3 Easy Thanksgiving Dishes

Three traditional sides made new: A fresh cranberry sauce, nutty sweet potato casserole, and delicious vegetarian stuffing!

Makes: 3-quarts of stuffing, one 2-quart sweet potato casserole,  2 1/2 cups of cranberry sauce

Things you'll need

Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • Zest and juice of 1 orange
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 cup apple juice
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Equipment
  • Medium sauce pan
  • Rubber spatula
  • Juicer
  • Zester
  • Knife & cutting board
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Serving dish

Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients Sweet Potato Mash
  • 3 to 4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup coconut sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ginger
  • ½ teaspoon salt
Topping
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 6 tablespoons flour
  • 6 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Equipment
  • Large pot
  • Electric mixer
  • Whisk attachments
  • Colander
  • 2 large mixing bowls
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Rubber spatula
  • 1 cup measuring cup
  • Baking dish

Holiday Stuffing
Ingredients
  • 1 large loaf French bread
  • 8 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ cup minced fresh thyme
  • ¼ cup minced fresh rosemary
  • 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 2 cups onion, diced
  • 1 cup carrot, diced
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups vegetable stock
  • 2 small granny smith apples, chopped
  • ½ cup sliced almonds
Equipment
  • Bread knife
  • Cutting board
  • Large pan
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Wooden spoon
  • 3 quart baking dish

Let's get started!

DIY Thanksgiving Dishes - Fresh Cranberry SauceFresh Cranberry Sauce
  1. Stir cranberries, juices, zest, and maple syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat, about 3 minutes.
  2. Once boiling, turn heat to medium-low and cook until cranberries burst and juice is thick, about 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Remove the sauce from the heat and then stir in cinnamon, salt, and pepper.

DIY Thanksgiving Dishes - Sweet Potato MashSweet Potato Casserole
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
  2. Peel and cut sweet potatoes into cubes.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and then carefully drop potato cubes into the pot. Bring heat down to medium and cook for about 10 minutes.
  4. Drain potatoes and then transfer to a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to blend potatoes until smooth.
  5. In a large bowl, combine the mashed sweet potatoes with sugars, eggs, vanilla, coconut milk, spices, salt and melted butter. Blend thoroughly and then spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  6. In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, melted butter, and chopped pecans until thoroughly combined. Sprinkle the pecan mixture over the top of the sweet potato mixture.
  7. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the filling is heated through and the topping has slightly browned.

DIY Thanksgiving Dishes - Holiday StuffingHoliday Stuffing
  1. Preheat oven to 300ºF.
  2. Cut a loaf of bread into cubes and then spread them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the bread has dried out. Transfer them into a large bowl.
  4. Turn oven up to 325ºF.
  5. In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in onion, celery, carrots, rosemary, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes until soft.
  6. Add the aromatics to the bowl of bread cubes and then stir in vegetable stock, apples, and almonds.
  7. Transfer stuffing to a buttered casserole dish. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the top is slightly crispy and golden brown.
  8. TaDa! These exquisite Thanksgiving Dishes will be a hit at your holiday get gathering!

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