How many side dishes do you make for Thanksgiving?

This year we are hosting our first proper Thanksgiving--in the past it has just been DH and I, as our dining room was not habitable. This year we are hosting though, come Hell or high water--the fact that as I type this the dining room is bare plaster means NOTHING.

There are only going to be 8 adults (and a toddler, but I'm pretty sure he subsists on fairy dust and any chocolate he can get his hands on) so I don't want to go *too* overboard, but I do want to have all the traditional dishes on offer with a few more interesting (to me) sides as well.

I can't seem to find any definite numbers online about how many sides I ought to have, although I did see an article suggesting 1 side/person for the first 5 people and 1/every 2 people after that  so we would want 7. Does that sound like about right?

Also, do you gave any favourite side dish recipes you want to share Growing up I always went to friends' houses for holidays like this so I don't really have and family recipes to work with.

We normally have:
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potato casserole
Green bean casserole
stuffing
Dinner rolls

To go with Ham and Turkey

Good luck!!

LOL...we always have WAY too much but it eventually gets eaten. Typically we have,

Green bean casserole
Mashed potatoes
Stuffing
Sugar glazed baby carrots
Dinner rolls

Of course gravy and turkey. Hubby (The UKC) LOVES Thanksgiving. He missed it last year, so he's very glad we're doing it this year. He's taken the day off and chicklet is missing school that day.... CANNOT WAIT!

Don't forget cranberry sauce. Home made is best! 

Don't forget cranberry sauce. Home made is best! 

Oh gosh yes!! Oh I miss my moms!!! Hmm, will have to look for fresh cranberries.

Oh gosh yes!! Oh I miss my moms!!! Hmm, will have to look for fresh cranberries.

You should be able to find them in all the supermarkets.

LOL...we always have WAY too much but it eventually gets eaten...

That's what Thanksgiving is all about - right?!  

It's not the number of people, it's the number of dishes that HAVE to be on the table!  

Turkey & stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, 'Grandma's corn casserole', dinner rolls, corn & peas, mac & cheese, broccoli salad, cranberry sauce, something with sweet potatoes, ranch dressing & veggies to dip, lots of nibbly things, PIE!

It's a veritable carbohydrate orgy!  

We usually have...

- Stuffing
-Twice Baked Potatoes
- Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
- Carrots
- Turnips
- Cranberry Sauce
- Gravy
- Dinner rolls

We have a turkey and we take baby sausages and stick them on the turkey with toothpicks while it bakes in the oven.

After dinner we have

- Apple pie
- Pumpkin pie
- Custard pie
- Chocolate chip cookies or cream cheese brownies
- Cupcakes

This is all for an extended family of at least 20 people.

- Broccoli and Cheese Casserole

I may do that this year too.

That's what Thanksgiving is all about - right?!  

It's not the number of people, it's the number of dishes that HAVE to be on the table!  

Turkey & stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, 'Grandma's corn casserole', dinner rolls, corn & peas, mac & cheese, broccoli salad, cranberry sauce, something with sweet potatoes, ranch dressing & veggies to dip, lots of nibbly things, PIE!

It's a veritable carbohydrate orgy!  

We usually have that too. Chips & bugles ( ) clam dip, italian dip, celery with olives in cream cheese, pickles, olives. Surprised we have room for dinner.

It's a veritable carbohydrate orgy!  

But you've got broccoli and green beans! Sounds very healthy to me! 

I'm skipping it altogether this year as I'll be swanning about Italy.

My mom never put out  snacks beforehand because she wants everyone to be hungry. If someone complains, "When's dinner, I'm starving!' She says, "Good! I've been cooking for 4 days. You're not filling up on pretzels and nuts!"

Our Thanksgiving dinner:

We always have my Mom's Escarole/Italian wedding soup to start.  Don't know why. We just do. It is the best soup I've ever had in my life.

Then:
Turkey & gravy (of course)
Stuffing
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Dinner rolls
Cranberry sauce
Green beans (not the casserole, as my family doesn't like it)
Succotash
Coleslaw
Broccoli casserole

Then:
Pumpkin pie
Apple pie
Lemon meringue pie
Ice cream

THEN, if you have any more room, a box of Godiva chocolates is passed around. Once someone asked why this wasn't just put out with the desserts. My Mom is no fool. If she waits until AFTER dessert, then not that many people will eat the chocolates and more is left for her. There has to be *some* reward for cooking for 4 days for 15-20 people.

Fallgal- I think I could hang out with your Mom!

last time I served t-day for 6 people the sides were:

• Sausage stuffing http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/sausage-and-herb-stuffing-recipe/index.html (without the cranberries)

• Mashed potatoes

• Candied Sweet Potatoes

• Green Bean Almondine http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/02/green-beans-almondine-recipe.html

• Cranberry Sauce

• Lasagne (italian fam tradition)


If I am up to cooking this year I am thinking of switching regular mashed to Dirty Mashed (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Mashed-Red-Skinned-Potatoes-241169) and trying the Pioneer Woman's Roasted Cranberry & Balsamic Brussels Sprouts (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/12/brussels-sprouts-with-balsamic-and-cranberries/)

Green bean casserole!?!  where do find the french fried onions? 

Green bean casserole!?!  where do find the french fried onions? 

With the salad dressing and croutons in your supermarket!

Green bean casserole!?!  where do find the french fried onions? 

Oddly enough I saw some in the food section of Ikea just the other day.