By Joelle Cornthwaite. Photo by Danielle Urben.
(Editor’s Note: If these recipes help you get laid please let us know! Enjoy!)
Were you invited to someone else’s Thanksgiving this year? Were you asked to bring something to this intimate family function or did you offer? Either way, we have a few things that will make you look good! The trick to making a great first impression is to look like you tried. Do not bring anything pre-made from the store, unless your plan is to take it right back home with you. (That’s only funny on T.V.)
Let’s assume that all the accoutrement is already being provided. You were most likely assigned a salad, a side-dish, a dessert or dinner rolls.
The Salad:
This delicious fruit salad will make others stop and ask, “You made this!?”
What you will need:
• 4 Granny Smith Apples (Wash, core and chop into chunks)
• 4 bananas (Peel, split and chop into chunks)
• 1 large bunch of green grapes (Wash, remove from bunch and cut in half)
• 2 cans of mandarin oranges (Drain liquid)
• 1 jar of maraschino cherries (Drain, remove stems and cut in half)
• 1 large tub of whipped topping
Toss all fruit into a large bowl and mix in the whipped topping.
That’s it! It is easy, you get points for using fruit and it is kind of a dessert as well!
The Side Dish:
This comforting corn casserole recipe will cause the grandmother to give you a “Good Game.”
What you will need:
• 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 can cream-style corn
• 1 (8-ounce) package corn muffin mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 to 1.5 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream, and melted butter. Pour into a greased 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and top with cheese. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand for at least 5 minutes and then serve warm.
Move over green bean casserole! Your fancy French onions ain’t got nothing on Corn Casserole’s southern charm!
The Dinner Rolls:
It is very important not to underestimate the importance of the dinner roll. You need to bring your ‘A’ game here. I am sharing with you the best rolls ever. They are ridiculously easy, soft, yummy and extremely hilarious. Why are they hilarious? They are butt-shaped rolls! You will want to get these started early because the frozen rolls can take hours to rise.
What you will need:
• 1 package of frozen Rhodes Dinner Rolls- 36 count
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray
• Plastic Wrap
• Muffin Tin
Spray the muffin tin pan with the non-stick cooking spray and place 2 of the frozen rolls in each of the individual muffin spaces. There is no need to use the fancy muffin papers for these. There are instructions on the packaging that will give you a few different options of how to let the rolls rise. There is the regular way and the quick way. I recommend the regular way, it may take longer, but you really can’t mess it up. Spray a piece of the plastic wrap with the non-stick cooking spray and cover the rolls with it. Let the rolls rise until they are double in size. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. You may also brush the tops with melted butter for a special touch.
If there are “other” rolls at this dinner, no one will even notice!
The Dessert:
These Gingerbread Cookies are so amazing; they may induce random hugging and cheek-squeezing from the crazy Aunt.
What you will need:
• 1 box of Betty Crocker’s Gingerbread Cake & Cookie Mix
• ¼ cup of hot water
• 2 Tablespoons of butter or margarine, melted
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
In a medium bowl, stir in gingerbread mix, water and margarine, using a spoon until dough forms. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls (roll in sugar if desired) and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Slightly flatten the cookies. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm and take care not to over-bake them. Cool for 1 minute before removing from the cookie sheet. Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container.
The cookies will make you smell amazing and they will go quickly. Make sure to save some for later if you’re planning to get any dessert. You may actually want to double or triple the recipe.
I am confident that you will have a successful visit using any one of these recipes. You will be liked more than the person who brought you and I am sure you will be invited again. These dishes are also appropriate to use if you are going to a super-casual “friends giving” before Thanksgiving. So, roll up your sleeves, wash your hands and channel your inner celebrity chef. Happy cooking and bon appétit!