They’ve been following your Facebook posts all year now, commenting with encouraging words on your game day pics like, “looks like you’re having fun!”, but they have an ulterior motive. They want to know who you’re dating, your major, and if you have a summer internship. That’s right, Thanksgiving is almost here and your family is expecting you to have it all together. For those of you rare unicorns who’ve got it all figured out, we commend you. The rest of us, however, need a game plan.
GIF courtesy of gifphy.com
This Thanksgiving, you don’t have to have all the answers. You just need one, and that answer is food. Cooking some awesome Thanksgiving add-ons will distract your family from asking any more questions, assure them of your competency, and take minimal effort on your part.
Not only will you avoid those pressing questions, but you may just get offered a glass of red wine and a seat at the “adults table”. Take a look at these easy Thanksgiving side dishes:
1. Quick Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Coconut Ginger Sauce
Photo courtesy of cookieandkate.com
If you’re encountering the pre-meal interrogation, refer to this easy recipe. These brussels sprouts are super easy to recreate and have a Thai-flair to them. In 15 minutes, you’ll have a delicious appetizer that will build your “super responsible and capable adult” image early in the evening.
2. Roasted Parmesan Garlic Cauliflower
Photo courtesy of food.com
Here’s another great veggie recipe that you should def try out. Cheesy, garlic-y, and simple. Serve this one up with a smile knowing that can totally pass for an adult and let the this roasted cauliflower dish do the talking, not you.
3. Raspberry Crumble Bars
Photo courtesy of loveandlemons.com
Thanksgiving dinner is winding down and if you really want to impress your family, you break out your secret weapon: these delicious raspberry bars. With only 7 ingredients and a little help from your trusty food processor you have sweet, chewy, delicious treat to end your relaxing, question free-night.
4. Roasted Pumpkin with Feta and Honey
Photo courtesy of notquitenigella.com
Doesn’t get more fall than this. This festive butternut pumpkin dish will delight the whole house. Get in the kitchen, act like you do this all the time, and take on this super simple recipe with confidence.
5. Roasted Carrot and Potato, Lentils and Miso Parsley Sauce
Photo courtesy of cookieandkate.com
This hearty roasted carrot and potato recipe recipe has a bit more to it, but takes a mere 15 minutes to prepare and only 10 ingredients that you’ll be sure to find in your cupboards. Show your family that you can take on something more complex, but in reality it’s super easy.
6. Roasted Butternut Squash Fig Pomegranate Whole Grain Salad
Photo courtesy of jeanetteshealthyliving.com
This creative quinoa salad recipe definitely “squashes” your typical lettuce and ranch. Filled with awesome colors and textures, this beautiful dish is sure to wow. Take on this recipe if you’re looking for a bit more time to kill or to appear super busy and productive.
7. Roasted Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Photo courtesy of allysonkramer.com
With only five ingredients that will most likely be laying around the kitchen, you can make this astonishingly good sweet potato side dish that everyone will be too busy fighting over to worry about your future plans.
8. Chocolate Covered Bananas
Photo by Keni Lin
It doesn’t get much easier than this. Try out these irresistible chocolate covered banana treats that are healthy and yummy. Seriously. So. Easy. Your family will wonder who would’ve thought to add such a light and refreshing desert to the spread, You, that’s who. You’re so impressive.
9. PB&J Graham Cracker Thumbprints
Photo courtesy of minimalistbaker.com
Hit everyone with a wave of nostalgia with these PB&J cookies. This is how adults eat PB&J. Nobody will care that you switched majors three times as soon as they take a bite of these little pieces of wonderful.
GIF courtesy of gifphy.com
So there you have it and the pressure is off. Your family will leave Thanksgiving dinner with their belly’s full and newfound confidence that you are surely a capable adult who is thriving in all aspects of life. All you had to do was whip up these super easy recipes.
Whether you make one, or all of these recipes, this little bit of food-trickery just saved your butt and you just gave yourself until the next holiday to get your life together. If your family happens to see right through your act, at least everyone got some awesome food.