Start a New Tradition

Don't be afraid to try something different when planning your holiday menu.

By Molly O'Neill

From Reader's Digest

Change Text Size

Change Text Size
|
Bookmark

Bookmark

Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThis
|
Print
|
E-Mail

Q: What can I do for a Thanksgiving side dish? I'm sick of mashed potatoes. A: Repetition helps make tradition, so beware. Changing the status quo of the Thanksgiving table is serious business. Move slowly, and present the new in an offhand manner -- "Oh, look what I found! Creamy turnips! We'll just put them in the kitchen, not on the buffet." Give it time, and if the dish is deserving, it'll become a staple. Start with these yams and mashed turnips.

Spiced Yams
1/4 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons dark molasses
1 tablespoons dark rum
1 teaspoon fresh minced chile pepper
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons butter
4 yams, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch squares
2 tart apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch squares
1/2 tsp. salt

What to Do
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine first 6 ingredients. Set aside.

2. Melt butter in large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add yams, tossing to brown. Add apples and toss; remove from heat. Drizzle cider mixture over yams and apples; toss. Sprinkle with salt.

3. Bake until tender, about 15 minutes. Toss every 5 minutes, adding more cider if necessary to avoid sticking.

Serves 8

See more Thanksgiving side dishes.

From Reader's Digest - November 2006

Should Everyone Read This? Yes! I vote for this story

How to Finish a Basement: Framing and Insulating
How to frame a basement and install insulation.
6 Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes
Bake a batch of any of these easy to follow recipes or just drool over the stunning Christmas cookie pictures.
Spinach, Pear, and Shaved Parmesan Salad
A spinach salad, especially one with ripe fall pears, is a welcome addition to the Thanksgiving table. The salad can be served in a large bowl as part of a buffet, or on individual salad plates alongside the main course.
Delicata Squash Soup with Parmesan Croutons
Delicata squash, as its name implies, is a finely flavored, richly sweet winter squash with a nearly fibreless flesh. Cylindrical in shape, with elongated ridges, this squash has yellow to pale orange skin with green striations. Its beautiful yellow flesh and delicate flavor make it perfect for this puréed soup.
Thanksgiving Desserts
It will be difficult to wait until the end of the meal for these gorgeous desserts.