Fads come and go, but the favorite dishes of our ancestors have long become traditional foods for special occasions. From meats to veggies and favorite desserts, these dishes have stood the test of time, and new variations can deliver even more flavor and eye appeal. Roasted or mashed potatoes, stuffing, pies and cakes, and roasted ham, chicken, or turkey are among the most popular foods served up on most American dinner tables. Here are some new spins and old traditions that live on as favorite foods.
For a glamorous entree, try a Bacon-wrapped turkey breast, for a moist and juicy bird that delights every pallet. and in a couple of hours or so you’ll have one of the most delicious turkey breast you have experienced. Click here for this tasty recipe and step by step directions.
BEEF ROAST WITH 40 CLOVES OF GARLIC
Here’s a classic dish that probably your own great-great grandparents considered a staple summer and fall dish. This tasty beef dish has been passed down through the generations to become a favorite tradition. Use the pan drippings to make a tasty gravy to accompany your roasted or mashed potatoes, and you have a dish that sings with flavor. Click here for the recipe and directions.
This classic dish is so versatile it can elevate the dining table for special get-togethers, and is easily adapted to black pot cooking. Whether prepared on a campfire or kitchen, the aromas wafting in the air makes everyone hungry! And, the pan juices make some of the tastiest gravy ever. Click here for the recipe and directions.
This is one of those dishes that is naturally delicious with turkey! Our family also enjoys it with the turkey sandwiches the day after, during the holidays! Like so many dishes, it tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had a chance to blend really well, so we like to make it a day or two in advance, and try to leave it alone until dinner time! .Click here for the recipe and directions.
COLE SLAW WITH MAYONNAISE DRESSING
Cole Slaw is always a popular side dish for every table, with many varieties to accompany your favorite main dish. In this recipe Lea makes a simple combination of shredded cabbage and carrots, and refrigerates until just before serving, when she adds the mayonnaise dressing. Click here for the recipe and directions. Check out our other Cole Slaw recipes: Tangy Cole Slaw, made with finely diced celery and Miracle Salad Dressing; and, our Blue Cheese Cole Slaw, made with two types of mustard, red and green cabbage, and Roquefort blue cheese.
This is another amazingly good recipe from the Thistlethwaite family. Onions and celery sauteed in butter, with peas and whole kernel corn simmered together for 15 minutes. Sour cream, basil, and dill combine to make a creamy sauce that elevates this dish into a real pallet-pleaser. Marjorie (J.B.’s mother) shared her recipe for this wonderful treat. Click here for the recipe and simple directions.
GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE WITH PANKO AND BACON
This may be the most classic side dish of all time. There are as many variations for this casserole as there are for practically any dish. This one combines fresh green beans, with cream of mushroom soup, Apple-wood smoked bacon, garlic-flavored Panko bread crumbs and shredded cheddar cheese, to create one of the most tasty versions we have run across. Click here for the recipe and for easy-to-assemble step-by-step directions.
This pumpkin pie recipe has always been Lea’s favorite! She received this recipe on a postcard from a sister-in-law in 1970. The original recipe name was “Prue’s Pumpkin Pie”, but Lea figures that she has made it so many times, she claims it as her own! Click here for the recipe, and please visit our DESSERT PAGE for many other delicious pies, cakes and candies to complete your holiday experience. If you want to make your pie extra special, take a few minutes to make your own pie crust. Click here for our PIE CRUST recipe, and take your pie to the next level.
Vaughn Kitchens 