Baking and Eggs: Thanksgiving Dishes

Just in case you're looking for some Thanksgiving ideas, here are a few that will be on my family's table. I just love the holidays!

Caramelized Onion-Apple Bites - Oh my gosh, these are so good! I've made these several times before and they are the perfect holiday appetizer - delicious, not too heavy (gotta save room for the feast that follows!), a little gourmet, and they can be made ahead of time. Yum!

Holiday Fresh Cranberry Salad - My mom has been making this since I was born, so for me, it just isn't TG without it! It's so good that during high school, one of my friends (ahem, Jennie) would come over after TG dinner just to eat the left-overs!

1 qt fresh cranberries, washed

2 c sugar

1 lb. seedless red grapes

1 pt whipping cream

1 c chopped pecans

Grind cranberries in a food processor and place in a medium bowl. Add the sugar and stir well. Put cranberry mixture in a colander over a bowl, to drain overnight.

The next day, discard the juice. Quarter the grapes and mix them with the cranberries. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Just before serving, whip the cream until fairly stiff. Fold the whipped cream and pecans into the cranberries and grapes. Serve immediately.

Spinach Madeline - My mother-in-law makes this for holidays and it's fantastic. I'm not even a huge spinach lover but I love this dish!

2 10-oz pkg frozen chopped spinach

4 T butter

2 T flour

2 T chopped onions

1/2 evaporated milk

1/2 t garlic salt

1/2 t celery salt OR 1/4 t garlic powder

1/2 t freshly cracked black pepper

1 t Worcestershire sauce

1/3 lb monterey pepper jack cheese, chopped

fresh breadcrumbs OR panko breadcrumbs, for topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In microwave, cook spinach until steaming hot. Reserve 1/2 c of spinach liquid.

Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Whisk in flour, stirring constantly until smooth. Add onion and cook until soft but not browned. Slowly add milk and reserved spinach liquid, stirring constantly until smooth and thickened.

Stir in garlic salt, celery salt, pepper, Worcestershire and cheese. Continue stirring until sauce is smooth. Add spinach and stir well to combine.

Pour into a greased 1 1/2-quart casserole dish and top with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 degrees until heated through and bubbly, about 15-20 minutes.

*Can be made ahead. Put spinach mixture into casserole dish and refrigerate for up to a day. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Mashed Potato Casserole - Delicious! This is another one of my MIL's recipes and the holidays are just not complete without these potatoes. Traditional mashed potatoes have taken a backseat to this divine concoction. I love this dish so much!

3 lbs potatoes

1/2 c butter

6 oz cream cheese, at room temperature

1 c sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 bunch green onions, sliced

1/4 c milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain potatoes and place in mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix until well blended. Put in a greased 2-qt casserole dish and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes.

Pumpkin Cheesecake - I made this last year instead of pumpkin pie and it was decided that this will be the permanent pumpkin pie replacement. It was so silky smooth and deliciously creamy. I'm drooling even thinking about it!

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle - I've made this at least twice before and it is fabulous. And so easy. And it can be made ahead of time. What more can you ask for?!? Did I mention it was really, really easy to make and assemble? Just saying...

Here are a few other websites that have some great holiday recipe ideas. Cheers!