THE SIDES ARE THE REAL STARS

We get it…Turkey = Thanksgiving. But…doesn’t everyone actually look forward to the sides? We know we do.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how to make the side dishes the real stars of the show. In our mission to do so, we asked our chefs to share their favorite turkey sidekicks. Some of these recipes really give a new twist on the classics.

NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S STUFFING

First up we have John Franke’s Meemaw’s Cornbread Stuffing. Names can be deceiving, because you ain’t never come across a grandma like this! This cornbread is the perfect combination of sweet and savory, and down right sinful. If you need some more traditional fare it pairs perfectly with a green bean casserole and nice cranberry sauce.

MEEMAW’S CORNBREAD STUFFING

INGREDIENTS

PROCEDURE

1. Cream the butter and sugar in the mixer using the paddle attachment
2. Add the eggs one at a time on speed one
3. Then add the corn and the cheese; mix till incorporated. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula.
4. Mix the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and cayenne pepper together in a bowl.
5. Then slowly add the flour mixture to the mixer on speed one. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula.
6. Mix for 5 additional minutes.
7. Transfer to a container large enough to hold mixture, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
8. After refrigerating overnight, brush the inside of a large 10” cast iron skillet with shortening and fill to ¾’s full with cornbread batter.  Smooth out to ensure the batter is even in the pan.
9. Bake in a 350 degree oven 40 minutes or until firm and golden brown.
10. Once cooked, remove from oven and let rest for 20 minutes.
11. Place bake in refrigerator and refrigerate for 3 hours or until cold.
12. Once cold, cut into 1” cubes.
13. Heat the butter in a sauce pot until melted.  Add the celery and onions and sauté for 5 minutes or until translucent.  Add the fresh sage and stir in. Remove from the heat.
14. Add the onion/celery mixture to the cornbread cubes and fold together in a large mixing bowl with a rubber spatula.
15. Place in a large 10” cast iron skillet brushed with shortening.
16. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees or until golden brown on top
17. Serve immediately with your favorite gravy.

YOU CAN'T HAVE THANKSGIVING WITHOUT POTATOES

While mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving go-to, potato salad is a staple in the south and this marble potato salad recipe is a nice surprise to your holiday spread. With red chili flakes and fresno peppers, it has an unexpected kick of flavor!

PART 1: INGREDIENTS

PROCEDURE

1. Place potatoes, water, and all other ingredients in a stock pot and place on high heat.
2. Bring to a boil and boil for approx. 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are firm but cooked through completely.
3. Strain potatoes in a colander and discard liquid.
4. Allow to cool at room temperature.
5. Once cold, cut each potato on an angle, remove garlic cloves, fresno rings, shallots and thyme sprigs and transfer to a container and place in refrigerator until ready to use.
6. When you’re ready, dress with the honey dijon dressing below:

PART 2: INGREDIENTS

PROCEDURE

1. Heat the canola oil in a high sided pot until the oil reaches 350 degrees.
2. Carefully place 2 lbs. of boiled and cut potatoes in the oil and fry until slightly
3. browned (approximately 1 ½ to 2 minutes)
4. Remove from oil using a metal strainer and place directly into a mixing bowl.
5. Fry additional potatoes when oil has reached 350 degrees again.
6. Once all potatoes are fried and in the mixing bowl, add the remaining ingredients and toss to coast heavily with dressing.
7. Check seasoning and serve immediately while still warm.

PART 3: Honey Dijon Dressing (for Potato Salad)

INGREDIENTS

PROCEDURE

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a whisk.
2. Store refrigerated until needed.

 

ADD A LITTLE CULTURAL FLAVOR TO YOUR SPREAD

These next two recipes are traditional German dishes, recipes that Chef Joshua from Degenhardt’s loves! There are plenty of variations for these dumplings but this recipe is his favorite, and coming from a chef with German roots, that’s kind of a big deal!

GERMAN SPAETZLE DUMPLINGS

INGREDIENTS

PROCEDURE

1. Mix together flour, salt, white pepper, and nutmeg. Beat eggs well, and add alternately with the milk to the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.
2. Press dough through spaetzle maker, a large holed sieve, or metal grater.
3. In a large pot over high heat, bring water to a boil. Drop dumplings, a few at a time into the water. Cook 5 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
4. Sauté cooked spaetzle in butter or margarine. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top, and serve.

KARTOFFELKLOESSE (German Potato Dumplings)

So maybe you already made that awesome potato salad, but there’s no such thing as too many potatoes, right? These potato dumplings from GenuisKitchen have Joshua’s stamp of approval!

INGREDIENTS

PROCEDURE

1. Trim crusts off bread and save them for another use. Cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes and fry in butter and oil mixture until golden brown, transfer to paper towel to dry.
2. Cook scrubbed, unpeeled potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 45 minutes.
3. Drain, cool slightly, and peel.
4. Cut potatoes into large pieces.
5. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
6. Mash potatoes with fork or run through ricer into large bowl.
7. Mix in salt and nutmeg.
8. Add 1/2 cup flour and cornstarch.
9. Using your hands, knead mixture in bowl until smooth dough forms, adding more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough is sticky.
10. Mix in egg.
11. Form dough into balls, using ¼ cupful for each.
12. Insert a bread cube into center of each dumpling; roll dumpling between palms to enclose bread cube completely and form smooth balls.
13. Working in batches, cook dumplings in large pot of nearly boiling salted water 10-15 minutes or until dumplings rise to top. You should place no more than 4-5 dumplings in your pot at any one time in order to prevent them from sticking together or touching during cooking, which will cause them to fall apart.
14. Using a slotted spoon, transfer dumplings to large bowl.
15. Keep covered with a damp kitchen towel as remaining dumplings are cooked.