Spicing Up Thanksgiving Dinner

I’m guessing that the Pilgrims probably couldn’t handle hot sauce but that doesn’t mean it can’t be on your Thanksgiving table. While you could fill a gravy boat full of sriracha, it would probably be better to incorporate spice into your Thanksgiving dishes to up the flavors of your spread. You can bring the heat to your side dishes and cider with hot sauce, peppers, and spicy cinnamon candies. Now, unless your family is with you on the spice train, just be prepared for the rest of the family to not invite you to bring side dishes next year. Which, I suppose could be a good thing too.

Green Bean Casserole

Traditional green bean casserole is usually just drained, canned green beans (or frozen) mixed with cream of mushroom, heaped in a casserole dish, and topped with french fried onions. Some people vary the dish with the inclusion of sausage or shredded cheese in the soup and green bean mix. Use hot Italian sausage or a blend of shredded pepper jack cheese to give the casserole a zing. Embrace your inner barista by topping the french fried onions with an artful zig zag of sriracha during the last few minutes so the sauce can caramelize slightly.

Spicy Corn

I’m not sure there is a more boring dish than just plain corn, but I guess that’s only if you forget about that boiled spinach your aunt brought last year. Corn as a side dish does not have to be an overlooked dish though. Combine canned (or frozen) corn with cream cheese and diced (fresh or pickled) jalapenos and bake to make a hot corn casserole. To make the casserole extra super creamy sub in creamed corn for half of the corn in the dish.

Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprout

Obviously brussels sprouts go with bacon, but give spice a chance to hang out with them too. Toss already roasted halved brussels sprouts with a sauce of apple cider vinegar, honey, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and roast them again for a couple of minutes. Then you should definitely serve them with a sriracha aioli. Please don’t make that aioli from scratch though- who has time for that. Just mix mayo, apple cider vinegar, honey, sriracha, garlic powder, and S&P to serve on the side. Definitely make extra of this and dip your turkey in it or save to spread on turkey sandwiches the next day.

Spiced Apple Cider

When you’re finally done cooking and ready to sit down with a drink you have to try this spiced cider. Whether you spike it up to you- I recommend Fireball or bourbon- either will make the screaming kids quieter. QUIETER TO YOU! DON’T SPIKE THE KID’S CIDER!! Anyways, Pinterest has plenty of cider recipes for the crockpot or stove top. You can also buy premade cider and just garnish it. Or buy plain apple juice and toss in slices of apples and oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and a few star anises.  Once you have the cider in your mug, make sure you add cinnamon spiced candy for a spicy treat.