Thanksgiving Side Dish #1

ROASTED SWEET POTATOES WITH CINNAMON PECAN CRUNCH from McCormick

3/4 cup (180 ml or 0.18 kg) firmly packed brown sugar, divided
2 TBSP (30 ml) orange juice
2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract
1 1/2 (7.5 ml) tsp ground cinnamon, divided
1 1/2 (7.5 ml) tsp ground ginger, divided
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt
3 lbs (1.4 kg) sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
1 cup (240 ml) dried cranberries
6 TBSP (90 ml) butter, cut up, divided
1/2 cup (120 ml or 0.12 kg) flour
1 cup (240 ml) chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400F (204.4 C). Mix 1/4 cup (60 ml) of the brown sugar, orange juice, vanilla, 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) EACH of the cinnamon and ginger, and salt in a large bowl. Add sweet potatoes; toss to coat well. Spooon into a 13" x 9" (33 x 23 x 5 cm or 3.3 liters) baking dish.

Sprinkle evenly with cranberries. Dot with 2 TBSP (30 ml) of the butter.

Cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, mix flour, the remaining 1/2 cup (120 ml) brown sugar and remaining 1 tsp (5 ml) EACH cinnamon AND ginger in medium bowl. Cut in remaining 4 TBSP (60 ml) butter with a fork until coarse crumbs form. Stir in pecans. Remove sweet potatoes fromoven and stir gently. Sprinkle evenly with pecan topping. Bake, uncovered, 25 to 30 minutes longer or until sweet potatoes are tender and topping is lightly browned. (I found this to be closer to 25 minutes than 30 minutes for my oven). Makes 8 servings. We so loved this - it was more like a dessert! lol. As you can see it got pretty dark on the top, so I wouldn't cook it for more than 20-25 minutes for the last half of the cooking.

Thanksgiving Side Dish #2

CORN PUDDING

1 stick butter (120 ml)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 can (16 oz or roughly .47 liters) cream style corn
1 can (16 oz or roughly .47 liters) whole kernel sweet corn
1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 cup (240 ml) sugar

Preheat oven to 350F (or 176.7C). Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat (or 1 minute in a small bowl in the microwave - I almost never have a use for a microwave, but this is one of the few lol). Set aside. Grease a 1 1/2 quart (maybe 20 x 20 x 4 cm or 1.4 liters?) casserole dish and have it ready. In a medium bowl add the eggs, both cans of corn, sugar, Jiffy corn muffin mix and the melted butter. Blend with a fork until well mixed and pour it into your greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. I have made this for the last several Thanksgiving dinners and it's always a big hit! If you want to make a more savory corn pudding, you can omit the sugar and add 1 cup of your favorite shredded cheese, some chilies, etc. Mix it up and have fun with it!

Thanksgiving Side dish #3

SESAME SOY-GLAZED GREEN BEANS
1 lb (.45 kg) green beans, picked, blanched & shocked
1 TBSP (15 ml) vegetable oil
1 TBSP (15 ml) toasted sesame oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp (5 ml) fresh ginger, minced
3 TBSP (45 ml) tamari soy sauce
1 TBSP (15 ml) brown sugar

Blanch the beans in heavily salted boiling water for 1 1/2 minutes or until they just yield to pressure. Shock them in an ice bath and then dry thoroughly. Heat the vegetable oil and sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and place the dry green beans in the pan, stirring frequently. When you see the skin on the outside just start to blister, add the garlic and ginger and stir until just fragrant. Add the tamari soy sauce and suage and stir to coat the beans. When the mixture is syrupy, it is done!! This takes about 3-5 minutes. This was the first year I made these and they are fantastic and so easy!! I am so disappointed that I forgot to take a picture of this wonderful dish!