5 Easy Thanksgiving Day Recipes

These 5 easy Thanksgiving Day recipes will enhance any Thanksgiving Day meal.  Thanksgiving side dishes are a staple for all Thanksgiving meals and are easy to make.  Here is a list of five easy Thanksgiving recipes that will be sure to compliment the main act.

Chunky Red Mashed Potatoes.  A staple for Thanksgiving your family will love these mashed potatoes. 

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds red potatoes
• 1 stick butter
• ¾ cup hot milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Boil the whole red potatoes in salted water for approximately 40 minutes. 
2. Drain and do not peel. 
3. Smash the potatoes with 1 stick of butter, ¾ cups of hot milk and salt and pepper. 

Sweet Potatoes and Marshmallows.  This recipe is considered a Thanksgiving side dish but some will consider it to be dessert during dinner.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
• 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 3 cups marshmallows

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. In a large pot, melt and combine 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 cups of brown sugar and ¼ cup of water. 
3. Bring these ingredients to a boil then reduce to a simmer until it thickens. 
4. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into long quarters. 
5. Boil the sweet potatoes in water for approximately 5 minutes.  The sweet potatoes should be yielding but not too soft. 
6. Drain the potatoes into a baking dish. 
7. Pour the syrup over the potatoes and place lemon slices on top. 
8. Bake in the oven for approximately 35 minutes.  Take the dish from the oven and remove the lemon slices. 
9. Stir in pecans and arrange the marshmallows on top of the dish. 
10. Place the dish back into the oven until the marshmallows have puffed up and brown a bit. 

Cranberry Sauce.  Your kids will enjoy this easy 20 minute recipe.  

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of cranberries
• ¼ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup cranberry juice
• 1 cup of honey

1. Rinse the cranberries and remove any cranberries that are damaged. 
2. Combine all of the contents into a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. 
3. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes. 
4. Let the cranberries cook until the sauce thickens. 
5. Set aside to cool.

Nutty Greens with Bacon and Blue Cheese.  A Thanksgiving meal is not complete without a vegetable side dish. 

Ingredients:

• Kosher salt
• 1 pound haricots verts
• 3 slices bacon
• 4 ounces blue cheese
• 1 1/2 cups toasted pecans
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. Boil the green beans over high heat. 
2. Do not over cook the green beans.  Place in ice water to avoid over cooking. 
3. Cook the three slices of bacon over medium heat until crisp. 
4. Add the bacon to the sauté pan and toss the green beans with the drippings. 
5. Chop the bacon into small pieces and combine with the green beans into a serving pan. 
6. Toss the mixture along with 4 ounces blue cheese and garnish with the chopped pecans. 
7. Add ground black pepper and kosher salt to taste.

Pumpkin Pie.  After the family has been stuffed, pumpkin pie is a nice ending to a delicious meal. 

Ingredients:

• 1 package cream cheese
• 2 cups canned pumpkin
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1 pre-made pie dough
• Whipped cream

1. Take the pre-made pie crust and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. 
2. Remove the pie crust from the aluminum foil and bake for another 10 minutes or until golden. 
3. For the filling, mix one package cream cheese until smooth while adding pumpkin. 
4. Then add 1 cup sugar and ¼ teaspoon salt until the mixture is uniform. 
5. Add two mixed eggs, 1 cup half-and-half and melted butter stick and stir until all ingredients are combined. 
6. Pour filling into the pie crust and bake for 50 minutes. 
7. Allow the pie to cool at room temperature. 
8. Serve this dish topped with whipped cream.