act together I’m gonna make these this Thanksgiving!

 

HERBED FLATBREAD

Serve fresh flatbread with a cheese plater and you’re golden!

TINY TAQUITOS with AVOCADO CILANTRO SAUCE

Make these baby taquitos in advance and then heat them up in the oven. They’re addictive.

MINI CHEDDAR POPOVERS

So simple yet BOLD. People will be touched at your effort…they don’t have to know it’s easy!

ORANGE SPICED CASHEWS

Who doesn’t like a bowl of spiced nuts?

ROASTED ROSEMARY ALMONDS

Your cheese platter is BEGGING for them.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH & ARUGULA SALAD 

If you’re looking for an awesome/unique salad, this one is your winner!

CRISPY FRIED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

I mean…just DO IT.

ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS & BUTTERNUT SQUASH

You’re guests will love this combo! There are cranberries up in it too! This is a real hit with my readers!

BRAISED BRUSSELS SPROUTS W/ PANCETTA

I would be so happy if a little gravy crossed paths with this dish!

PUMPKIN BOURBON MILKSHAKES

You could serve these milkshakes in addition to your dessert. Imagine them in mini glasses. Perfect!

CLOVE-SCENTED SIDECAR

It’s clove season! Let’s warm up the holidays with a nice clove/sugar rimmed cocktail.

Holiday parties should have signature cocktails, don’t ya think?

HOT VANILLA CIDER 

Something for the kids if you take out the bourbon and something to make your old Aunt Bessie tolerable if you feel like adding bourbon.

CRANBERRY ROSEMARY SPRITZERS

I can’t think of a better cocktail to have with turkey!

BOOZY FRUITY MULLED CIDER

For the in between dessert & dinner time….

PUMPKIN PECAN ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

They’re small…which means that people who are STUFFED will be like “Oh, I’ll just take one!”

Then their ONE turns into 4. WATCH OUT.

MINI APPLE PIE CHEESECAKES

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to always been about pie! You can make cheesecakes!

Sticky Cranberry Gingerbread

Get people excite for December with this Sticky Cranberry Gingerbread. I think I ate half of this cake when I made it.

GOOD SIGN.

BAKED PUMPKIN PECAN DOUGHNUTS

Look at you! Rocking everyone’s world with a PUMPKIN DOUGHNUT. Who needs pie?

PUMPKIN GINGERSNAP ICE CREAM 

Imagine scoops in little glasses…served with a dollop of whipped cream & some pralines. OMG.

pumpkin cake with brown butter icing

PUMPKIN CAKE WITH BROWN BUTTER ICING 

You could easily turn this recipe into cupcakes. Your guests will LOVE the brown butter icing & moist cake.

PUMPKIN CREAM PIE

You just gotta. This one has a gingersnap crust! It’s light/ fluffy and you don’t have to bake the final pie.

Pear Cranberry Walnut Bread

If you’re one of those hosts or guests who likes to give loaves as presents, MAKE THIS BREAD.

  • LIA

    Oh no – it’s scary how many of your recipes I’ve made! I majorly OD’d on your baked artichoke squares last Christmas and when we had friends round for Eurovision (!) I made the apricots but with plain goats cheese & your rosemary spiced almonds. Team that with the fact I am in love with making the mulled vanilla cider and pretty much take your coconut berry cake (not here) to every party I go to and i’m quite the recipe stalker!!

  • Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar

    Girrrrrl, these Thanksgiving options are out of this world! Love all these side options! They’ll be so helpful for next year!

  • Claire @Lemon Jelly Cake

    I made a list yesterday morning and was also pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t as much as I thought it was. In my head it seemed like an impossible amount to get done before Thursday! 😉

  • Jessica @ Living La Vida Holoka

    YUM! Since brussel sprouts have been in season, we’ve been eating them as a side every now and then with dinner. I usually saute them with bacon and garlic, but I am SO trying the crispy fried sprouts! They sound amazing!

  • Beth

    I’m proud to say the only food recipe on this list that I haven’t made yet is the ice cream sandwiches! I can say that your recipes are the dang best and always simple to prepare, just what a lady needs when cooking for a crowd! Also, if you ever make a cookbook I’ll buy one, heck I’ll by 10!

  • Jessica (bakecetera)

    yes to all of those brussels sprouts recipes! i just added the pear cranberry walnut bread to my “to-make list”. it looks out of this world.

  • Bea @ Bea's Bites

    I had my eye on your sticky cranberry gingerbread last year, but never got a chance to make it. Thanks for the reminder! I really need to make it this year 😀

  • Amanda

    Yuuum! These all look great, but pumpkin bourbon milkshakes? Oh man, taking it to the next level! Probably won’t make them for Thanksgiving, but they are on my “to-make” list for sure!

  • Emily @ Life on Food

    I cannot wait for the big day. Dessert is my favorite. That pumpkin gingersnap ice cream is amazing!

  • Amy

    We don’t do Thanksgiving here in Australia, but on the weekend I hosted my parents meeting my boyfriend’s parents for the first time. Planning ahead is definitely the way to decrease you stress and leave room to enjoy these big holiday meals with family and friends. Oh and drinks don’t hurt either 🙂

  • Jane M

    The EATING HOLIDAY!!!!! I just baked and ate Apple Slab Pie. Yep the FEEDBAG is ON!

  • Michelle

    Yum – this post made me hungry 🙂 My faves from this list are the pear cranberry bread and the artichoke squares! Sound delish!

  • Marsha Wietecha

    Tracy, in my wildest dreams, I hope to someday, after much more experience, be as talented as you!!! My daughter told me when I started writing my blog 3 weeks ago, to check you out.

    I am just standing on the steps at the shallow end of the pool. My feet are barely wet, and swimming swims a bit out of the question…but I have my floaty on, and each day I take another step. You are my inspiration.

    Your brussel sprouts have made it to the top of the Thanksgiving menu this year!

  • Kristen

    Oh dear, Tracy! I am coming your way for Thanksgiving for sure. Any house that serves bourbon pumpkin milkshakes is a house I want to be at!

    I’m thankful for your wonderful blog. Thanks for the inspiration and for being so good at what you do 🙂 Much love!

  • Crista

    AMAZING recipes… one right after another….

  • Julia

    Your roasted Brussels sprouts and butternut squash mix up became one of my favorites last winter, and was the first thing I insisted on putting on my family’s menu this year! Followed by pie. Always pie. I’m kind of a planner when it comes to Thanksgiving (like weeeeks in advance planner), but that vanilla apple cider is making me consider a last minute addition. Thanks for the inspiration, Tracy!

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