Before and after Thanksgiving, that is.
We know November is all about food’s favorite holiday. But we have to keep in mind that there are 29 other days we need to feed ourselves this month, too—even if they are getting shorter. So in between planning your Thanksgiving menu, and using up those glorious leftovers, let us help you with some inspiration for easy meals to carry you through the busyness.
Since we have whole roundups dedicated to Thanksgiving, we’ll focus this list on other (maybe even forgotten?) November recipes we can’t wait to serve up.
Leftover Halloween Candy Bar Blondies
Leftover Halloween candy? Put it to good use with this recipe for blondies that get kicked up a notch thanks to chopped-up bits and pieces of whatever is left, from M&M's to Reese's, and more. You can even add in savory elements like pretzels or potato chips for a sweet and salty twist.
Stuffed Pepper Soup
Three cheers for soup season! While there are several we'll be simmering this time of year, this cozy soup recipe packs extra flavor thanks to ground beef, tomato, peppers, thyme, and sage. User Susan DeRuyter took the words right out of our mouths, "My family LOVES stuffed peppers but on a busy weeknight, it can be tedious. This soup had all the flavor of stuffed peppers but is just so much easier. I made it exactly like the recipe here, and it was delicious. Great leftovers too!"
Authentic Cincinnati Chili
We can't mention soup and not bring up chili. But this dish takes the beloved comfort food a step further by piling it atop spaghetti for an absolute dinnertime winner. If you haven't tried Cincinnati Chili, now is your time. The comforting sauce gets its rich flavor from secret ingredients like unsweetened chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice—simmered together with the usual seasonings like chili powder. Along with more than 200 other reviewers, user Curious James gave it 5 stars and said he "Enjoyed it 4-way on a cold day watching the game!" Serve it whichever "way" you like it (I opt for 3-way).
Pro tip: Make extra! It freezes well and can also be used as a topping for hot dogs, or just enjoyed on its own.
Maple Salmon
Maple flavors abound right now, and this salmon recipe is the perfect way to capture the essence in a sweet and savory way. As recipe creator STARFLOWER says, "This maple glazed salmon is delicious and very easy to prepare. I love maple syrup in everything and decided to use it in the marinade." Reviewer Holly Davis adds, "This is my go-to salmon recipe. I love it and the best part is I always have these ingredients on hand." Serve it with an easy side and you have dinner on the table in no time. If you're still grilling this time of year, try it on cedar planks for extra depth.
Roasted Fall Vegetable Salad
This Roasted Fall Vegetable Salad puts autumn right in your serving bowl with in-season squash, Brussels sprouts, peppers, onions, fresh herbs, and a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds. It will look beautiful on your table alongside any main dish (or even as a part of your Thanksgiving spread). This bountiful salad can also be the main dish itself. Don't skip it this month.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
This recipe for shredded chicken byAshlie Boucher is "easy to make with just 3 ingredients in your crockpot." She tells us to simply "Spoon the filling into warm tortillas for a very tasty meal any day of the week."The dish is customizable as well, great in hard or soft tacos, or served over rice. But the real bonus here is that it's a slow cooker meal we can set and forget. We'll take all the shortcuts we can get right about now.
Butternut Squash Fritters
November kind of feels like the last month to go all out on squash, so why not try this take on fritters while we still can? This fun recipe, developed in our test kitchen, combines shredded butternut squash with cheese, egg, flour, and thyme. The mixture gets fried to golden-brown perfection and the result is a crispy outside and tender inside. Recipe developerSarah Brekkerecommends serving these fritters with yogurt, sour cream, or homemade ranch dressing.
Oven-Fried Pork Chops
Get a preview of Turkey Day flavors with this easy weeknight dinner that takes just about 30 minutes, oven to table. Pork chops get dredged in egg and dry stuffing mix for a clever coating that brings the earthy, homey taste of stuffing to the outside of your protein. With more than 650 5-star reviews, it's worth a spot on your weekly menu.
Pumpkin Roll
We also can't let fall pass without making a pumpkin roll. Recipe creator Jackie will help convince you, "Try this pumpkin roll recipe for a standout holiday dessert! A moist, spiced pumpkin sheet cake is spread with a vanilla cream cheese filling, then rolled up and dusted with powdered sugar for an after-dinner treat that's both elegant and delicious." It's easier than it may seem (thanks to the step-by-step instructions), and definitely worth the effort. If you have purée left over, make these irresistible pumpkin muffins while you're at it for a quick breakfast or snack.
Cranberry Martini
The perfect end to an autumn day, this colorful co*cktail is festive and refreshing all at once. Simply fill a co*cktail shaker with ice, add cranberry juice, vodka, orange liqueur, and dry vermouth, and shake until the outside of the shaker is frosty. Strain into chilled glasses and garnish with cranberries. Now you're ready for any and all upcoming holidays.
Read the original article on All Recipes.
