Looking for some Thanksgiving dinner ideas? If you’re planning to host Thanksgiving this year, whether it’s with your friends, family, neighbors, or all of the above, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed with what to make for dinner. While food isn’t the only thing about Thanksgiving (gathering with loved ones, hanging out, doing crafts, jumping on piles of fall-colored leaves, watching the “big game,” and Thanksgiving prayers and poems), Thank you), is certainly a big part of it. After all, for many people, the term “Thanksgiving” conjures up images of juicy stuffed turkey, fresh cranberry sauce, and melt-in-your-mouth pumpkin pie.

Traditionally, Thanksgiving dinners have consisted of turkey, stuffing, some type of potato or sweet potato dish, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Instead of being strictly traditional (sticking to the tried-and-true basics with no frills or add-ons) or completely original (avoiding the traditional menu entirely, which may disappoint and even upset some people in your party), try “fitting” . a few favorites to make them a bit more unique and exciting without straying too far from the basic menu.

One thing you can do to kick things off is serve drinks and appetizers. This isn’t generally considered a Thanksgiving tradition as part of Thanksgiving dinners for many families, but who says you can’t start one with your own group? You can try crackers and cheese with a cheese ball decorated like a live turkey and serve hot apple-cinnamon cider (“spiked” with liquor for the adults), wine, and deep red or orange fruit punch for the kids.

You can keep the turkey as the main course of the meal; but if you do, turn it up a notch with special spices, orange and lemon juices and flavors, liqueur, cranberries and walnuts, or anything else you can think of to complement your turkey. Great turkey alternatives include herb-roasted chicken, pineapple-roasted ham, or succulent roast beef with gravy.

Turn regular cranberry sauce into a fruit mix by adding berries (like raspberries) or other complementary fruits. For “starch” Thanksgiving dinners, you can try regular mashed potatoes mixed with skin, herbs, spices, onions, bacon bits, and cheese with turkey gravy; stuffed baked potatoes; or baked sweet potatoes with mini marshmallows topped with brown sugar and pecans. Add some warm vegetables to your meal, such as broccoli with melted cheese or an herbed vegetable mix. Instead of sticking with traditional tossed salads or Caesar salads, mix it up a bit by adding a combination of blueberries, strawberries, nuts, seeds, raisins, red onions, shredded carrots, or cheese sprinkled on your veggies, with a rich, sweet balsamic. dress up dress up

You don’t have to bake a pumpkin pie for dessert, although you certainly can. Cinnamon Spice Apple Pie is a great alternative, as are Rhubarb Pie (or Strawberry Rhubarb Pie), Simple Cheesecake with Warm Caramel and Pecans Drizzled on Top, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Mini Cinnamon Pies, pumpkin pie, spiced carrot cake with cream cheese, or carrot muffins. By adding a little variety, you can turn your favorite dishes into extraordinary treats for all your upcoming Thanksgiving dinners.