Hi! My MIL sent me the menu she has planned for Thanksgiving and can you say, "STARCH?" Now, don't get me wrong... I love my starches but it would be nice to have some balance. So, I have put myself in charge of veggies. I know I am going to do a roasted green bean dish with cherry tomatoes and bacon but I would like to have something else to take too. Any ideas? No casseroles, please. We will already have enough pyrex there to bullet-proof the place. Maybe a salad of some sort? A veggie medley? Help!
Almost forgot to tell you about our lunch. My MIL was true to her word and packed the tables with starch. I made sauteed green beans with tomatoes and bacon and roasted squash, zucchini, red & green bell peppers, mushrooms and red onion with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. It was GREAT! Everyone went on and on about my veggies and my MIL made me leave some leftovers. Thanks so much!
This is a corn dish that my family can't do with out.
2-Whole kernel corn(regular size can)
cream cheese
canned green chilis
one of each of the following diced quite small
red bell pepper
orange bell pepper
green onion
Take all the bell pepper and the onion and the green chilis and saute them in just a small bit of butter till softened some then add cream cheese till melted then stir into hot corn.
salt,pepper, and a pinch of garlic
T.,
I have many recipes that I use. I will have to look them up and get back with you.
In the mean time... can you send me that roasted bean, bacon and tomatoe recipe that you have?
Thanks,. M.
how about steamed broccoli cauliflower and carrots? We have this at family dinners and you can add cheese sauce, ranch dressing or just salt and pepper. My kids love it.
Do something simple... sometimes simple dishes can be the saving graces of a family dinner (especially if you have some picky kids in the mix!) some steamed broccoli, a green salad (with dressings and toppings), or some smothered peas might just do the trick.... have fun!
Go to the Food Network website (www.foodnetwork.com) and you can find a million dishes that would fit your need. I'm using the site to plan our family's Thanksgiving, because I wanted it to be nice, but not huge, since it's only going to be my husband, my 2 1/2 year old son, my 3 month old, and myself.
Here are two options:
Take squash and cut in half lengthwise. Hollow out the center. Fill the center with a mix to taste of: spinach/cream cheese/garlic/onion (you can use other ingredients if you wish like egg, spinach, parmesean cheese, garlic etc.)
I love it when my grandma makes this one.
OK this has some starch but it is my favorite cold salad:
Rice, tossed with balsamic vinegar
cut up and toss in your favorite veggies.
I like avacadoes, green and red peppers, olives, artichoke hearts...what ever you like.
Those aren't exact recipes b/c we make them slightly different every time!
My mom called it candied carrots. A large bag of baby carrots, simmered on the stove in a half cup water, half cup brown sugar and half stick of butter, salt to taste. They take about 20 minutes to get tender.
oven roasted vegetables or butternut squash, or cranberry sauce
Every year we always have out a "snack tray" while we cook. We plate out olives, pickled okra, pickles, and celery with cream cheese or peanut butter. This keeps fingers off the turkey (usually) until it's time to eat. Also, we always add on slices of jellied cranberry sauce right at meal time. Another idea is to of course have pumpkin pie for dessert (get those veggies in anyway possible!).
How about fresh collard greens and/or kale.
Or roasted root veggies.
Check out these links:
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/sidedish/rootveg_...
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/sidedish/fallveg....
Happy Thanksgiving!
What about a fruit salad? It will add color to the table.
I will refer you to my husband for this
If you want to blow there socks off rost some veggs
take carrots about 4 or 5 large a red onion fennell bulb squash green or yellow either that you like a few tomatoes
put a little olive oil salt pepper and a half to hole bulb og garlic depends on you put in oven at 4oo degrees 30 to 45 min until veggs are soft and serve you will love it you just put any kind you like in the dish green red yellow peppers are good to you decide what to do it will be great.
I had been wanting to respond to one of these things she said this one was mine hope you have a great day
One of my friends makes this lovely salad for lunch sometimes ... she made it one day for me when my kids were over playing with her kids. It was super yummy, ad you could totally change anything up in it and make it your own (and to the liking of others there)!
She uses just a nice spring mix (you can make your own salad mix, or buy the already packaged ones). She puts strawberries and blueberries in hers. And, also some walnuts and toasted almonds. Then, uses a creamy Poppyseed dressing. It was soooo good!
To make it a little more "Thanksgiving-ish" you could use dried cranberries instead, still use the nuts and throw in any seasonal fruits and/or veggies. Good luck!
I take a spinach salad that is very good. I use baby spinach, drained mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, roasted sliced almonds, and feta cheese. It is then drizzled with a raspberry vinagrette (out of a bottle)immediately before serving. This has been a hit, and is very colorful. You might also try www.allrecipes.com or www.recipezaar.com .
my favorite veg medley is sauteed mushrooms and onions and at high heat add yellow squash and zucchini for a short time, add some wine while you're sauteeing the mushrooms and onions for some added punch.
my favorite salads are really easy
1)endive leaves with chevrie crumbled over and pine nuts with balsamic vin over the top.
2)cucumbers and tomatoes with feta and oil and tarragon vinegar over the top, add your favorite spices as a sprinkle.
We always have a veggie tray with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, and tiny dill pickles.
We also usually have a regular lettuce salad with a choice of several dressings.
Another thing we have had on my dad's side of the family is a layered salad, it is really good. Here's the recipe.
INGREDIENTS
4 eggs
1 head lettuce, torn into small pieces
1 red onion, chopped
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts
1 (16 ounce) package frozen green peas
2 cups mayonnaise
2 teaspoons white sugar
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 pound bacon - cooked and crumbled
1 large tomato, chopped
DIRECTIONS
1. Place eggs in a large saucepan and completely cover with water. Bring to a boil. Cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 12 minutes. Remove eggs and chill.
2. In a 9x13 inch dish, layer the lettuce, onion, water chestnuts and peas.
3. In a medium bowl combine the mayonnaise, sugar, seasoned salt and garlic powder. Mix until smooth. Spread over the top evenly over the top of the peas. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. Peel and chop hard cooked eggs.
5. Remove salad from refrigerator and top with the bacon, eggs and tomato. Serve.
Hi T.,
I know you said no more pyrex, but here is a link to a 7-layer salad that people go crazy over. The peas (surprisingly so, make it a hit).
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1943,132184-246195,00.html
Also, a great fruit salad recipe ...
All fresh fruit
- 1 granny smith apple, peeled
- 1 pineapple
- 1 qt. strawberries
- green and red grapes
- 3 kiwi
- 1 mango
slice chop and dice everything to bit size. add 2 TBSP lime juice to keep the fruit from turning brown. add 2 TBSP honey to sweeten and cut the lime juice. Mix everything together.
This is one that was my daughter's fave when she was little. Saute together yellow squash, zucchini, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and mushrooms in olive oil with oregano, basil, rosemary, fennel, and thyme.
