A CbsoP Thanksgiving – Our best Turkey-Day Recipes

Updated for a new year:  If you’re wondering what to serve this year for the holidays, this list may just help you find the perfect recipe for the job.

It’s that time of the year again!  Families and friends are already preparing to gather together to give thanks for, well, whatever it is there is to give thanks for.  The good china and grandma’s tablecloth get pulled out of storage and very soon most homes in America will be filled with the aromas of wonderful food, some from beloved family recipes and some that are new to your home.  You may be an old hand at family meals, or it may be the first Thanksgiving dinner you’ve made.

Whether you’re a pro or novice at Holiday meals, please allow us to share some of the recipes that have graced our Thanksgiving Table in the past, and a few new recipes that will be gracing our table this year.  Feel free to use these recipes as-is, for reference if necessary or as the basis for your own creations. I promise, they are all phenomenal recipes that I have served to our guests and will happily serve again.  Every one was a hit!

The Main Dish
Our versions of the holiday staples

The Ultimate Roast Turkey

It wouldn’t really be a Thanksgiving recipe collection without the star of the Turkey-Day show, now would it? Allow me to present to you the star of any Holiday table, my own recipe and nearly fool-proof method for the most succulent, juicy and trouble-free turkey recipe you’ve ever used.  You’ll never suffer through another dry, flavorless bird with this recipe in your arsenal, I promise you that.

Southern Cornbread Dressing (Stuffing)

You can’t very well have a turkey without stuffing, at least not where I come from.  This is a  variation on my mother’s very own recipe.  I’ve looked forward to this dish since I was old enough to know that thanksgiving or Christmas meant Turkey and Dressing.  Simple, sublime and flavorful.  If you’ve never tried home made cornbread stuffing, you don’t know what you’ve been missing.

Apple Merlot Glazed Ham

For a lot of families, a ham will grace the table along with our fine feathered friend. If you’re looking for a ham recipe that’s a little less traditional that pineapple and cherries, why not give this variation a try. The result sis sweet and savory, succulent and indulgent; all at the same time!

Simply Mashed Potatoes

No holiday spread would be complete without a huge bowl of mashed potatoes sitting somewhere near the middle of the table. These spuds aren’t what you’d call fancy by any means, but this recipe will teach the basics of the perfect home style mashed potato. From here, the sky is the limit.But wait! You wouldn’t want to eat those mashed potatoes without a little gravy, so why not check out this recipe for my Grandmother’s Turkey Giblet Gravy while you’re at it?

Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls

I don’t know about your family, but in mine it was traditional to have a huge bread basket full of hot yeast rolls on every holiday table. They’re great with butter and honey, or perfect for sopping up any left over mashed potatoes and gravy that happen to be hanging around after that second helping. This recipe is my wife’s adaptation of a recipe by master Chef Emeril Lagasse, and something that I look forward to all year long.

Cranberry Sauce

This recipe is a sure-fire cure for a need to toss out half of a can-shaped hunk of gelatin after your holiday meal. This year make your own cranberry sauce from scratch instead of opening that can! It’s quick, simple and packs all the flavors of the holidays into every wonderful taste. My wife’s original recipe and one that I recommend to everyone who has ever had the cranberry sauce blues.

Gotta have some sides!
Updated versions of traditional holiday classics

Twice Baked Sweet Potato Casserole with Crispy Bacon

If you’re like me you grew up with a version of sweet potato casserole that consisted mostly of marshmallows and brown sugar. While there’s nothing wrong with tradition, I like to think of this as a slightly more grown up version of that dish. It’s still sweet, but not so sweet that it competes with everything else on the plate, and the bacon gives it a wonderful saltiness. Give it a try.

Green Bean Casserole (For the rest of us)

The classic green bean casserole was never something I looked forward to growing up, so when I saw Michael Chiarello make an updated version on Food Network one day, I knew I had to do the same. You won’t find any Cream of anything soup here, and the onions are caramelized. To be honest, it’s not really a casserole, but we’ll just keep that our little secret, OK?

The best Collard Greens You’ll ever Taste

Collard greens weren’t a staple on my holiday table until recently, but one very special family friend has made a permanent place for them on my table. I hope you’ll give these a try on yours as well, they’re sure to please any family, not just one with roots in the South. These truly are the best greens I’ve ever tasted and trust me, I’ve had a lot of collards in my life!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

If you’re looking for something that will really throw a wow factor into your Holiday meal, this is the dish for you.  Even if you think you hate Brussels sprouts, this is the dish for you.  I promise you that if you don’t end up loving Brussels sprouts after this, you will at the very least not dislike them any-more.  This is a favorite with my entire family, even the kids, and a must on our holiday table.

What’s for dessert?

A sweet touch for the end of your holiday gathering.

Mini Bourbon Pecan Pies

If you’re looking for just one alternative to the classic pumpkin pie this year, look no further than this recipe. These single serving versions of my wife’s famous bourbon pecan pie are just the right size for an after-feast treat. Add a scoop of ice cream and some caramel topping and they are sheer bliss! Think small for dessert without sacrificing any flavor at all.

Peanut Butter Buckeye Bars

A treat for the kiddies and adults alike. These super-simple dessert bars will delight your guests with all the goodness that is peanut butter and super chocolaty fudge brownie, all rolled into one scrumptious bite. They only take a minute to make, but the impression will last the entire holiday season. Make someone’s day this Thanksgiving.

The Best German Apple Pie Recipe Ever

If you’re looking for a dessert that will wow your friends and family without costing you most of your morning before dinner you’ll love this one.  Not only is this, in my humble opinion, the best apple pie you will ever have, it is simple to prepare and tastes fabulous at room temperature, which allows you to make it the day before and reheat on the big day if you like.  Of course you might want to make two.  you may find that the first one doesn’t survive.

Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake

If you’re looking for an “Oh my goodness” replacement from the standard pumpkin pie or apple pie, this is it.  This is also the perfect solution for gaining that extra five pounds you’ve been looking for.  I wouldn’t suggest his particular pie unless you have friends to help you eat it.  It’s far too good to stop eating.  and it’s massive.  Oh what the heck, just make the thing!  Eat!  it’s Thanksgiving, after all.

Pecan Tassies

Dessert doesn’t have to be an assault on the senses.  It can be a one-bite affair, especially if that one bite satisfies your sweet tooth.  These little gems will do just that, with style.  And since they are small, you can justify having more than one, or two, or three.  I mean seriously, you have to have something to look forward to the day after the Holiday meal, right?  trust me when I say you’ll look forward to these.

And there you have it, a sampling of our very best Thanksgiving recipes. This list is not exhaustive however. There are a ton of other holiday recipes posted on CbsoP, and we’ll be adding new recipes throughout the season (and every season to follow). For a complete list of all the Holiday Recipes available on Cooking, by the seat of my Pants!, please check out all the recipes tagged Holiday-Recipes by clicking the link in the tag cloud, or following this link.

There is no joy as great as family and friends gathering together for good food, good drink and good times.  We are honored and privileged to have you visit us here, if only for a moment, during this most precious time of the year. We wish you the very best of seasons and a joyous and bright new year to come, from our family to you and yours this holiday season.