"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." ~Meister Eckhart

     We all have that one dish that always makes it to the table: Mom's pumpkin pie, Uncle Tom's sweet potato/marshmallow monster casserole, Great Grandma's creamed spinach... you may not like them all, but they will always have a spot. I like the idea of adding new dishes to the line-up while still keeping the classics in reach. Here are some fun ideas to switch up your spread this year.

Cider and Bourbon Glazed Shallots

     Kind of like creamed onion's trendy cousin that sits in the corner with her wine and silently judges the family. These gems make for a lighter side in a sea of dairy-laden dishes. The recipe can be found here.

Shredded Brussels Sprout and Kale Salad

     I normally don't support salad, especially on Thanksgiving, but this one has some backbone. The nuts add crunch, the pomegranate arils acidity, and a salty hit comes from the cheese. The recipe can be found here.

Stuffing in a Bundt Pan

     I'm a crunchy top, corner, and underbelly kinda gal, so the idea of baking your stuffing to maximize the crust-to-filling ratio really appeals to me. Here's the recipe.

Scalloped Sweet Potatoes

     Picture this: layers of sliced sweet potatoes, baked in a maple/rosemary caramel, topped with whipped vanilla-bourbon sweet potatoes, and finally crowned with a halo of meringue. This side dish will be on our table this year and is already made; all it needs is its albumen topper the day of and it will be in the running for new "classic" side.