Side Dishes

For the past two years we have hosted a pre-Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner at our house with a small number of friends as a way to take one night to enjoy good food and company during the holiday season. These carrots were by far the star of our meal this year. Surprisingly simple, but incredibly delicious, the pain-staking process of pealing and cutting these carrots to the correct height paid off because everyone at the table raved at their tender texture and robust flavor.

Last year we began the tradition of having Thanksgiving a week early with our friends so that we could celebrate the holiday on multiple occasions with friends and family. The garlic and nuts in these beans added a nice twist to the traditional green bean holiday dish. They were much preferred over the classic green bean casserole.

We both grew up with asparagus patches in our families and have fond memories of picking fresh in the spring. Some methods for cooking asparagus result in limp or fibrous products. Broiling the asparagus creates a sweet and savory product, just be careful not to over dress and season, or you'll lose the wonderful natural flavor.