No-Fail Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

You do not have to be a Food Network Star to provide a delicious, heartwarming, festive meal on Thanksgiving. If you have an imagination, able to read, set a table and keep the conversation going, you will be a hit as a hostess. Time your meal to avoid slamming into the usual junk food served while watching the games.

Prepare a light, healthy snack for parade or pre-football crowd visiting. Keep them happy and healthy with a platter of raw veggies/dip (no chips), deviled eggs, hot cider or spiced tea. You do not want to overload guests prior to the meal, but you do want them to feel loved and cared for.

Here are a few ideas to include along with the usual Turkey and Dressing (add chestnuts and seedless grapes to the dressing for a real surprise). Jello with cream cheese, use one of those fantastic flavored waters to match the jello, instead of plain water, you can also thaw out a portion of frozen fruit to add to the mixture. If you are daring and know you can do this without worry, add a bit of the bubbly to the jello instead of all water!

Make your meal exciting by offering a few dishes that are sure to please. Why not prepare a bowl of roasted veggies, carrots, celery, peppers (yellow, red, green), snap beans, bean sprouts, and mushroom. You can add any other veggies you find interesting and tasty. Flavor with sesame seed and olive oil lightly. The idea of combining all of the veggies, instead of separate servings, will cut down on prep time, clean up and everything getting to the table on time. To liven up the usual garden salad, add raisins or currents, along with the greenery.

Serve garden patch salad, an easy combination of drained canned corn, peas, string beans in a mix of sweet and sour poured over to give a tangy, but tasted thrill to your tastebuds. Add two tablespoons of vinegar, 1/2 cup of sugar to boiling a sauce pan of boiling water, mix and heat well, add more sugar or vinegar to taste, pour heated mixture over drained veggies, cover and place in fridge for about two hours to chill, remember to stir from time to time, to get the sweet and sour throughout the veggies.