What are you making for Thanksgiving?

We are just about a week away from the biggest eating holiday of the year (rivaled only in my family by Christmas Eve and summer barbecues...), and though we don't host, I never show up empty handed for either of the events that we attend. We will be having dinner at my in-laws and dessert at my aunt & uncle's house. It's a bit of traveling, but nice to be able to spend time with everyone on such a great occasion. As I'll need to shop and prep this weekend, I've been doing some serious recipe searching to get my creative juices flowing --->because, you know, I can't simply just follow a recipe that I found, need to make it my own #ihaveproblems.

Since we have 2 events and there are more main and side dishes than could ever possibly be eaten, I am trying to come up with some new ideas for dishes that will likely not be present at either Thanksgiving table. Here's what's on the brainstormed list:

Appetizers/Side Dishes:

Parker House rolls with compound butter (herb, honey cinnamon, cranberry...)

Maple glazed sweet potatoes (as pictured above; so amazing but not sure how they will reheat)

Baked brie with cranberry sauce & walnuts (via a nutritionist eats)

Warm honey fig dip with blue cheese & garlic pitas

My grandmother's cranberry sauce/mold

My cheese ball bites, but with some new flavors

Desserts:

Pie pops --->filled with an assortment of apple, cherry & pecan pie filling (currently the front runner)

Pumpkin s'mores cupcakes --->look amazeballs, but not sure how much work these would be...

Roasted butternut squash pie w/brown sugar marshmallow topping --->so interesting and beautiful

Apple cider cupcakes w/nutmeg frosting (these just scream cozy & warming)

Salted pretzel marshmallow blondies (maybe I'm just having a love affair with marshmallow)

So that's what I'm considering just from poking around online...I haven't even gotten to my cookbooks yet! Tonight, that is my couch-time mission!

What are you making for Thanksgiving? Do you find the same joy that I do in prepping for the holiday?

PS - Are you still doing the 27 Days of Thankfulness challenge? I am! I hope you'll share some of yours with me next week!

Comments

[Lauren at Keep It Sweet]

I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week... ah how did that happen?! Make the pie:-) You will love it!! Pie pops also sound like a fun dessert idea.

[emily (a nutritionist eats)]

I made stuffing (slow cooker stuffing) this week for my work potluck and I have NO idea what I'll bring next week. Usually a vegetable. :)

[Joanne]

You could bring any or all of these and I'm sure they would be a hit! I'm drooling just reading the names!