Harvest Sides for Your Holiday Feast

Hearty, filling, festive recipes to complement your main course

(Family Features) Don’t let turkey and ham have all the fun this holiday season. After all, you know your guests are likely to have plates piled high with all their favorite festive side dishes.

These hearty solutions are inspired by harvest season, offering comforting taste and mouthwatering flavors to make your holiday meal truly memorable. There’s nothing wrong with the classics – mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and the like – but these recipes from “Cookin’ Savvy” can give your gathering a special seasonal spin.

Discover more holiday recipes by visiting Culinary.net.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow Sauce

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 6-8

• 1/4 cup avocado oil
• 1/2 stick butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 3 pounds sweet potatoes, sliced in circles

Marshmallow Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cups mini marshmallows, plus additional for garnish, divided
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1. Heat oven to 400 F.
2. In bowl, mix oil, melted butter, garlic powder and onion powder. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Add sweet potatoes and coat well. In baking dish, line sweet potatoes around pan in circle. Drizzle with leftover oil mixture. Bake 40 minutes.
3. To make marshmallow sauce: In skillet, melt butter and 2 cups mini marshmallows. Remove from heat and whisk in cream. Place in bowl and add additional mini marshmallows for garnish.
4. Place sweet potatoes on serving platter in same lined up fashion as they were in baking dish. Serve with marshmallow sauce.

Note: Recipe can be doubled for large crowds.

Sprouts and Squash Roast

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 6-8

• 1/4 cup avocado oil
• 1/2 stick butter, melted
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon thyme
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 1 package (12 ounces) frozen Brussels sprouts
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen butternut squash
• 1 package (2 1/2 ounces) real bacon pieces
• 1 cup pecans
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup cranberries

1. Heat oven to 400 F.
2. In bowl, mix oil, melted butter, Parmesan cheese, onion powder, garlic powder and thyme. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
3. Cut Brussels sprouts in half, if desired. Add brussels sprouts and butternut squash to oil mixture and coat well. Place on lined cookie sheet and bake 20 minutes.
4. In large bowl, mix bacon pieces, pecans, pumpkin seeds, cranberries and roasted sprouts and squash. Mix well and place in serving bowl.

Note: Recipe can be doubled for large crowds.

Herbed Wild Rice and Apples

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 6-8

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon minced onion
• 1 apple, chopped
• 2 packages (8 ounces each) long-grain wild rice
• 2/3 cup apple juice
• 1 package (2 1/2 ounces) real bacon pieces
• 1 tablespoon rosemary
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 2/3 cup pecans
• 2/3 cup cranberries
• garlic and herb cheese spread, for garnish (optional)

1. In skillet over medium heat, saute butter, onion and apple pieces. When apples soften, add rice, apple juice, bacon pieces and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook about 10 minutes.
2. In large bowl, mix pecans, cranberries and rice mixture. Place in serving dish and crumble herbed cheese on top, if desired.

Note: Recipe can be doubled for large crowds.