Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we are gearing up for a fun filled day spent with the family. Thanksgiving is by far one of our most favorite times of the year! There’s just something about everyone getting together, food that taste so good it melts in your mouth and the sound of laughter that fills the room. Sharing old memories, making new ones and the annual Thanksgiving photo with the grandkids…you just can’t beat it!
We’re always looking for new, tasty recipes to add to our Thanksgiving feast, but like any other family, of course we have our staple foods that are an absolute must have!
The first dish I’m going to share with you is a classic. My famous cranberry sauce is quick and easy but always a crowd pleaser!
Cranberry Sauce 
Ingredients:
- 12oz cranberries
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
Directions:
In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in the orange juice. Stir in the cranberries and cook until the cranberries start to pop (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and place sauce in a bowl. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.
Every time I make this next recipe I can’t help but smile. My mom, Fran Griffin, loved pretzel salad and would ask me to make it for her often.
Pretzel Salad 
Ingredients:
- 2 cups pretzels, crushed
- 1 cup, plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
- 8oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
- 8oz container frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 2- 3oz pkgs. strawberry gelatin mix
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2- 10oz pkgs. frozen strawberries
Directions:
In a bowl, combine crushed pretzels, one tablespoon sugar and butter; press mixture into an ungreased 13″x9″ baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes; cool. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, remaining sugar and whipped topping. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until mixed through; spread on top of pretzel layer. In a separate bowl, combine gelatin mix with boiling water; stir in frozen strawberries. Freeze just until mixture starts to set; pour over cream cheese layer. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Serves 10 to 12.
Now, before I give you this recipe, let me just say…YOU’RE WELCOME! I always have to make at least two of this dish because it is everyone’s absolute favorite! There is no such thing as leftover mac and cheese in our house. 🙂
Mac and Cheese 
Ingredients:
- 1- 8oz pkg. elbow macaroni
- 1- 8oz pkg. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1- 12oz container small curd cottage cheese
- 1- 8oz container sour cream
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan chese
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup dry bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions:
Preheat oven 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, add pasta, and cook until done; drain. In 9″x13″ baking dish, stir together macaroni, shredded cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle topping over macaroni mixture. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until top is golden.
Aside from these tasty dishes, we usually have a fried turkey and baked ham, along with all the other goodness that goes along with Thanksgiving dinner. But THESE… these dishes are the ones that everyone raves about! Of course, it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving if we didn’t finish the day off with homemade pies, Italian cream cake and…who are we kidding, more pie!! But we’ll let the professionals stick to the important stuff. Nothing like grandma’s pies!
Enjoy!
