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Nina’s Tips & Techniques: Thanksgiving Amazing Sides

I feel like I always make the same boring sides at Thanksgiving. Help!

YOU GUYS?! Everyone says it’s all about the turkey, but really, it’s AAAALLL about the sides! And the gravy…I love gravy. But it’s the sides— with gravy poured on top. There’s no reason you have to get boxed in to the classics or the same thing year after year. There are lots of ways to explore new ideas for your Thanksgiving table – cooking magazines, food blogs, poll your friends who love being in the kitchen, or search our website!

I feel like the green vegetable is always the ugly step-sister of the spread…are there more exciting ways to prepare green veggies for my meal?

I am a lover of green vegetables and always feel sad when they are an afterthought. There are of course tons of amazing recipes to make your greens exciting! Here are two of my current favorites:

Creamed Kale with Crunchy Bread Crumbs

Roasted Brussels Sprout Leaves with Lemon Zest and Poppy Seeds

And what about potatoes and sweet potatoes? Always so boring…

Gone are the days of a giant, creates-a-brick-in-your-stomach bowl of boring mashed potatoes, and the ol’ mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows, for that matter (my grandmother made it every year). Here are some of my favorite alternatives, including a sweet potato dish so delicious, it could be dessert. I add lots of citrus and fresh vanilla bean to make it extra amazing.

Vanilla Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Pecan Streusel Topping

Featured Recipe: Potatoes Boulangere