Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, scalloped potatoes, aspic (if you’re my dad at least), dinner rolls, some form of cranberries, salad, and pumpkin pie. Some delicious and classic recipes of Thanksgiving and the general holiday season that never grow old.
But what can we do to add to these?
Here are seven non-traditional different dishes I think would work amazing for any Holiday feast!
1. Pecan Topped Sweet Potato Casserole.
I'm starting this list with my favorite. I don't know where I first found this recipe, but coming from someone who isn't a huge fan of sweet potatoes, this recipe is AMAZING. The pecans are technically optional, but part of what makes this dish so good.
2. Tamales.
My mom ordered some tamales from one of our friends once with the intent of serving them at Thanksgiving. I was a bit perplexed at first, but then I remembered how good tamales are. I don't think there is a holiday where these couldn't be served.
3. Savory Baked Apple.
Baked apples are generally seen as a dessert item, but if you haven't had an apple with slices of cheese or meat, you're truly missing out. Aside from the amazing taste, the presentation would be perfect to impress a gathering of people.
4. Individual Baked Acorn Squash.
I guess most people don't have this problem, but I don't really like squash if it's not the pumpkin variety and put into pie form. But little acorn squash are small enough to be tolerable and when coated with butter and brown sugar actually become quite tasty.
5. Stuffing Muffins.
My family loves stuffing, but I think just plain stove-top stuffing can get a bit old. Why not mix it up just the slightest? These stuffing muffins are just different enough to be fresh and now, yet still keep that classic stuffing taste!
6. Cheesy Pumpkin Scalloped Potatoes.
Now this is what I'm talking about. Another classic with a slight twist put on it. I would suggest putting a little variety into the cheeses used too. More the merrier, right?
7. Ham and Cheese Stuffed Pretzel Roll.
The other day I made some bacon and cream cheese-stuffed wannabe pretzel rolls that came out 5,000 times better than I had ever expected them to. This led me to think what else could they be stuffed with to be more holiday appropriate? Well, why not something served during the holiday? Ham! The recipe I linked at the top has you make your dough, which of course you can, but if you're like me, we don't have time for that. Why I called mine "wannabe" pretzels is because I used those canned biscuits you get at the store. Just rolled them out flat, loaded them up, gave them a quick basic (ha, chem joke) boil, popped them in the oven and they were good to go. A+, would recommend.