Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Green bean casserole can be found on many Thanksgiving menus. French green beans are tossed in a mushroom sauce, topped with onions and baked for a few minutes.

The traditional dish called for fried onions (see tips), but I made a "light" version using caramelized onions and a roux (combination of butter, flour and a liquid) made with vegetable stock. No cream or any dairy ingredients involved except a little butter. Don't get me wrong; this version of green bean casserole is still packed with flavor from the onions and the cherry tomatoes tossed in garlic. But it will be nice to have something healthier on our table to balance out all the richer dishes I plan to make.

Oven Baked Yams

This recipe is an easy take on baked yams. The yams are boiled first, then filled with a little butter and maple syrup. After the yams are individually wrapped in foil, they are baked until caramelized and juicy. You can eat them plain, with brown sugar-flavored butter, salt and pepper or a sprinkle of toasted sliced almonds.

Yams are a staple on everyone’s Thanksgiving menu, but not everyone likes the sweetness of candied yams. This is a great alternative that is much more savory. An added bonus is that the yams can be prepared in advance in the morning and warmed just before serving (in the microwave or in a steamer). If you do as much cooking as I do on Thanksgiving, that alone is reason to consider this dish.

Pumpkin Creme Brulee Recipe

We recently hosted a dinner party and I wanted to bring a little flair of the Fall season. With Thanksgiving coming, I decided to make a pumpkin crème brûlée. I would consider myself an expert when it comes to make these cute French desserts. I've made crèmes brûlées so many times (lavender, banana, cherry, masala chai, green tea, lemon, chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch), I could make them with my eyes closed, except the brûlée part . That would end badly, I’m sure.

The result was predictably delicious. Crème brûlée flavored with just about anything tastes great, but that doesn’t give you license to make a turkey-flavored version. If it was made savory though, it might be interesting. Something to think about. At any rate, pumpkin crème brûlée is a familiar, yet fresh take on Thanksgiving dessert that deserves a place at your dinner table.

Potato Blini with Quinoa and Smoked Salmon

Potato blini appetizers would make an attractive addition on any Thanksgiving table. The true beauty of this dish, though, is its flavor. Atop each potato blin I placed a generous portion of quinoa, a caviar look-alike, which I mixed with homemade tapenade for added flavor. I topped the mixture with a dollop of crème fraîche, a piece of smoked salmon (optional) and garnished the little bites with dill.

Unlike cutlets (Indian version of the potato bite), potato blini contain eggs and flour (no bread), so the appetizers don't fall apart when your guests pick them up. The result is an edible piece of art that is almost too pretty for your guests to eat. 

Braised Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are a delicious winter vegetable that can be cooked in many ways (roasted, boiled, grilled or braised). For this recipe, I first boiled them, then braised them in apple cider vinegar and honey and mixed them with tarragon-infused caramelized onions.

The dish is quite filling, yet healthy. I love these miniature cabbages and as their name indicates, they originated in the capital of Belgium (hence the name). So they are spelled Brussels sprouts, not Brussel sprouts, Brussel's sprouts or Brussels' sprouts. Regardless of how you spell them, they are yummy!