As we head through Thanksgiving into the holiday season (or as the holiday season continues, for those who began celebrating on November 1st), many are probably looking forward to what they’re going to eat during this year’s festivities. From the classics to the economical to the grandiose, here’s a list of holiday foods you may want to consider adding to your menu.
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Candied Yams
Sweet potatoes alone are a typical holiday staple, but if you’d like a bit more sugar on your palette, candied yams (also known as sweet potato casserole) are the way to go.
2. Macaroni & Cheese and Other Pasta Dishes
Pasta dishes are just as versatile as they are popular, so they’re a must-have for a holiday dinner. These dishes can be simple and low-cost or more complex, which makes it easy to adapt to your dinner party’s needs.
Ziti w/ Brussel Sprouts (Vegan)
Black Pepper Mac & Cheese with Potato Carrot Cheese Sauce (Vegan)
3. Lasagna
Lasagna gets its own category because preparation may be more involved than other pasta dishes, but the time put into making it will be worth it.
4. Ham
Ham is an incredibly popular Christmas food, and it can definitely be part of other holidays as well.
5. Turkey
No turkey slander will be accepted here, folks. While it’s typically associated with Thanksgiving, turkey can arguably be included in most holiday meals, especially for those that may not consume red meat and/or pork. With good preparation, your dinner party is bound to enjoy this dish.
6. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are great year-round, but they taste even better during the holidays. Make them nice and creamy and add some seasoning (my preference is paprika and black pepper) and you’ve got yourself a great side dish.
7. Shepherd’s Pie
This is an extension of the mashed potato recommendation, and shepherd’s pie is the perfect, hearty food group mix. My family typically sticks to using potatoes, veggies, and mincemeat, but there are recipes that contain cheese and other ingredients.
Shepherd’s Pie w/ Cheddar Cheese
Vegan Shepherd’s Pie w/ Chickpeas & Sweet Potato
8. Tomato Soup
I personally wouldn’t be opposed to having more soup at the holidays – soup can be made and served in a variety of ways without being much of a hassle.
9. Pie
Now, your mileage may vary on what the best type of pie is, but we can all agree that pie should be present during the holidays. Whether you bake Libby’s Pumpkin Pie from the can (you can bake the prescribed recipe or add granola for some extra crunch) or decide to go homemade, pie is undoubtedly the most important holiday dessert.
10. Cornbread
You may want to make it in a Jiffy or do it yourself, but either way, cornbread is a great side to have on your table.