Share Our Holiday Table: Vegetarian Side Dishes

This month, as our personal calendars fill up with holiday parties with family and friends, more than 50 food bloggers (myself included) will be participating in Share Our Holiday Table, a virtual, progressive fundraising holiday dinner designed to raise awareness of child hunger in the United States and to raise funds for Share Our Strength. You may remember that I made a pledge to Share Our Strength back in November, so I'm incredibly excited to join forces with so many of my fellow bloggers to help bring you ideas for dishes (gourmet, family-friendly, vegetarian, and gluten-free) that you can prepare for your holiday table.

Today, we're talking all about side dishes, and I've provided my recipe for Apple Chestnut Stuffing as an option for vegetarians. I know we traditionally think of stuffing as a Thanksgiving staple, but you could easily serve my family's version as a side to your Christmas turkey or ham. I love it as a stand-alone dish and have often eaten a heaping bowl of it for dinner! (Shh... don't tell...)

What makes this stuffing so special is the addition of chunks of apples and fresh chestnuts, two ingredients that just happen to be in season during the holiday months. As the stuffing bakes, the apples help keep the dish moist and add tremendous flavor. Plus, the house smells amazing as it cooks. Definitely check out the recipe for my Apple Chestnut Stuffing!

Here are the other Side Dishes my fellow bloggers whipped up:

Gourmet

• Asparagus and Tomato-Bacon Stew from The Urban Baker
• Root Vegetable Gratin from Heather Christo
• Potato and Onion Cakes from We Like to Cook, and Eat
• Brussels Sprouts Hash with Caramelized Shallots from Plum Pie

Family-Friendly

• Potato Latkes from What's Cooking
• Potato Rolls from Dine and Dish
• Scalloped Corn from The Evolving Cook
• TBD from Katrina Runs for Food

Vegetarian

• Cranberry Pomegranate Brussels Sprouts with Gorgonzola from My Kitchen Addiction
• Kasha Pilaf Varnishkes from Flamingo Musings

Gluten-Free

• Asparagus, Potato, and Oyster Mushroom Tart from The Whole Gang
• Stuffed Acorn Squash from Jenn Cuisine
• Garlicky Green Beans from Creative Cooking Gluten Free

See below for a list of the dishes served during the previous courses of the Share Our Holiday Table virtual dinner. They all sound delicious!

Appetizers (posted December 6)

Gourmet

• Parmesan Gourgeres from The Italian Dish
• Sundried Tomato Polenta Bites from Recipe Girl
• Potato, Bacon & Onion Pizza from Neo-Homesteading

Family-Friendly

• Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms from Family Fresh Cooking
• Tortilla Rolls and Seven-Layer Dip from Giving Up on Perfect

Vegetarian

• Cranberry Orange Brie Crostini from Two Peas and Their Pod
• Dates Stuffed with Parmesan Slivers and Walnuts from Smith Bites

Gluten-Free

• Endive Boats with Avocado, Pomegranate and Crab Salad from La Fuji Mama
• Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus from Wenderly

Drinks (posted December 7)

Gourmet

• Crab Apple Vodka from Food Woolf
• Ponche de Navidad (Christmas Punch) from The Gringo Chapin
• Mead Cocktails and Honey Vodka from Neo-Homesteading
• Milk Punch from Three Many Cooks

Family-Friendly

• Minty Hot Cocoa from Fat Wuz Here

Vegetarian

• Cashew Horchata from Lexies Kitchen
• Healthier Eggnog from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free

Gluten-Free

• Reindeer Antlers Punch from Gluten Free Easily

Salads (posted December 8)

Gourmet

• Beet and Tangerine Salad with Cranberry Dressing from The Bitten Word
• Squash, Bacon, Cranberry, and Gorgonzola Salad with Warm Cider Maple Vinaigrette and Candied Pecans from Girlichef

Family-Friendly

• Cranberry Pecan Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing from Food For My Family

Vegetarian

• Golden Beet, Persimmon, and Pomegranate Salad with Ginger Honey Vinaigrette from Glugle Gluten-Free

Gluten-Free

• Composed Chopped Salad from Add a Pinch
• Arugula, Pear, and Pomegranate Salad from Gluten Free Diva

Soups (posted December 9)

Gourmet

• Oyster Stew from Edible Cville
• Roasted Chestnut Bisque from The Runaway Spoon
• French Onion Soup from A Girl, A Market, A Meal

Family-Friendly

• Snow White Soup from Ladles and Jellyspoons
• Mimi's Bacon Cheeseburger and Fries Soup from Two Dollar Dinners
• Alton Brown's Whole Pumpkin Pie Soup from All About Alton Brown
• Potato Leek Soup from Cookie Central's Great American Bake Sale

Vegetarian

• Roasted Red Pepper Soup from Good Life Eats
• Souper Split Pea Soup from Feed Our Families

Gluten-Free

• Quinoa Vegetable Soup from Celiac Teen
• Gluten/Dairy-Free Celery Root Soup from Celiacs in the House
• Creamy GFCF Zucchini and Leek Soup from Gluten Free Life with Jen
• Butternut Squash and Pear Soup from And Love it Too!

Entrees (posted December 10)

Gourmet

• Spinach and Feta Stuffed Pork Tenderloin from What's Gaby Cooking
• Pork Medallions with Maple-Balsamic Apples and Pomegranate Arils from Food Blogga

Family-Friendly

• Cranberry Glazed Cornish Game Hens with Wild Rice Stuffing from Life in Recipes
• Grilled Sausage and Maple Corn Polenta from Bluebonnets & Brownies
• Sunday Brisket from Foodie Tots

Vegetarian

• Roasted Eggplant with Golden Raisin, Pine Nut Vinaigrette and Feta Cream from The Peche

Gluten-Free

• Bacon Wrapped Turkey Spiedini from The Sensitive Pantry
• Salmon Puttanesca from Nourishing Meals

Thanks to Share Our Strength for giving us a way to get involved with a wonderful cause and a chance to interact with so many members of the food blogging community!

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