When people think of Thanksgiving they may think of food, such as turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, and cranberry. In addition to this list, two more classic dishes are macaroni and cheese, as well as mashed potatoes. Side dishes bring more variety to the feast and offer a unique interpretation of how everyone prepares these meals. Here are two side dishes that can make your Thanksgiving meal better! 

  Mac and cheese is a very popular Thanksgiving dish for families living in southern states, but as it increases in popularity it’s becoming a new trend to include this dish to their Thanksgiving feast. A survey of a thousand people was taken by Delish, and they found 47 percent of respondents wanted to keep their traditional green bean casserole or plain squash at thanksgiving while 50 percent wanted to add mac and cheese to the table. While it may not be a staple at every Thanksgiving Day table, it’s beginning to become more common in households across the United States. Here’s a mac and cheese recipe to try for the holidays! 

Ingredients 

• 1 box (16 oz) of rigatoni noodles 
• 8 oz package of cheddar cheese 
• 8 oz package of Monterey jack cheese 
• 2 cups heavy cream 
• Pans and pots for cooking 

Steps 

1. Preheat the oven to 35o degrees and bring a large pot to boil on high heat 
2. After boiling water add noodles to the pot and leave in for about 12  minutes 
3. While water is boiling, shred both the cheddar and Monterey jack cheese
4. When pasta is done, transfer to a large bowl then add half of the cheddar and Monterey jack cheese 
5. Add heavy cream and stir to combine ( add salt and pepper if desired for taste) 
6. Transfer the noodle mixture to a casserole dish and sprinkle remaining cheese on top 
7. Bake until bubbly, 30 to 45 minutes and then remove and cool before serving 

Recipe courtesy of and adapted by BBQ1 

  In addition to mac and cheese, another great side dish for a Thanksgiving meal is mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes are a traditional meal during the holidays and many families tend to make it. Various toppings can be added on top of your mashed potatoes for a delicious taste. Sophomore Marina Cauret makes mashed potatoes each year during Thanksgiving and here is what she likes about them: “The creaminess of the mashed potatoes tastes really good, and adding butter to it makes it even more delicious.” Mashed potatoes are a very simple, easy dish to cook for your Thanksgiving celebrations. 

Ingredients 

• 4-5 potatoes 
• Milk 
• Butter and salt (optional)

Steps

1. Peel the potatoes and put them in a pot to boil 
2. Boil the potatoes for about 10-20 minutes 
3. Then when the potatoes are done, mash them with a spatula or masher 
4. Optional: add butter, salt, pepper or gravy for some extra flavor 

Recipe courtesy of Marina Caucet 

Enjoy these delicious Thanksgiving side dishes for the holidays and I hope that Brook Cook helped make it a special day!