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35 Classic Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

Still need to plan your Thanksgiving menu? If you're looking for inspiration, then check out this fantastic round-up Classic Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes on Taste As You Go! You know how some people get really excited about the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks? That's how excited I get about turning the calendar over to November. Because November means the coming of the holiday season and the celebration of Thanksgiving. As much as we look forward to spending the day in the company of loved ones, Stephen and I have decided to stay home this year so we can enjoy our first Thanksgiving as a family of three. Of course, staying home means that I'll be cooking the big meal, and I have to admit that I'm a little intimidated by the idea. I know I have to plan for certain must-haves -- roast turkey, apple chestnut stuffing , and green bean casserole -- but I'm having a hard time choosing which additional side dishes to make. While I want there t

Spinach Pecan Pesto Sauce

Penne-Spinach-Pecan-Pesto-Sauce-tasteasyougo.com
Penne with Spinach Pecan Pesto Sauce

On some summer days, the heat and humidity can be so unbearable that the mere thought of heating up the kitchen to make dinner can be enough to propel you towards the drawer hiding the take-out menus. Especially if you're like me, living on the top floor of an apartment building in an apartment without air-conditioning!

This spinach pesto recipe is very similar to the one I used for the Farfalle with Spinach Pesto, Feta, and Cherry Tomatoes that I made back when I was living in Cleveland. (By "very similar" I really mean "nearly exactly the same, just minus the lemon." Thankfully, the recipe didn't suffer from the lemon's absence.) The preparation of this pesto sauce is so quick and simple that you can have it ready by the time the pasta has finished cooking.

Penne-Spinach-Pecan-Pesto-Sauce-tasteasyougo.com
Penne with Spinach Pecan Pesto Sauce

Now that I think about it, I see how versatile this spinach pesto is and how many ways you can tweak the pesto recipe to include the ingredients you prefer. Arugula, perhaps? Walnuts? Traditional basil with pine nuts? The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

I tossed this Spinach Pecan Pesto Sauce with freshly cooked penne and had myself a hot meal, but you could easily chill the pasta after tossing with the sauce for a cold pesto pasta salad. If you add chicken, you can create a more substantial dish. Leftover chicken or chopped rotisserie chicken would work extremely well here and would help keep the actually cooking to a bare minimum. And, a pesto pasta salad is a perfect dish to pack up to serve while on a picnic in the park or on the beach. You could even use the pesto sauce as an accompaniment to grilled salmon or as a spread on your favorite sandwich instead of mayonnaise.

What's your favorite "it's too hot to cook" meal?

Spinach Pecan Pesto Sauce - Makes approximately 1 1/2 cups - Printable Recipe

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 large bunch spinach, trimmed and washed thoroughly
  • 1 clove garlic
  • Handful whole pecans, chopped
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more if needed
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Place all of the ingredients with 1/2 cup of the olive oil in a blender. Blend.

  2. Gradually drizzle in the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil until the pesto is thick and smooth.

Pesto on Foodista

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