With the end of November finally in sight, we’re officially getting closer and closer to feasting on all of our favorite Thanksgiving treats. At this point, some lucky few may already have their entire dinner menus planned out and ready to go for the big day, but if you’re still in a pinch to find some last-minute inspiration for sides and appetizers, then look no further! In this blog, we’ve put together several different recipes influenced by the flavors of autumn that are sure to make the perfect addition to any Thanksgiving dinner. So, grab your favorite honey sticks and get ready to cook up a storm because here are 3 sides and appetizers that are quick to make, delicious to eat, and, most importantly, pair wonderfully alongside a couple of slices of fresh baked turkey and all the other classic fixings. Enjoy!
Honey Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 3 cups Brussels sprouts, de-stemmed and halved
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 teaspoons honey or honey sticks
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Begin by preheating the oven to 425 F. Next, place the Brussels sprouts, balsamic vinegar, oil, honey, salt, and pepper into a large bowl. Mix the ingredients until combined evenly. Then, prepare a baking sheet by either greasing it or lining it with aluminum foil. Once your baking sheet is ready, arrange the Brussels sprouts over the sheet in an even layer and place them in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the sprouts are cooked through. Allow to cool for 5 minutes and just like that- your honey balsamic roasted Brussels sprouts are ready to serve!
Honey Glazed Parmesan Carrots
Ingredients
- 4 cups carrots
- ¼ cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons honey or honey sticks
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
First, preheat the oven to 425 F and grease a large baking sheet with your choice of non-stick cooking spray before setting it aside for later use. In a bowl, mix together the parmesan, garlic, honey, olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper. Once the ingredients are combined, pour in the carrots and continue stirring until they are thoroughly incorporated into the honey glaze. Next, remove the honey-glazed carrots from the bowl and arrange them on the greased baking sheet in an even layer. Place the baking sheet into the oven and allow the carrots to roast. After 10 minutes, remove from the oven, flip the carrots over, and place them back into the oven for 10 more minutes. At this point, your honey-glazed parmesan carrots should be cooked to tender perfection, ready to cool and share.
Cranberry-Honey Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 cups of fresh cranberries
- ½ cup honey or flavored honey sticks
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp fresh orange zest
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, pour in the cranberries, honey, and water. Optionally, consider using orange, lemon, or cinnamon-flavored honey sticks to compliment the sweet and tart notes of this classic sauce. Mix together and allow the ingredients to come to a boil. At this point, lower the heat to a medium-low flame and continue to stir occasionally for 5 to 10 more minutes. Once the cranberry mixture has achieved your desired consistency, immediately turn off the stove, stir in the orange zest and cinnamon, and your sauce is complete! The best part? This sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance, so feel free to make this dish ahead of your Thanksgiving celebration.
This blog is brought to you by Bee Man Honeystix, one of the top retailers of honey sticks for tea.