Pies. I am good at making desserts. I suck at 'real food'.

I do a large cheese/fruit plate, with several bulbs of roasted garlic. Usually a hard cheese, a "kid friendly" cheese, and a brie or camembert. Roasted garlic. Fruits like grapes, dried dates, figs, and clementines. Some sliced meats. Then a basket of sliced baguettes and crackers. People love it.

We do appetizers too, and I've been making these sweet-onion tarts for years:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/sweet-onion-tartlets-recipe/index.html

(It's a Sandra Lee recipe. Don't shoot!)

Deviled eggs. I always work on Thanksgiving, but when we'd potluck, it was my favorite that someone else brought.

Anonymous wrote:Pioneer Woman Soul Sweet Potatoes, or better known as sweet potato casserole. Not for the faint of heart.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/soul-sweet-taters-step-by-step-recipe/

that looks amazing

Anonymous wrote:paleo pumkin pie - walnut crust, pie filling is made with coconut milk instead of sweetened condensed milk. It's really delicious and gives me a happy dessert option.

I used this for the walnut crust:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-paleo-pie-crust/#axzz2lCpN5FA6

Mark's filling recipe was a little less impressive so I went with another recipe. I don't recall exactly, but this one looks like what I remember: http://thehealthyfoodie.com/2013/10/19/paleo-pumpkin-pie-a-healthy-dessert-option-for-you-this-thanksgiving/

You really need to be careful in which coconut milk you use. I like the extra thick from Trader Joe's - put pour out the water first. Any other brand I was able to find was too watery and the water couldn't be separated from the cream. You can special order water-free coconut milk from the internet if you're going to be using it a lot in your baking but if you just want to make one pie, the TJ's extra thick will serve you well.

Topsy turvy apple pie. You put brown sugar and walnuts and stuff in the bottom of the pan, put the pie crust over it, and bake. When it's done, you flip it upside down and end up with a pie with a yummy glaze on top.

Pioneer Woman Soul Sweet Potatoes, or better known as sweet potato casserole. Not for the faint of heart.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/soul-sweet-taters-step-by-step-recipe/

Anonymous wrote:I ususally make the green bean casserole... but mine is from scratch. My recipe uses fresh green beans, oven baked onions, and homemade mushroom soup...

PP here:

Here's the recipe I've used: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/not-your-mamas-green-bean-casserole-recipe/index.html

I ususally make the green bean casserole... but mine is from scratch. My recipe uses fresh green beans, oven baked onions, and homemade mushroom soup...

Links to recipes would be very helpful!

paleo pumkin pie - walnut crust, pie filling is made with coconut milk instead of sweetened condensed milk. It's really delicious and gives me a happy dessert option.

Homemade cranberry sauce. So easy and so much better than canned.

Balsamic glazed carrots with toasted almonds. Big hit every year and easy to make.

Side or dessert, I guess. Even better if you have a specific for the item (in other words, not just mashed potatoes, but garlic and scallion mashed potatoes!)