Amy's Thanksgiving Sides

Hi all, Amy here!

Rees asked me to share with you some of my favorite Thanksgiving side recipes with you all this week, so here I am! Now, there are very few things I feel passionate about - but when it comes to delicious, hearty food that involves butter - that is a no brainer for me. That being said and even though I am an owner of a gourmet kitchen store, I have not always been the avid cook one might expect. 

I knew David (my husband, for those who don't know us) and I were destined for a long life together during one of our first date nights. I had decided to cook him dinner at his place (such a new-girlfriend move) and ended up burning the whole thing. In the middle of my cooking fiasco, he stopped me and said, "Sweetie, you just don't look good in the kitchen!" I felt seen because he was absolutely right - HAHA! My kids possibly got what we'll call the "worst" of my cooking career though with a never-ending supply of penne pasta with chicken + Insert any sauce here. This is probably why Rees now has a strong aversion to preparing chicken in her own household. Have I sold you yet on wanting to try my recipes?!? LOL - Stay with me people!

Now that it's just me and David at the house I have really taken up a renewed love for preparing a fun meal. I find cooking very therapeutic and the way to my heart has always been through my stomach. And in case I have you worried, despite my past cooking trials and tribulations, the following recipes have always been tried and true favorites of mine and the fam. This goes to show you that these are *fool proof* recipes that you can easily and quickly accomplish for Thanksgiving - giving you more time to relax and enjoy. 


Corn (almost Soufflé) Pudding
The family's favorite and consistently my most crowd-pleasing recipe has to be my "Corn Soufflé" as we call it - even though it is more like a corn pudding but with a soufflé-like texture. It reminds me almost of some amazing cheese grits you'd get at a top steakhouse. I love it because you can make it in a casserole dish or even individual ramekins for easy serving. Who doesn't love something served in their own personal ramekin after all? 


Pumpkin Tiramisu
What do I love more than a plentiful Thanksgiving meal? Dessert of course! I have maybe the biggest sweet tooth of life, so really any meal I decide cook is preceded my plan for what I'll then eat for dessert. This. Pumpkin. Tiramisu. You must try. It is such a fun twist to the standard pumpkin pie and I think it really will kick your Thanksgiving up a notch. And what makes it extra easy is that you can make it up to 2 days in advance of eating so you save time cooking on the big day and are able to rest easy knowing dessert is covered. And did I mention how delicious it is?


Green Bean Casserole
What I like about it is that this isn't your standard green bean casserole using canned green beans and cream of mushroom soup. I mean, I'll never knock a crowd favorite, but when it's thanksgiving it is time to use the fresh stuff. This green bean casserole uses fresh green beans and actual mushrooms. But even without the ease of canned goods, it remains really simple and tasty!


Do-Ahead Gravy
Okay, who likes to make gravy? I can tell you this is probably a short list, because the typical way is to make it at the end when the turkey is done and you can use the drippings from the pan. It's like - what a tease, everything smells delicious and is ready to eat - but WAIT I have to take 15 more minutes to whip up some gravy! Yeah, major buzz kill. So, for those of you like me who are intimated by starting with the drippings from the pan, in this recipe you can make it ahead and then add the drippings at the end. All you have to do is heat this up on the stove top and you're good to go!


Sausage-and-Bread Stuffing
Unlike some of the others, this one has been a recipe in my family for generations - or at least back to my grandmother, Amy. We ALWAYS have sausage stuffing. In the South and especially Texas, I know cornbread stuffing is king, but once you try the sausage stuffing, you'll never go back. The sausage pairs perfectly with the turkey and is so YUM you will want to make it all through the holidays. This may be the best recipe my family has ever given me, so now it is yours to enjoy!


Cooking can be daunting if you don't have the right utensils and dishes, so I have also included my favorite kitchen equipment! From cookware to bakeware and all the prep tools needed, here's my short list of everything you might need in the kitchen! Amy's Thanksgiving Kitchen Essentials

I hope you enjoy a wonderful, relaxing, and thankful holiday with your friends and family!

Many blessings,
Amy


Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published