Each week, fabulous recipes grace Debbie’s in-box and pop up on her computer screen, and she’s sharing her favorites with you.
I’ve got to admit, that even though I don’t eat wheat or white carbs, I always have a bite or two of stuffing on Thanksgiving. It’s partly because my dad makes the most wonderful stuffing imaginable, and partly because stuffing says “tradition” like no other side dish.
Imagine, for a moment, a Thanksgiving without a traditional stuffing. C’mon, try it — you’ll be all right. It’s fun to shake things up a bit and have something unexpected to put on your plate, isn’t it? If you’re a little too steeped in tradition and want to branch out a bit this year, here are some alternatives to a traditional stuffing that you and your guests are sure to enjoy. You might just create a new heirloom recipe for your family.
Butternut squash and cheddar bread pudding — This could very well be a near-perfect dish to go with turkey. There’s bread, but lots of cheese, cream, kale, and butternut squash will disguise it from anything resembling stuffing. And you’ve got your green veggie and orange veggie baked right in.
How about an autumn potato salad? Heidi Swanson breathes new life into a roasted potato salad with a mustard vinaigrette, roasted carrots, shallots, parsnips and scallions. Wouldn’t that be lovely with turkey — and a dish without all the bread is a welcome change.
Kona’s butternut squash risotto sounds like the perfect way to ditch the stuffing and enjoy something new to complement turkey (or Tofurky?). It’s seasonal, slightly sweet and rich … a Thanksgiving tradition in the making!
This barley bake is very simple, but with mushrooms, fresh parsley and onions all cooked in broth, it will compliment your turkey perfectly. And you can easily add your favorite ingredients to jazz it up a bit and wow your guests. Oh, and there’s pine nuts … score.
OK, technically this recipe for rice stuffing with apples, herbs and bacon is a stuffing, but non-traditional in that it’s rice. Who makes rice stuffing? Well, you could. I’m just saying. It’s got bacon.
How about you? Any non-traditional alternatives to stuffing to share with us?
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Nov 16, 2009 @ 10:03 EST5EDT
