Turkey, cranberry sauce, basic stuffing, mashed potatoes. If eating the same thing every year (no matter how tantalizing the tastes) sometimes gets you down, try adding a new dish to your Thanksgiving spread. One or more of these scrumptious sides – straight from our tables to yours – could be the answer. Just click on the titles below for printable cards to add to your recipe box.

Serve in contrasting-colored dishes – orange-hued stuffing in a turquoise bowl, for example, or nice, dark green beans on a bright red platter – for a table that’s as attractive as it is delicious.

Chorizo Corn Bread Stuffing
Makes 4 – 6 servings
“This sweet, savory, and spicy take on stuffing is a hit year after year. Use organic or all-natural sausage to boost the health factor – and the flavor.”

Ingredients
1 pound hard chorizo, diced
1 white onion, diced
1 large carrot, chopped
½ cup celery, chopped
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
2 cups corn bread, crumbled
½ cup chicken stock
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions
1. Cook chorizo in a skillet over medium heat, about 5 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
3. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic to the chorizo and cook until the vegetables have caramelized, about 10 minutes.
4. Add the corn bread, chicken stock, and cilantro. Mix until the bread is just coated – not too dry, not too wet.
5. Transfer to a buttered casserole dish and bake until heated through and lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

Firemen’s Potatoes (Potatoes au Gratin)
 “Remember to place the baking dish on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Otherwise, expect voluminous amounts of smoke and a visit from the fire department – hence the name. Despite that one incident, this rich, creamy dish has become a holiday favorite.”

Classic Baked Acorn Squash
 “Variations on this recipe call for adding sausage, bacon, pecans, or cheese, or using amaretto or molasses rather than sugar. Modify to suit to your tastes!”

Tarragon-Almond Green Beans
 “The balsamic tang mixed with the crispness of the almonds makes this dish a Thanksgiving go-to.”

Apple Cake
 “It’s not a side dish, it’s a dessert, but it’s easy + great for Thanksgiving – and for breakfast the next day, too.”

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

Do you have a cherished Thanksgiving recipe? Share it in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

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Sweet Salad
Remember Waldorf salad? This easy-to-prepare candy bar apple salad has the same idea – luscious flavors doused in a creamy dressing. Rather than the Waldorf’s classic combination of grapes, walnuts, and marshmallows, this one uses apples, SNICKERS®, and vanilla pudding to create a caramel apple–flavored treat.

Substitute with abandon to suit your tastes (or your pantry). Some suggestions include using a mixture of SNICKERS and HEATH Toffee Bars, pears rather than apples, and different flavored puddings.

Delicious Drinks
When your little monsters return home with bags stuffed full of colored candies, look no further than Skittles®-infused vodka. With each flavor individually bottled and ready to drink, you won’t have to search for a sweet end-of-day treat. But if chocolate and peanut butter is more your style (or you’re only in the mood for a quick nip), try a peanut butter cup martini.

Bite-Sized Baking
No matter your preferred taste – sweet or salty, nuts or toffee – trick-or-treat bags are sure to offer a complement to every craving. Use sugar-loaded confections to create candy-recycler blondies, Halloween candy cookies, white chocolate candy corn cookie bars, peanut butter and toffee candy bark, or frozen peanut butter cup banana pops (the fruit makes them healthier, right?). With these desserts on hand, you’ll wish All Hallows’ Eve came around more than once a year.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

Have any Halloween-inspired treats made it into your recipe box? Share them in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

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When there’s a bite in the air and you’ve donned your coziest chunky-knit sweater, there’s nothing better than taking in a view with a hot cider in hand… well, except maybe a hot rum cider. Loosen up that scarf and prepare to be warmed from the inside out with this butterscotch rendition – and when you add ice cream into the equation, it feels like Christmas came early.

What you’ll need:

1.5 cups apple cider
1.5 ounces spiced rum (I like Sailor Jerry or Kraken)
1 ounce DeKuyper Buttershots butterscotch schnapps
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
Pinch of cinnamon
Caramel drizzle
Apple slice (optional) for garnish

Directions:

1. Heat the cider until it’s almost reached a boil.

2. Transfer to a heat-safe glass or mug (mason jars work too).

3. Add the spiced rum and butterscotch schnapps. Mix.

4. Top with a scoop of vanilla of ice cream (don’t go too big or your cup with overflow).

5. Sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with caramel to your heart’s content.

6. Finish with an apple slice on the rim and enjoy!

By Grace Romanowsky, Staff Writer

What is your favorite apple cider recipe? Share it in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.

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