Thanksgiving in Canada is early and it tends to sneak up on you before you know it. This year is no exception. Before panic sets in, take a deep breath and peek at some of my tried & true Thanksgiving favourites. All you need is the turkey, tofurkey or skip the main event and opt for a meal comprised of all these tasty sides.
First up, broccoli crunch slaw. This is one of the most popular recipes on this blog & for good reason too. It’s not heavy (thanks to the yogurt in the dressing) and it’s very festive with the dried cranberries and the crunchy roasted almonds. Even slaw-haters and raw-broccoli naysayers will love this one.
My mom always made a soup for Thanksgiving and I’m happy to carry on the tradition. While she would usually make vichyssoise, I tend to think sweet & spicy. I love love love this sweet potato, corn & jalapeno bisque (which is just a fancy way of saying soup) and despite how easy it is to make, it’s fancy enough for your frilliest guests. Got more adventurous friends, this spicy African yam & peanut soup is incredible.
Who doesn’t love a good cranberry sauce? Apples, cranberries and fresh rosemary co-mingle to make something really wonderful. Tasty with turkey, stuffing and all the fixings – and also delicious over biscuits and mac and cheese. It’s utilitarian-ly delicious. This cranberry chutney is another delicious alternative.
Everyone always finishes their stuffing, right? I personally think it’s the one thing that everyone loves. I love my mom’s traditional sage-onion-celery stuffing but I’ve made it a bit more exciting with the addition of chopped apples and walnuts. A keeper.
I can’t get enough of vegetables on the Thanksgiving table. I was a vegetarian for 10 years and old habits die hard. These braised vegetables are a godsend for busy holidays because they are so simple to prepare. Trust me, these braised turnips, onions and carrots will knock your socks off. Want to braise some more? Try this braised cabbage, cumin and apple dish or give milk-braised cauliflower & carrots a go.
Who could argue with a good pumpkin dessert? This pumpkin and apple crumb cake is made for Thanksgiving, though I’d happily eat it all year round.
But you can’t forget pie! Last year I made a fantastic apple & sour cherry pie with a crumb topping. I still dream about that pie. And if you can’t forgo pumpkin pie, why not give this retro looking pumpkin chiffon dream pie a try!
Please don’t forget that after Thanksgiving it’s not about eating leftover pie for breakfast (though a little slice never hurt anyone). Give yourself a hearty & wholesome breakfast and try this pumpkin spice bowl of steel cut oats.
Now take a deep breath, because now you’re Thanksgiving day ready. Just remember to breathe and the rest will be easy. Do you have any Thanksgiving favorites? Share them with me in the comments, I’d love to hear about your own dinner traditions.
I always get a little jealous that your Thanksgiving is earlier than ours – but it’s a nice way to get excited!
Also, I think I am going to give that broccoli slaw a go tonight – it looks amazing.
Yum, yum, yum!
Now I wish I had more time to cook this week! (and maybe more than 13 guests coming for Thanksgiving dinner on sunday…) However, apples in the cranberry sauce and Broccoli salad just might make the cut.
(ps when I’m too brain fried to face chopping and peeling broccoli, the shredded stems from the grocery store make a pretty good substitute!)
It’s hard to believe it is that time of year already. It always comes so fast! Your sweet potato, corn and jalapeno soup sounds like the perfect antidote for a chilly fall evening.
Would it be weird if I celebrated Thanksgiving twice this year? One for the US and once for Canada? Cause you’ve so gotten me in the mood for all this great holiday food!
Oh my gosh! Now all I want to do is celebrate Thanksgiving two months early and seriously cook every single dish you listed. Especially the apple & sour cherry pie. And that broccoli slaw — which I think I’m going to have to make even though it’s not quite Thanksgiving yet 🙂
I grew up celebrating Thanksgiving the Greek way. Sure the turkey was always present but so were plenty of traditional Greek foods. You wouldn’t find cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie on our table but my mom made the most delicious chestnut stuffing. Also on the menu were Greek style roast potatoes, rice with peas and carrots, a variety of salads (warm and cold ones), tzatziki – of course, spinach pie with homemade phyllo, and a plate with olives and feta. Not very North American but every bit as delicious!
We’ll probably be going to my in-laws for Thanksgiving and I would like to bring some entrees along to share with them. I’m eyeing your sage-onion-celery stuffing, as well as the pretty broccoli slaw (made it before and loved it!) and the braised turnips, onions and carrots and the sweet potato, jalapeno corn bisque. I seriously want to make them all! Ah, decisions, decisions 🙂
Rachel, give it a try – it’s a good one to make anytime of year.
Sarah, I hope they do make the cut – please let me know! And thanks for the tip, though I admit to loving all the chopping 🙂
So true, Kristen, it has come up so quickly this year (though I say it every year for sure). That soup is lovely anytime of year.
Do it, Joanne! I celebrated it twice one year and I thought it was lovely.
Kathryn, try them out – you don’t need thanksgiving as an excuse 🙂
Bijoux, that’s what I love about Thanksgiving – you can just add and subtract what works. I love the sound of your Greek-infused holiday. When I was a vegetarian, I always made spinach pie (but not the homemade phyllo cuz that is crazy talk!). Now I’m starving. Let me know what you decide to bring! enjoy the holiday!
I made cranberry chutney and broccoli crunch slaw for Ian(my husband) and my kids following your recipe and they loved it.
YUM! I am a new follower- love your blog–love Thanksgiving- it’s my favorite foodie day, I could have Thanksgiving supper once a month! Come visit me when you get a chance. Thanks, Nettie
Have a fabulous Thanksgiving Jeannette! I can’t wait for a plate heaped high with stuffing and gravy. Pumpkin is a must, and this year I’m turning it into tiramisu. It’s a beautiful thing!
I am feeling extremely thankful Canadian Thanksgiving comes before the American one. Whew. You just saved me tons of work. Gorgeous recipes, as always! Happy Thanksgiving, Jeanette!
You just got me even more excited for our Thanksgiving. Wishing you and your family and wonderful holiday weekend!
I am SO excited for holiday cooking and baking!!! Tonight was my first round of pumpkin muffins for the season… It’s the official kickoff of cold-weather baking, despite today’s freak forecast in New York being 69 degrees. I can’t wait for cranberry sauce, and crumb cake, and stuffing! You’ve got all the good stuff covered for sure.
Ooo, that sweet potato soup looks amazing! I am awfully tempted to try and make it. Too bad I’ll be missing Thanksgiving this year. I moved to Italy three years ago and they don’t celebrate it here. 🙁
I just made a Turkey-Cranberry bake & posted it on my blog. I think it would be a perfect way to use up leftover turkey. Plus, it feeds a family of 4 for under $10. Here is the link: http://flowercityfoodie.com/2011/10/06/cheap-eats-turkey-cranberry-bake/
Thanksgiving sides make the best vegetarian holiday meal. These look amazing! The pumpkin spice bowl is making me drool.
Thanks for these wonderful and truly irresistible pictures of the thanksgiving food.
hope you had a lovely and delicious thanksgiving!
You’re killing me. While we’ve got over a month to go here in the states, I’ve not got Thanksgiving on the mind. Big time. I hope you had a very happy one, Jeannette!
I got my hands on some beautiful Northern Spies at a farmers market last week, and then remembered that I had this summer’s sour cherries still tucked away in the freezer. So that apple and sour cherry pie was calling my name! I made it the other day and WOW…it just about knocked my socks off. You’re right–even though it tastes amazing right out of the oven, it tastes even better a day or two later. That recipe is definitely a keeper!
Thanks so much for this post… I made nearly all of it for our family Thanksgiving dinner. It was my first time hosting it, and everyone was thrilled with the dishes – especially that chutney! Thanks for sharing your culinary prowess with me!
Abia, so glad to hear it! Yay!!!
Thanks so much Nettie! Though I think you need to update your url, I can’t click on it.
Renee, that sounds amazing! Wow. Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays.
Haha, a chow life, it helps to be a little prepared 🙂
Ashley, thanks so much, it was a good one. And I can’t wait to see what you end up whipping up.
Christine, cold weather baking rules. So does Thanksgiving 🙂
Heather, don’t give up! Make up your own new tradition and include all the things you love about Thanksgiving. Enjoy it!
Thanks Gretchen.
Thanks Jillena!
Leena, glad I could provide.
Thanks g, totally did 🙂
Oh, thank you Megan, this year’s feast was the best ever! Best to you next month too!!
Carrie, so glad you loved that pie!! Hooray!
Alissa, so glad to hear this, wow!! I’m super flattered.
I love eating all side dishes at Thanksgiving and not having any Tofurkey/fake meat thing which will just mean I can’t eat more sides! This is a great collection of Thanksgiving dishes. 🙂
Thanks Ashley, sides are always the best 🙂