Thanksgiving menu with a twist: new takes on classic dishes

Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie are all iconic Thanksgiving foods, but preparing the same dishes year after year can get a little tiresome. Whether you’re looking for healthier alternatives or simply a change from your standard Thanksgiving menu, here are some ideas for twists on classic dishes that are sure to surprise and satisfy your guests.

1. . Basting, stuffing and baking the turkey is a veritable Thanksgiving tradition, but it’s time-consuming and leaves you with leftovers for days. If you don’t have time to cook a whole turkey this year, consider other turkey-based dishes like turkey potpie, turkey chili or turkey meatloaf. You can also try grilling, smoking or deep-frying your turkey.

2. . Spice up your mashed potatoes with caramelized onions, spinach or bacon, or replace them with another mashed vegetable like sweet potatoes or squash. Baked potatoes can also be healthier than mashed potatoes as long as you don’t overload them with cream and butter.

3. Cranberry sauce. You can make a basic cranberry sauce with just water, sugar and cranberries, but you can also easily incorporate other flavors into the sauce. This year, consider adding orange zest, candied pecans, apple slices or crystallized ginger.

4. Pumpkin pie. You can prepare lots of desserts with pumpkin besides pie, such as pumpkin bread and pumpkin cheesecake. If you’re looking for a gluten-free alternative to pumpkin pie, consider baking just the filling to make a pumpkin pudding. You can also prepare savory dishes like pumpkin soup, pumpkin pasta or roasted pumpkin. And don’t forget that pumpkin seeds make an excellent, healthy snack.