Make This Thanksgiving Your Simplest Ever

So, you've been working all week and haven't had time to shop for all those" special ingredients" you usually get to make dinner this Thanksgiving?

Don't panic.

Most of our recipes use items you already have on hand, and they're so easy to make, you'll wonder why you didn't do something like this before.

Just pick up a spiral-sliced ham or turkey and some rolls, then consider the following to make a meal to remember:

Appetizers/Snacks

Restaurants call them appetizers, but they're really snacks, aren't they? Even later, when the dinner is done, folks who say they're full will be reaching for these bites as they watch the game, or decorate the tree.

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Makes 25-30 bacon-wrapped dates.

Prep these beforehand so that all you have to do it bake and serve.

Ingredients

• 1 pound regular (not thick sliced) bacon, cut into thirds.
• 1 8-ounce package of pitted dates.
• Small wooden toothpicks.

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Position oven rack in the center of the oven. Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil.

2. Wrap a piece of bacon around a date. Use toothpick to secure bacon. Repeat until all of the dates are wrapped in bacon.

3. Bake for 20-25 minutes until crisp. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Spiced Cheese Dip

Makes 1 ½ cups.

So easy and you probably have most, if not all of these ingredients. You can make it the day before and chill it overnight. As folks arrive, just put a tray of crackers and the suggested vegetables beside it. Just don't tell anyone it's healthy!

Ingredients

• 1 cup cottage cheese.
• 1 teaspoons capers (mashed).
• 1 teaspoons caraway seeds.
• ½ cup sour cream.
• ½ tsp dry mustard.
• 2 tablespoons green onion (chopped).

Directions

1. Strain cottage cheese in a colander to remove the excess water. Then, cream it in a blender or food processor. You can also use an electric mixer. (Don't blend so much that it starts to get runny.)

2. Put the blended cottage cheese into a medium bowl and add the paprika, caraway seeds, capers, dry mustard and green onion. Blend until almost smooth.

3. Add sour cream, cover and chill. Serve with crackers, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes or strips of bell peppers.

Side Dishes

In today's world, "side dishes" aren't what they used to be. While the traditional holiday foods are wonderful, take a moment to look over these recipes to find that new punch of flavor to go with your turkey-day meal.

Green Beans with Honey Mustard Glaze

Green bean casserole, move over. This dish is easier and frees up your oven!

Serves 8, with leftovers.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds green beans, trimmed.
• 3 tablespoons mustard seeds.
• 1/3 cup honey.
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar.

Directions

1. Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Drop in the green beans and cook, uncovered, 5 to 7 minutes or until tender, but still crisp. Drain. (Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Place in a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate.) Dry the saucepan and return it to the stove.

2. Toast the mustard seeds over low heat just until they pop, about 1 minute, stirring to prevent scorching. Add the honey and vinegar, and cook until the sauce boils and becomes syrupy. Add the green beans and toss.

3. To fake it, and save 15 minutes: Thaw three 9-ounce packages whole green beans under warm running water. Place in a skillet with 1/2 cup bottled honey-mustard salad dressing. Over medium heat, toss until heated through, adding more dressing if necessary to lightly coat all the green beans.

Sautéed Carrots with Sage

This recipe makes just two servings as written, but can easily be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled for holiday gatherings. Since these carrots are topped with fresh sage, this dish is also a great way to use up any sage left over from stuffing your turkey.

Serves 2 per batch.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon butter.
• 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• 1 1/2 cups diagonally sliced carrots.
• 2  tablespoons water.
• 1/8 teaspoon salt.
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
• 2  teaspoons fresh small sage leaves.

Directions

1. Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat.

2. Add carrots and 2 tablespoons water. Partially cover pan and cook 10 minutes or until carrots are almost tender.

3. Add salt and pepper to pan; increase to medium-high heat. Cook 4 minutes or until carrots are tender and lightly browned, stirring frequently. Sprinkle with sage.

Sweet Potato Gratin

If the "old" sweet potato dish with the sugar and the marshmallows is a bit too much, try this savory side to liven up your meal.

Serves 8 – 10.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter.
• 4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese.
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream.
• 1 teaspoon salt.
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with 1 tbsp of butter. Arrange a third of the sweet potatoes, overlapping slightly, in the dish. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat with two more layers of sweet potatoes and cheese.

2. In a small bowl, combine cream, salt, pepper and cayenne. Pour over potatoes. Dot with the remaining 2 tbsp butter.

3. Cover dish with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until sweet potatoes are tender and top is browned, 20 to 25 minutes.

Desserts

Sure, make the pies if you want, but take a minute to look at this chocolate cobbler -- so good and no one will believe how simple it was to make. Stick it in the oven as folks sit down to eat and serve it hot or warm with ice cream. Everyone will be loosening belts and asking for more.

Easy Chocolate Cobbler

Serves 8.

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons butter.
• 1 cup self-rising flour.
• 3/4 cup white sugar.
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder.
• 1/2 cup milk.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Additional 1 cup of white sugar.
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder.
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water.

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in an 8-by-8-inch baking dish while the oven preheats. (If you double the ingredients, use a 9x13 dish.)

2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa. Stir in milk and vanilla until smooth. Spoon this batter over the melted butter in the baking dish.

3. Stir together the remaining cup of sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa powder. Sprinkle over the batter. Slowly pour boiling water over the top of the mixture.

4. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until set. Serve slightly warm with ice cream.