Plan a Thanksgiving Feast with a Twist

Every November in America, people gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving with traditional favorites like green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and - of course - turkey. If you're looking to spice things up a bit this year with variations of your standards or entirely new dishes, we've got some great recipes that can give you the inspiration you need. Surprise your friends and family with a Thanksgiving feast that still includes many of their favorites, but with a sophisticated twist.

Main Dish

Most people make some variation of turkey as the main dish at Thanksgiving dinner - fried turkey, honey glazed turkey, stuffed turkey, roast turkey with gravy, and so on. If you want some nontraditional turkey ideas, check out Food Network's collection of recipes which includes Turkey Pot Pie with Sage Crust, Emeril's Pepper-Stuffed Turkey, Turkey Scallopine Milanese, Brined Turkey Breast with Spanish Spice Rub and Sour Orange Sauce and even Turkey and Cranberry Ravioli.

Looking for something different altogether? Prime rib, duck, salmon, and roast leg of lamb are great alternatives for meat eaters. Vegetarians don't have to be stuck with just eating side dishes or unappetizing tofu-turkey, either. Salisbury Tempeh, Thanksgiving 'Meat' Loaf, or Roasted Harvest Vegetables in a Baked Pumpkin are a few ideas.

Side Dishes

For Thanksgiving sides that obviously didn't come from the food market down the street, kick things up a notch with unexpected flavors and combinations. Try an Autumn Panzanella, Cream of Parsnip Soup with Potato Crisps and Bacon, Butternut Dumplings with Brown Butter and Sage, Cranberry Maple Carrots or White Cheddar Puffs with Green Onions.

Try a fresh take on traditional Thanksgiving stuffing by using pumpernickel and rye, winter fruit and nuts, spinach and artichoke or panettone.

Dessert

Finish off the meal with a delicious dessert that blows most pumpkin pies out of the water. Epicurious.com offers delicious ideas like Pear and Hazelnut Frangipane Tart, Dark Chocolate and Orange Tart with Toasted Almonds, and Gingerbread Squares with Honey-Mascarpone Cream. Health nuts will love everything about EatingWell.com's Maple-Pumpkin Custards with Crystallized Ginger and Glazed Chocolate-Pumpkin Bundt Cake.

Hungry yet? Start experimenting! You might find that some of these recipes aren't your thing for Thanksgiving, but could become fall favorites in your household, especially for entertaining.

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