Canadian Thanksgiving Recipes

October 03, 2016
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time where we celebrate good company and reflect on what we're thankful for. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls in the month of October. So for all of our friends up north, here is a great spread of delicious mains, sides, and desserts to add to your table on this special day. Serve up joy and feel the gratitude with classic favorites like turkey, sweet potatoes, and pies. 
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Cherry-Smoked Turkey on the Grill

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia Pursell
Cherry-Smoked Turkey on the Grill Recipe

The time put into the cooking process of this turkey is what garners such a stellar flavor. The smokey char that the exterior gets from the grill gives it a golden color and an even better rustic flavor. This turkey truly shines as an alternative method for Thanksgiving fare. 

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Roasted Autumn Veggie Salad with Baby Kale

Photo: Daniel Agee, Styling: Blakeslee Giles and Audrey Davis
Roasted Autumn Veggie Salad with Baby Kale Recipe

This hearty salad is brimming with the flavors of fall with ingredients such as pumpkin seeds, brussels sprouts, cranberries, and dark, leafy greens.

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Baked Sweet Potatoes with Creamy Spinach Topping

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Creamy Spinach Topping Recipe

Make these sweet potatoes a savory affair by topping them with a creamy and delicious spinach topping. The spinach makes a hearty (and healthy!) addition and offsets the creaminess, working in tandem with the sweet potato to deliver a truly delicious and nutritious meal or side dish. 

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Autumn Maple Cutout Cookies

Photo: Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Lydia Degaris-Pursell
Autumn Maple Cutout Cookies Recipe

These adorable cutout cookies are flavored with maple syrup and classic fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.  Walnuts provide a delicious crunch.

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Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Maple Gastrique

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Paige Hicks
Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Maple Gastrique Recipe

From the Kitchen of…Hugh Acheson, Longtime Cooking Light Friend

"This dish is an example of the synergy of my Northern and Southern roots. My Canadian veins are partially full of maple syrup, and I adore the Southern staple crop of the sweet potato."

The gastrique, a tangy-sweet glaze, is Thanksgiving worthy but also simple enough to pull off on a weekday.

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Maple-Pecan Bars

Photo: Oxmoor House
Maple-Pecan Bars Recipe
Reminiscent of pecan pie, gluten-free Maple-Pecan Bars deserve a spot at your holiday dessert buffet. Use pure maple syrup to form the gooey brown sugar and pecan mixture needed to make these heavenly bars.
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Pumpkin Pound Cake with Buttermilk Glaze

Pumpkin Pound Cake with Buttermilk Glaze Recipe

If you’re looking for the perfect fall dessert, let the hunt stop here. This incredibly moist pumpkin pound cake is one of our favorite cakes of all time.

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Buttermilk Cornbread Stuffing

Photo: Thomas J. Story
Buttermilk Cornbread Stuffing Recipe

This buttery, moist stuffing is based on a recipe Cindy Daniel of Healdsburg Shed in Northern California got from her mom. If you're juggling turkey and stuffing in one (smaller) oven, make the stuffing first, then reheat it while the turkey rests before carving.

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Cloverleaf Rolls

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Paige Hicks
Cloverleaf Rolls Recipe

From the Kitchen of…Cheryl Slocum, Senior Food Editor

"The smell of freshly risen dough always takes me back to my mom's rolls."

If the yeast doesn't bubble, it may have expired; start over to avoid wasting time and ingredients.

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Pumpkin Brûlée Tart

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Karen Shinto
Pumpkin Brûlée Tart Recipe
It's pumpkin pie meets crème brûlée and worthy of your next dinner party.

 

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Pecan-Pumpkin Drops

Photo: Chris Court; Styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart 
Pecan-Pumpkin Drops Recipe

Take canned pumpkin out of the pie shell realm and stir into tender drop biscuits. Making turkey soup tomorrow? You can serve these alongside, spread with a little honey butter.

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Speedy Shepherd's Pie

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
Speedy Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Making the most of supermarket convenience items gets this family favorite on the table in a flash. Precut matchstick carrots are easier to chop into small pieces quickly, and using prepared mashed potatoes for the topping is a good trick for when you don't have leftover mashed potatoes on hand.

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Stuffed Chicken and Herb Gravy with Creamy Polenta

Photo: Jason Wallis; Styling: Cindy Barr 
Stuffed Chicken and Herb Gravy with Creamy Polenta Recipe
Stuffed with prosciutto and provolone cheese, our 40-minute Stuffed Chicken and Herb Gravy is quick and simple. The Creamy Polenta is a healthier alternative to creamy mashed potatoes.—and taste amazing.

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Maple-Walnut-Banana Bread

Photo: Oxmoor House
Maple-Walnut-Banana Bread Recipe
This gluten-free quick bread features a harmonious blend of bananas and walnuts wrapped in the sweetness of pure maple syrup. It makes an easy breakfast treat or an after-school snack.

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Sourdough-Apple Stuffing

Photo: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps
Sourdough-Apple Stuffing Recipe

Dress up Thanksgiving dinner with Sourdough-Apple Stuffing. Feel free to swap rye bread for sourdough, if desired.

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Butternut-Bacon Stuffing

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower 
Butternut-Bacon Stuffing Recipe
Guests will adore this autumn-inspired Butternut-Bacon Stuffing, filled with diced butternut squash and flecks of crispy bacon.

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Traditional Beef Pot Roast with Carrots

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Traditional Beef Pot Roast with Carrots Recipe

Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles to sop up the rich gravy. A side of sautéed or steamed green beans or Brussels sprouts can round out the meal.

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Dressing-Stuffed Mini Peppers

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
Dressing-Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe

We love these stuffed peppers as an appetizer, but you can also serve them as a side dish. Be sure to use baby bell peppers and not mini sweet peppers (shaped like jalapeños) so they're big enough to accommodate the filling. As an alternative to broiling, you can char the peppers directly over a gas flame, turning frequently with tongs.

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Quick Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole

Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart
Quick Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Quick Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole is ridiculously easy and goes into the oven in only 10 minutes, thanks to sweet canned yams. To boost flavor and add richness, we counter the canned spuds with luscious creme fraiche; chunks of almonds bring big brunch to our sweet potato casserole.

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Maple-Pecan Pie

Photo: Oxmoor House
Maple-Pecan Pie Recipe
No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without a pecan pie. If you have gluten-free family members, this pie will be a real treat for them.

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Spinach and Mushroom-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Truffled Wine Sauce

Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart
Spinach and Mushroom-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Truffled Wine Sauce Recipe
For an easy, elegant meal, serve family and friends Spinach and Mushroom-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Truffled Wine Sauce. Our secrets for the best beef tenderloin: Cook it quickly, keep it moist, and use a trustworthy thermometer. Pull the tenderloin from the oven right when it hits 125', and residual heat will take it to perfection.
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Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit Recipe

After baking hundreds of biscuits, our Test Kitchen landed on this winning recipe for Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit. This no-fail biscuit recipe will impress new cooks and old pros alike.

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Maple Pumpkin Pie with a Message

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Maple Pumpkin Pie with a Message Recipe

To use up the leftover pumpkin, try adding some to a breakfast smoothie, or stir into pancake batter. Or combine with a splash of half-and-half, season with sage, and toss with pasta.

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Butternut Squash Glazed Tart

Photo: Christina Holmes
Butternut Squash Glazed Tart Recipe
This elegant puff pastry is quick to make. You'll be surprised at how delicious butternut squash is for dessert. Look for a squash with a long neck.
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Double-Crust Apple Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mindi Shapiro and Amanda Widis
Double-Crust Apple Pie Recipe

A double crust seals in the apples' natural juices as the pie bakes for full-on apple flavor. Tossing the apples with apple juice keeps them from browning as you peel and slice them, and it adds a boost of apple flavor.

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Chili-Roasted Acorn Squash

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps
Chili-Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe

Coat acorn squash slices with a mixture of chili powder, cumin, and paprika before roasting them until tender. 

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