After you have a taste of turkey, make room for the real stars of the Thanksgiving table: delicious side dishes and desserts. From pecan pie to Brussels sprouts and "Toilet Taters," we asked our News4 Today anchors to share some of their favorite Thanksgiving recipes. (Don't worry, we'll explain those "Toilet Taters.")
Eun Yang: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of Brussels spouts
- ¼-½ pound of pancetta (or substitute thick cut bacon)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Trim ends off sprouts and take off any brown leaves. Cut them in half lengthwise. Set aside.
Cook pancetta on medium high heat in ovenproof pan. Remove from pan and set aside.
Reserve about 1 tablespoon of leftover oil from pancetta. Add a little olive oil.
Add Brussels sprouts in a single layer, season with salt and pepper, then cook untouched for about 5 minutes.
Put the pan in the oven. After 5 minutes, shake the pan or gently stir the sprouts.
Roast for another 5 fives and shake again. After 5 more minutes, remove from oven.
Serve right away.
Variation:
Add garlic or shallots to the pan before sautéing spouts.
Toss with thick balsamic vinegar add the end.
Toss with balsamic vinegar and honey at the end.
For vegetarians, add sweet potatoes or butternut squash instead of pancetta.
Melissa Mollet: Toilet Taters
How does something called "Toilet Taters" end up on the Thanksgiving table?
"Years ago, there were so many people cooking Thanksgiving dinner in the kitchen that we couldn't find an outlet to mix our mashed potatoes," Melissa Mollet explains. So they mixed those potatoes in the bathroom --; and the "Toilet Taters" legend was born! "Every year our mashed potatoes get their final mixing in a bathroom."
Ingredients:
- 5 pounds potatoes
- Heavy whipping cream (pour it in slowly until you reach desired consistency)
- 2 sticks of butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Directions:
Wash, peel and boil the potatoes until soft.
Drain the potatoes and then mash them with a hand-masher or an electric mixer.
Add heavy cream, butter, salt and pepper as desired while you continue to mix and stir. (Note: Melissa likes a LOT of butter!)
For the final stir, take the potatoes to a (very clean) bathroom and put the pot on the sink.
Aaron Gilchrist: John Legend's Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients:
- 2 (8-ounce) packages extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 (8-ounce) package Monterey Jack cheese, grated
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for baking dish
- 3 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 (12-ounce) cans evaporated milk
- ⅓ cup skim milk
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Paprika, for sprinkling
- Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Cooking Directions
Get the full recipe here.
nWhere: Smithsonian's National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Ave. NW)
nPrice: Free admission
nMake your visit to the zoo a little bit brighter by going during its annual holiday light event, ZooLights. You'll find live music, winter treats and holiday shopping opportunities, plus the chance to walk through the illuminated wonderland of more than 500,000 environmentally friendly LED lights. Worried about getting cold? The Small Mammal House, Reptile Discovery Center, Think Tank and Great Cats exhibit will be open each night.
nWhere: 34th Street, Baltimore
nPrice: Free
nTake part in the long-time tradition of brightening up Baltimore during the Miracle on 34th Street light display. Located in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood, 34th Street will turn on the lights Nov. 26 and keep them lit through New Year's Eve with jaw-dropping displays outside these private homes.
nWhere: Washington, D.C., Temple (9900 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington, Maryland)
nPrice: Free
nThe Washington, D.C., Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints hosts its spectacular Festival of Lights each year, when temple grounds are covered with 650,000 lights. A life-sized nativity scene will also be on display. Nightly performances include solo artists, groups, bell ensembles, choirs and orchestras. Free tickets are available at the visitor's center an hour before performances.
nWhere: Georgetown
nAdmission: Free
nGeorgetown GLOW, an outdoor light exhibition, features dazzling displays throughout the neighborhood. Bundle up and take a walk through the night. See a map of all the displays here & check out 10 more photos here.
nWhere: Seneca Creek State Park (11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland)
nPrice: Tickets range from $12 to $70, depending on size of vehicle
nCelebrate the 21st year of Gaithersburg's Winter Lights Festival by driving along the 3.5-mile illuminated light show, which features more than 380 illuminated displays and 65 animated vignettes that "light up the night."
nWhere: Brookside Gardens (1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, Maryland)
nPrice: $25 per vehicle Sun.-Thurs.; $30 per vehicle Fri.-Sat.
nThis holiday exhibit in Montgomery County features more than a million (yes, you right that right) colorful lights. After strolling through the gardens, visitors can warm up with hot cocoa in the garden's visitor center, watch model trains wind through the landscape or enjoy live musical performances.
nWhere: The Ellipse
nPrice: Free, but tickets are required
nCelebrate the start of the Festival of Lights with the National Chanukah Menorah lighting on Dec. 12. The menorah sits on the White House Ellipse; tickets to the lighting ceremony are free. The annual ceremony features hot latkes, donuts and music from The Maccabees and the United States Air Force Band.
nWhere: Longwood Gardens ( 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania)
nPrice: Tickets prices vary; see website for details.
nChristmas is in the air at this French-inspired Christmas display,A Longwood Christmas, at Longwood Gardens this holiday season. The Conservatory and its four acres of gardens will be transformed into holiday horticulture hot spots, with dozens of sparking Christmas trees and intricate French garden displays. Arrive by 2 p.m. to beat the crowds, organizers say.
nWhere: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia
nPrice: Tickets prices vary; see website for details.
nIn addition to hundreds of thousands of lights along a half-mile path, the Winter Walk of Lights also features many animals who actually live in the garden. Stop by the gardens' fire pit to warm up and buy a hot chocolate (with marshmallows, of course).
nWhere: Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, Columbia, Maryland
nPrice: Wed.-Fri. and Sun. $20, Sat. $25 (cash only)
nMore than 100 light displays use color, design and animation to enchant guests on their trips through the Symphony of Lights. This year, you'll find LED lights, new displays, a laser light show and a 3D holiday video. Proceeds from the event benefit Howard County General Hospital. Be sure to bring cash, and be warned there's no ATM at the entrance. However, groups can prepay. There are also several special events; check the website all for the details.
nWhere: Watkins Regional Park (301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland)
nPrice: Tickets range from $10 per car or van to $30 per bus, see website for details.
nBrighten up winter nights at Watkins Park's Winter Festival of Lights by driving along a holiday display of more than one million lights and one of the tallest tree displays in the state. Participants are encouraged to bring a canned or nonperishable good to be donated to a local food bank.
nWhen: Now through Jan. 8
nPrice: $20-25 per car; prices vary; see website for details and a coupon
nDrive 2.5 miles through displays featuring 40,000 lights, and see Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, elves, penguins and more at the Bull Run Festival of Lights. When you're done with your drive, stop in at the Winter Wonderland Holiday Village, which features entertainment, bonfires, s'mores and more.
Chuck Bell: Banana Bread with Nutella Swirls
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour, plus more for dusting pan
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- ¾ cups sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 ripe, dark brown bananas
- ¼ cup yogurt
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 6 tbs. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup slivered almonds or chopped walnuts
- ½ cup Nutella
Cooking Directions:
Get the full recipe here.
Barbara Harrison: Pecan Pie
Ingredients:
One homemade 9" pie crust (unbaked)
Filling:
- 1 cup Karo Dark Syrup
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2 TBSP melted butter
- 1 TSP vanilla extract and/or 1 TBSP bourbon
- 1 ½ cup whole pecans
Cooking Directions:
Stir together the first five ingredients with a mixer.
Add the pecans.
Bake at 350 degrees on center rack of oven for 60 minutes.
Pie is done when the top center surface springs back from touch.
Serve after two hours.
If you have a little more time on hand, Barbara has another version of her pecan pie:
Ingredients:
- One home-made 9" pie crust (unbaked)
Filling:
- ½ cup light or dark corn syrup
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ stick of unsalted melted butter
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tbsp bourbon
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp grated orange rind
- ½ tsp salt
- 2½ cups pecans
Cooking Directions:
Bake 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes.
Pie is done when the center is soft, not liquid. (It will continue to cook and harden as it cools.)
