Entertaining
Guess who's coming to Thanksgiving dinner
This year, we turned to classic Thanksgiving recipes and updated them in ways that save time and improve flavor.
Entertaining
Thanksgiving recipes
Food section staffers combed The Washington Post archives (and other Web sites) for treasured seasonal recipes. We present them here, along with new dishes for '09.
Turkey & Gravy
Plan a meal around these recipes for whole birds, turkey breasts and gravies.
- Golden Roasted Turkey With Fresh Sage
- Herb-Crusted Roast (Butterflied) Turkey
- Julia and Jacques's Deconstructed Turkey With Corn Bread Stuffing and Gravy
- Maple-Glazed Roast Turkey with Riesling Gravy
- Peppered Roast Turkey
- Roast Turkey
- Roast Turkey With Mushrooms, Chestnuts and Gravy (pictured)
- Chipotle-Rubbed Turkey Breast
- Easy Roast Turkey Breast
- Salt-Encrusted Turkey Breast
- Stuffed Turkey Breast With Achiote, Poblano Chili Peppers and Feta Cheese
- Cider Herb Gravy
- Fig Gravy
- Madeira Gravy
- Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
- Mushroom-Miso-Mustard Gravy
- Turkey Jus With Sherry
Soups
This course is a chance to build anticipation for the meal ahead.
- Apple and Cheddar Soup With Roasted Apple Garnish
- Apple-Rutabaga Soup
- Butternut Squash Soup With Spiced Pumpkin Seeds and Tart Apple
- Butternut Squash With Walnut Whiskey Butter
- Chestnut Soup With Green Peppercorn Mascarpone
- Cream of Butternut Squash Soup With Arborio Rice
- Curried Parsnip and Apple Soup
- Sherried Pumpkin Apple Soup
- Silken Turnip Soup
- Sweet Potato Bourbon Soup (pictured)
- Three Cheddar Vegetable Soup
Stuffing
Cornbread, dried fruit and chestnuts perk up these recipes.
- Apple Bacon and Onion Stuffing
- Chestnut and Thyme Stuffing
- Hazelnut Sausage Stuffing
- Mushroom and Fennel Stuffing
- Prosciutto and Cornbread Stuffing
- Sourdough Stuffing with Pears and Sausage
- Waldorf Salad Stuffing
Salads
Salads lighten and brighten the Thanksgiving table.
- Wild Rice and Turkey Salad With Dried Cranberries
- Escarole and Celery Heart Salad With Warm Rosemary Dressing
- Roasted Ginger Beet Salad With Ricotta Salata
- Endive and Mache Salad With Apple Vinaigrette (pictured)
Mashed potatoes
All you need are gently cooked spuds, butter and cream.
Side Dishes
Thanksgiving staples are beige. Add color to your spread with these veggies.
- Broccolini with Buttered Pecans, Orange and Garlic
- Brussels Sprouts With Glazed Pecans
- Best-Ever Green Beans Amandine With Leek Chips
- Best Brussels Sprouts Ever
- Cabbage Salad With Apples and Walnuts
- Celeriac Puree
- Corn Pudding
- Green Beans with Lemon Relish
- Green Beans With Roasted Garlic
- Honey Parsnip Medley
- Jumbled Greens
- Kale and Butternut Squash Gratin
- Party Potatoes
- Roast Pumpkin and Rice Pilaf
- Rosemary Butternut Squash and Shallots
- Squash and Apple Puree
- Sugar Snap Peas with Cranberry-Cider Sauce (pictured)
- Sweet Potato and Grits Spoonbread
- Sweet Potato Rolls
- Wild Rice and Quinoa Pilaf with Pecans and Dried Cranberries
Cranberries
The fruit brings a sweet-tart taste to the table.
- Cranberry and Golden Raisin Sauce
- Cranberry Fig Sauce (pictured)
- Cranberry Relish
- Fresh Cranberry Relish
- Hot Curried Dried Fruit
- Pear Cranberry Sauce
- Red Wine Cranberry Sauce
- Spiced Cranberry Jelly
Desserts
Go out on a delicious note with one of these pies, crisps or cakes.
- Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie
- Candied-Pecan-Topped Pumpkin Pie (pictured)
- Caramel-Apple Pie
- Chestnut-Maple Cheesecake
- Chocolate Bread Pudding
- Cranberry Apple Crisp
- Cranberry Cheese Tart With Sour Cream Glaze
- Date Pecan Pie
- Eggnog Bread Pudding Bites With Quick Maple-Blueberry Sauce
- Ina Garten's Pumpkin Mousse Parfaits
- Mama's Pecan Pie
- Maida's Big Apple Pie
- Pear and Almond Frangipane
- Pear-White Chocolate Bread Pudding
- Pumpkin Caramel Pudding
- Pumpkin Mousse Pie
- Pumpkin Pecan Pudding Cake
- Ricotta and Bittersweet Chocolate Tart
- Sweet Potato Pie
- Ultimate Lemon Squares
Appetizers
Keep guests sated before the feast begins.
Photos (clockwise from top left): Terry Allen, Tracy A. Woodward, Renee Comet, Allison Dinner, Mark Finkenstaedt and Nikki Kahn.
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