Do you have your Thanksgiving menu planned yet? Or the side dish you need to bring?
We are staying in Seattle and keeping it really simple this year. We were originally hoping to go to the East Coast for a big family celebration but the timing didn’t work out. Then I was trying to convince my family to go out for an all day adventure and for Indian Food. Let’s just say that didn’t go over really well.
Last night we finally settled on a menu and in case you haven’t, here are some ideas to keep this Thanksgiving stress-free and as easy on your waistline as possible!
Appetizers
Wild Oregon Shrimp + Pesto Stuffed Sweet Baby Peppers
Pistachio, Goat Cheese + Beet Bites
1 Point Mini Toasts with Shredded Brussels Sprouts, Blue Cheese and Fig Jam
1 Point Mini Toasts with Shredded Brussels, Blue Cheese and Fig Jam
Dips
Farak {Sweet Potato} Hummus, Served Hot
Cheesy Baked Spinach + Artichoke Dip
Cheesy Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip
3 Points Plus Per Serving
Soup
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Leeks
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Leeks
Turkey
Everyday Brined + Roasted Turkey
Easy, Everyday Brined and Roasted Turkey
Side Dishes
Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Shitake Mushrooms
Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
The Ultimate Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Nana’s Sweet Potato Casserole (Lightened Up)
Cinnamon + Palm Sugar Roasted Delicata Squash
Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Drinks
Harvest Sangria
Use that Leftover Turkey
I’ll be back next week with at least one more post before the holiday. In the meantime, have a great weekend 
Everyday Maven is where whole foods meets weight watchers. Simple and delicious real food recipes for the home cook who wants to keep their food clean and their waistline trim! 
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I Love this!!! so many great options, thanks!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted..Tunnel of Fudge Bundt Cake for National Bundt Cake Day!
Yes Alice and thank you for sharing the link!
I love that you couldn’t get Indian takeout for thanksgiving past the boys. So stinking funny. Everyone is in for a treat with those shrimp pepper appetizers. Loved those!!
Shut Up & Cook | The Attainable Gourmet recently posted..Dream Big: Tournedos Rossini
Right? I thought it would have been fun to have an adventure but tradition won!
Everything sounds fantastic! I “basically” have my menu. It always gets tweaked a little as I go along, now I just need my “cooking timeline”…which I’m doing today!
Heather @girlichef recently posted..Spiced Maple Pecan Pie w/ Star Anise {she made, ella hace}
The cooking timeline is just as important (if not more!) than the menu. Especially if you only have one oven like me!
Excuse me, I have to go make brussels sprout toasts with blue cheese and fig jam RIGHT NOW.
emmycooks recently posted..Sweet Potato Pie with a Cream Cheese Swirl
Love! Those are awesome
Are you making all those dishes yourself for the day? That’s a lot of cookingg.
No way!!! We are keeping it simple this year – that is a list of my suggestions to pick from!
Hmmm: perhaps it is just as well we do not have Thanksgiving in Australia [Oh, my warmest celebratory wishes to all of you up north
!] You are surely NOT going to cook ALL of this for your feastday?? May I have a glass of the Harvest Sangria to begin with as I join you?
Oh my Eha – I should edit the post. I thought I was clear that those were just suggestions to chose from. No WAY am I making all of that food! And, I will most certainly pour you a virtual glass of Harvest Sangria (b/c I am making that one
)
Thanks, am so enjoying! And DO hope that a lot of fun and irreverence does go into some of these ‘replies’
!
No doubt! There has to be
What a great round up! I need to try your mushroom bruschetta.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..pumpkin pie bars
That is a perfect Thanksgiving starter – so earthy!
I love your tips and tricks and you are a GENIUS! …a genius, I say! Too often, I feel compelled to over eat during the holidays (I find myself saying, “well, Thanksgiving *is* your favorite holiday and it only comes once a year!” and go a bit crazy)…I don’t know why I didn’t think of this—lol, silly me.
The Squishy Monster recently posted..Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Thank you so much! I figure if most of the dishes we serve are a bit lighter than overall we are not doing that much damage
You had me at sangria!
Christie {Pepper Lynn} recently posted..Roasted Kabocha Squash Soup
Ha! I am with you
I would have voted for the Indian dinner:) All of the recipes look so good and great for non-holiday meals too. Thanks for sharing Alyssa:)
Nancy/SpicieFoodie recently posted..Sunday Snapshots: Snow Peas
I could have used your vote the other night Nancy
You have all my favorites here – even mashed cauliflower and brussels sprouts!
Kristi Rimkus recently posted..It’s Time to Prepare for the Holidays – Seafood and Asparagus Sauté
I can not get enough roasted Brussels right now. I love to buy them on the stalk at Trader Joe’s (and they are so cheap!). YUM
What a great collection of skinny recipes. I love that you included your husband’s nana’s sweet potato casserole. I called my grandmother, “nana’ too and still miss her, especially at this time of year.
Martha@ Simple Nourished Living recently posted..Low Fat Pumpkin Streusel Coffeecake
I can really relate Martha – I miss Nana all the time but it’s especially difficult at the holidays.
I would HAPPILY eat Indian food with you on Thanksgiving! In fact, if it were up to me…I’d be eating curry lol. Love this roundup though and I’ll definitely be puling some ideas from here as my menu is definitely NOT planned.
Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Whole Wheat Carrot Gnocchi with Peas, Butternut Squash, and Ricotta {the food matters project}
I know Joanne! What is wrong with these boys? I was hoping for some Saag and Naan but no such luck.
Alyssa, What a great collection of holiday recipes. The leftover soup sure looks inviting!
Mireya Merritt recently posted..Holiday Stuffed Squash
Hi Mireya! The leftover Turkey Barley Soup is my absolute favorite thing about Thanksgiving! I am looking forward to that like crazy!
Wow, what a terrific round up of recipes! I have my menu planned but may need to tweak it a bit now that I’ve seen some of your dishes. And I must say, Indian does sound appealing… Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Hannah recently posted..Pumpkin Pie with Maple Sweetened Whipped Cream
Thank you Hannah! I like Bengal Tiger on 65th – have you been there? Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Yes – Bengal Tiger is terrific! Mmm, now you really have me craving Indian. That may have to be a post-Thanksgiving treat!
Hannah recently posted..Pumpkin Pie with Maple Sweetened Whipped Cream
Terrific menu! And what a great roundup of recipes! Have a terrific Thanksgiving.
kitchenriffs recently posted..Roast Brussels Sprouts
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family – hope things are a bit more settled!
Love these lighter options for Thanksgiving! We’re trying to keep things on the lighter side as well – after all, there will lots of food! Happy Thanksgiving!!
Jeanette recently posted..Healthy Thanksgiving Turkey Leftover Recipes
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Jeanette!