Get Creative with Your Thanksgiving Sides this Year

“Leave the Thanksgiving turkey alone, but give us some interesting sides and deserts” say the American people in a new survey from spice maker McCormick.

While the majority of survey respondents said they want a traditional turkey taste, around 40% of them want interesting side dishes, and 38% want the same kind of creativity shown with desserts.

But how can you be creative and different without freaking out your Thanksgiving guests? McCormick says they have the answer, and they’re offering the following “Classic Sides with a Twist”:

* Brussels Sprouts with Pecans and Ginger Honey Sauce – Instead of regular green beans or broccoli, serve Brussels sprouts with a delicious ginger-honey sauce and sprinkle with toasted pecans – they might be the biggest hit at the table.

* Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing – Crumbled corn bread adds a layer of sweet flavor to traditional stuffing seasoned with thyme and garlic.

* Spiced Whipped Sweet Potatoes – Take a break from your usual Thanksgiving mashed potatoes. Brown sugar, cinnamon and cayenne red pepper add a little sweetness and heat to these whipped sweet potatoes

* Apple Sage Turkey Gravy – Use turkey gravy mix, sage and apple juice to add warm fall flavor to your gravy.

Flavorful Desserts Prepared in New Ways – Of the Americans changing up dessert, 63 percent want to add new flavors and 29 percent are eager to switch up how it’s prepared. Put together a menu that features an array of desserts and gives your guests a chance to sample it all:

* Mini Pumpkin Pies, Easy Mini Apple Pies and Pecan Pie Bites – Use a muffin tin to prepare these delectable mini pies, perfect for a holiday buffet table – no slicing required.

Prepare Vanilla, Cocoa Cinnamon or Eggnog whipped creams using extracts and food color so that guests can choose their own topping.

* Gluten-Free Apple Crumb Bread Pudding – Coconut milk, apple pie spice and vanilla extract combine in this sweet streusel-topped bread pudding.

* Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue – A Southern favorite, this richly spiced pie – made using cinnamon and ginger – is topped with a fluffy mound of meringue that’s toasted golden brown.

You can find more of the company’s Thanksgiving recipes at www.mccormick.com/flavorprint.