My First Thanksgiving post...some side dishes

Hey everyone! With Thanksgiving shortly upon us I have decided to dedicate this weeks posts to sides and desserts,  another reason for this is because next week, I will not be posting much if at all, my family is moving, and we will be in the thick of packing and getting things ready to go :)

So here are 2 of our favorites to make, my Husband and I usually do our own Thanksgiving, since we are usually at family members houses for the holiday, and since we love Turkey sandwiches, we just go all out and make our own dinner too!

The first is for Maple Syrup Sweet potatoes, I am not a huge fan of sweet potatoes but the Hubbs is, and these I have found I can eat and actually enjoy!

2 1/2 large sweet potatoes

3 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons flaked coconut (optional)

1/3 cup chopped pecans

Place sweet potatoes in a large saucepan with water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil, reduce heat, cover and let simmer 25 to 30 minutes until tender.             

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use non stick spray to grease an 8 inch baking pan.  When the sweet potatoes are cool, peel and cut them into large chunks. Arrange them in the baking dish. In a small saucepan, melt butter, syrup, sugar and coconut together over a low heat. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Sprinkle mixture over sweet potatoes. Top mixture with pecans. Bake 5 to 7 minutes, until top is lightly browned.

This recipe Makes enough for 6 but we usually double it so we have left overs.

The next is Green Bean casserole, This is a tradition on many families tables, but in the words of Emeril I always kick my dishes up a notch and I have added a few suprises to mine and taken the flavor to a different place.

1 Bag (20 ounces) of frozen french cut green beans

1 Can of Cream of mushroom and roasted garlic soup

1/4 of a white onion diced fine

1 Jar of Pimento

1 Can of Water Chestnuts Diced

1 Can of french fried onions

a small bag of slivered almonds

2 teaspoons worstechire sauce

Pepper to taste

Coat an 8 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, and preheat oven to 350 degrees, in a large bowl combine soup, onion, pimentos, water chesnuts, slivered almonds, worstechire sauce, black pepper and half of the French fried onions, add in green beans and mix till green beans are coated well with the mixture.  Put into prepared baking dish and bake for 25 minutes, stir and sprinkle with remaining onions, bake for an additional 5 minutes or until onions are golden brown.

We have also added some bacon into this recipe, if you do that, omit the worstechire sauce to avoid it being too salty. This recipe also makes enough for 6.

Enjoy!

Till next time,