A Very Bacon Thanksgiving (Slideshow)
If there's any occasion to go light on the appetizers, it's Thanksgiving. With a gargantuan meal in store, guests don't need many — if any — hors d'oeuvres. These sweet and salty nuts are the perfect welcoming snack to go with cocktails while the turkey finishes up in the oven, and they've got bacon mixed with them.
Click here to see the Maple, Bourbon, and Bacon Spiced Walnuts Recipe
Bacon-Wrapped Turkey
For this recipe, be sure to buy the largest turkey you can find. When people hear that you're blanketing yours in bacon, they're all going to want to come over for the holiday, so it's best to be sure you have enough. Feel free to use turkey bacon if you're feeling extra 'punny.'
Bacon-Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
This year, take a break from the gloopy green bean casserole. These bundles are individually-sized to make each guest feel special — not to mention, they're wrapped with a beautiful bacon bow.
Click here to see the Bacon-Wrapped Green Bean Bundles Recipe
Corn Pudding with Bacon and Leeks
As everyone knows, the Native Americans were instrumental in teaching the colonists how to harvest corn (seriously). Because of its early beginnings, corn is a natural choice as a side dish for Thanksgiving. This recipe shows off the starchy vegetable in a casserole-style corn pudding, with crispy bacon and buttery leeks.
Click here to see the Corn Pudding with Bacon and Leeks Recipe
Bacon Cheddar Cornbread
Whether Thanksgiving needs bread or not varies from house to house. For those who include it — because why not, right? — this is a quick and easy recipe to choose. Sharp Cheddar cheese adds some tang to traditional cornbread and bacon pieces, and a healthy dose of bacon fat puts it over the top.
Rye Bread and Bacon Stuffing
Switching up the bread from the usual stale white is an easy way to spruce up any stuffing. That, and, adding bacon, of course. This recipe uses a New York deli favorite with lots of diced bacon for added crunch.
Mustard-Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Whole grain mustard spices up blanched Brussels sprouts in this elegant, green vegetable side. And the chopped bacon contributes just the right amount of salt and fat to keep your guests asking for seconds.
Click here to see the Mustard-Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Recipe
Bacon Weave Apple Pie
While this bacon weave pie features a classic apple filling, you can extend the idea to whatever pie usually decorates your table at Thanksgiving: be it pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan, or even a cranberry tart.