It’s almost Thanksgiving, so you want to be the hostess with the mostest. You don’t be remembered for the boiled vegetables, if you know what I mean.
Creamed Onions
Onions are delicious but drowning them in butter and essentially serving them as soup? Just no. Have sliced, roasted onions alongside your turkey if you want, sliced into your salad, or even sautéed and mixed into your mashed potatoes. But please don’t serve them sauced and by themselves.
Boiled Vegetables
Vegetables become waterlogged and boring when they are boiled, just don’t do it. Don’t make them, and don’t serve them. If you want to “steam” them, (without a steamer,) use about 2 inches of water in the bottom of a saucepan and set it on high. Add your vegetables and a top, and “boil” them until you can just stick a fork into them. (Make sure to watch the water level and not to scorch them.) These are not boiled vegetables, but quickly cooked almost steamed vegetables, using boiled water.
Green Bean Casserole
What is more Thanksgiving than this casserole? Apparently, some people prefer fresh, roasted vegetables. And while those are amazing and delicious next to roast turkey, green bean casserole is clutch in in this typical holiday feast. You can make this dish gluten-free, vegan and even paleo, making it great and tasty for anyone
Ambrosia Salad
This old school salad is a no-no to some, but yum-yum to others. It’s a fruit-based salad, with a whipped topping added and even marshmallows. This 1960s dish is rated up there with Jello salad and you either love it, or you hate it.
Crudité
Also known as raw vegetables. Pre-cut vegetable platters are a no-go, super lazy, and most likely not very fresh. So if you want to bring roughage, cut it yourself, bring a couple delicious dips for them, and make sure to add some yummy snacks like pretzels or crackers, too.
Caramelized Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are delicious on their own, and whether you make them savory or sweet, they deserve a spot on your holiday table. But caramelized sweet potatoes? No. Instead of drowning sliced sweet potatoes in sugars and syrups, cut up the sweet potatoes, and cover them in nuts, a few marshmallows, and some cinnamon instead. It will still be sweet but have a much better flavor, and it’s totally Thanksgiving.
Macaroni and Cheese
Now, don’t get it wrong. Macaroni and cheese is a delicious food and a favorite in this house. But this is not the carb of Thanksgiving. No, we want mashed potatoes, we want dinner rolls, stuffing and extra pieces of pie. We don’t want mac and cheese, noodles, or anything else heavy on this holiday.
Bring on the turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberries, and all the pie. But none of these, please.