Sides to bring to Thanksgiving

[Anonymous]

Two questions:
-What is your favorite side to bring to Thanksgiving? Something a bit more intricate and not green bean casserole from the can.

-Can I bring a side that's a duplicate of something that will already be there? My inlaws host a medium sized Thanksgiving and have all the regular food, but it's a bit bland (I love them, but they just love bland food). I'd love to bring mashed potatoes or fresh cranberries or any other dish I remember growing up. Any time I've tried to bring something, dh's siblings rebel and say they want their mom's food. So maybe I could just bring a duplicate of something already on the table? I'm not trying to offend anyone, just to add to the meal. I do always bring a pie that goes over well because people like multiple pies to choose from.

[Anonymous]

I bring fancy bread from a bakery.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand your suggestion of potatoes and cranberry sauce. Aren't those already on the table of this standard meal and aren't they both pretty bland? Add more salt and butter to her mashed potatoes if they aren't to your liking.

[Anonymous]

NO to a duplicate, that’s weird! Make something you want and either it gets eaten or not.

[Anonymous]

If you bring a second mashed potatoes it’s not going to be interpreted well. It’s one meal. Get over it.

[Anonymous]

We have two stuffings and two cranberry sauces but they are very different. They each have followings. I would tread carefully with DHs family but if you have a very different take on a dish I think you could bring it up to your hostess .

I know you always have a traditional cranberry sauce but I would love to bring my grandmother's version to share as well. Would that be ok? Not trying to break your tradition...just adding one of my old favorites.

[Anonymous]

I'm a vegetarian, so I bring a vegetarian side when asked. The NYT is a great resource for side dishes that will be different enough that you aren't repeating something that's already being offered.

I made this last year, and it was a hit (and bonus that it can be served at room temp if need be):

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026235-red-cabbage-with-walnuts-and-feta#notes_section

I'm leaning on trying this one for this year:

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026234-maple-roasted-squash-with-charred-lemon

I also have these bookmarked:

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025898-easy-roasted-carrots-and-crispy-kale

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025812-roasted-beets-with-hazelnuts-and-honey

[Anonymous]

Cranberry walnut bread from bakery, Costco, or made at home

Mixed greens salad with dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, mustard dressing

Dilly beans

*these travel well. Mashed potatoes do not, nor do most hot dishes.

[Anonymous]

I bring a carrot soup.

[Anonymous]

My cousin hosts and provides the basics - turkey, homemade rolls, and her husband makes collared greens. We fill in with everything else.

We're bringing homemade applesauce (easy to reheat) and roasted brussel sprouts.

IDK if a remake on mashed potatoes or cranberry sauce is needed - you can doctor up your potatoes and unless the cranberry sauce is the jellied canned stuff, not needed either.

[Anonymous]

Don't bring a duplicate, it will be interpreted as an insult if they all like bland food.

How about a sweet potato casserole?

[Anonymous]

I think its possible to double up depending on the size of the gathering. I would do a twist - like roasted garlic mashed potatoes or a stuffing with exciting mix-ins if you know they only do the basic varieties. You can also pitch it as wanting to make something from your family that you remember from growing up too. Just don't be upset if not that many people eat it.

[Anonymous]

Mac and cheese

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My cousin hosts and provides the basics - turkey, homemade rolls, and her husband makes collared greens. We fill in with everything else.

We're bringing homemade applesauce (easy to reheat) and roasted brussel sprouts.

IDK if a remake on mashed potatoes or cranberry sauce is needed - you can doctor up your potatoes and unless the cranberry sauce is the jellied canned stuff, not needed either.

What style collar do the greens wear? I’ll see myself out.

[Anonymous]

Do not duplicate any of the main, traditional, will-be-there dishes; that would be unbelievably rude.

But other than that, just go ahead and bring something. If other people “rebel,” they don’t have to eat it.

That said, it must be something that doesn’t require use of her kitchen for more than just a quick nuke in the microwave; oven space and cooking gear is likely all spoken for. So bring it ready to set out, with your own serving spoon.