Round out this meal

[Anonymous]

Family coming for dinner and I want to serve something thanksgiving-like, since we wont be together for the holiday, but not too traditional (or time consuming. Here is what I'm thinking -- should I a add or change anything?

- roasted turkey breast with gravy
- cranberry quinoa pilaf with pecans
- mashed potatoes (for the kids, I'd be ok skipping this)
- green beans with a citrus dressing
- rolls


Also, we'll be at a baseball series most of the day so anything make ahead would be great

Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Keep the mashed potatoes.

Add roasted root vegetables (butternut squash....mnm)

[Anonymous]

Cornbread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cornbread?

Or maybe a cornbread stuffing -- kids love stuffing, and it's not too traditional, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Leafy green salad topped with roasted butternut squash chunks, pecans, and dried cranberries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Leafy green salad topped with roasted butternut squash chunks, pecans, and dried cranberries.

That sounds really good, I'm thinking with the cranberries in the qunoia, it'd be too much cranberries? Is there anything else I could put in there?

[Anonymous]

How about apple chunks and butternut squash? Or just the squash and roasted squash seeds.

[Anonymous]

Or something like this: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/kale-salad-with-butternut-squash-and-almonds

[Anonymous]

Are the green beans hot or cold?

I would add another vegetable. If the green beans are hot, a salad. If the beans are cold, roasted veggies. They take a while, but are hands off and can roast while you have cocktails.

[Anonymous]

If the beans are hot, I'd add a spinach salad with apples, pears and manchego with sherry vinaigrette. Since you are being Thanksgiving-like, I'd ditch the squash and root vegetables.

[Anonymous]

Sweet potato casserole.

[Anonymous]

Any dessert options?

[Anonymous]

The beans are hot, I really like the salad idea, esp. that it can be made ahead.

So the final menu?
roasted turkey breast with gravy
- cranberry quinoa pilaf with pecans
- mashed potatoes
- hot green beans with a citrus dressing
- cold spinach salad with apples, pears and manchego cheese
- rolls


and yes, there are lot of desserts! But those are already decided, so I don't want any new good ideas

[Anonymous]

I would just do a straight fruit salad in place of the new salad you added. To me, that's what your menu was missing more than spinach (which I think overlaps with the green beans).

[Anonymous]

I'd swap the mashed potatoes for roasted potatoes and root vegetables.

I'd also have a green salad. A nice one is fresh basil, pecorino toscano or manchego cheese, and pears.