How many cooks slave over the holiday turkey, then surround the marquee player
with a bland supporting cast: store-bought stuffings and somnolent casseroles—accouterments
with no originality?
It's a case of mistaken celebrity. Despite the hoopla for the bird at the top
of the billing, what most people remember from year to year is that one ingenue
who seized the day and turned a bit into a real bite—like Aunt Lydia's knockout
covered dish and Uncle Wally's secret relish. Get the picture? The holiday season isn't
some star-driven vehicle; it's an ensemble performance.
Perhaps we don't always realize the importance of the sides because they're always
so much less demanding—and time-consuming—than the grand dame on her big day.
But take advantage of that. Use the prep-time quickness that sides give to heighten
their roles with a fuller array of flavors. The traditional tastes of potato,
stuffing, and cranberry are fine, but you can also add new scenes, energizing
vegetables and casseroles with unexpected spices or toppings—sesame-seed, almond,
Parmesan. And although stovetop and oven-prepared sides are seasoned show-stoppers,
there's still plenty of flash to be found in no-cook or microwave-assisted acts.
Whatever your method, the idea isn't to break with the box-office hits, but to
reinvigorate them. And face it, in the long run, the best way to save a turkey
is to surround it with talent. That's where next season's stars come from anyway.
More Great Holiday Sides:
13 Favorite Sides
Classic side dishes lighten up.
Go All Out
Combine scene-stealing sides with delicious entrees for meals sure to remember.
A Little Side Action
Enliven your relationship with those same old entrees by adding side dishes that sizzle.
