20 Thanksgiving Day Recipes and a Bonus Turkey Leftover Recipe

I'm making my shopping list for Thanksgiving dinner. While I'll probably try a new recipe or two, most of the meal will be from my "tried and true" favorites, especially the turkey and the stuffing. Who needs the extra stress, right?

If you are in the mood to serve one or two new dishes, here are some of my favorites that you might want to try. They are all pretty tasty.

This pumpkin martini is a delicious way to use up any leftover canned pumpkin. While I'm usually not a big fan of sweet or creamy cocktails, this one is very good.

For an elegant appetizer, give this caramelized onion, goat cheese, and balsamic tartlet recipe a try.

You can also assemble a platter of toasts, Boursin, and caramelized onion jam. The jam can be made in advance, making this hassle free to serve.

This cabbage salad with Braeburn apples and spiced pecans is a perfect combination of sweet and savory, and all of the components can be made in advance.

If you like to serve soup, this carrot soup garnished with bacon is satisfying without being too filling. The bacon doesn't hurt either.

This is the easiest turkey ever. No brining, no flipping the bird over during roasting. The turkey is covered in salt pork and a wet cheesecloth, which makes the turkey super moist.

This post contains my favorite stuffing recipe (it's pretty old fashioned, but that's the way I like it), as well as a recipe for stuffed turkey breast, in case you don't want to cook a whole bird.

Of course, what would Thanksgiving be without a bread basket? Here are a few suggestions:
Pull-apart buttery dinner rolls. These are incredibly soft and fluffy.

Or you could make these fluffy Cranberry pumpkin rolls, 

or Sourdough cornbread rolls with fresh sage, 

or Spaccatini, little Italian rolls. I'm going to have a hard time choosing.

These sauteed carrots are so easy, and are full of flavor.

I have two mashed potato recipes. These garlic mashed potatoes are the bomb,

or if you'd like potatoes that you can make days in advance, these make-ahead mashed potatoes are amazing. You won't have any leftovers.

Once you've tried making your own cranberry sauce, you'll never buy the canned stuff again. This ruby port cranberry sauce is so good, and makes a great jam and cookie filling too.

Desserts you ask! How about apple cider pie,

or pumpkin cheesecake brownies,

or a pear and almond tart,

or mini pumpkin cheesecakes,

or cranberry and white chocolate shortbread cookies using the fresh cranberry sauce you just made?

Bonus recipe: Here is a wonderful recipe for turkey soup to make the next day.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!