Last Minute Thanksgiving Sides
In case you need one more dish... or just for fun.
You’re probably in the middle of Thanksgiving shopping or finalizing your delicious menu. This year we had a lot going on, like Oprah’s Favorite Things and prepping for Holiday. So we decided to sit this year out. Except I don’t think I can skip out on the mac & cheese...
But as we looked back at old posts we thought it would be fun to share a few of our favorite side dishes. Just in case you were still looking for one more thing to make. Or bring to Thanksgiving lunch.
These recipes were inspired by my mother-in-law Lina (yes like the oil). And include traditional Calabrian ingredients. They’ll add a little Italian flair to your Thanksgiving table.
Spicy Italian Stuffing
This was a hit last year! And rightly so. It’s absolutely delicious. Dense and rich and when baked crispy on the top! This recipe uses salsiccia, which in Italian just translates to sausage. Italian stuffing is quite popular in the U.S…
But this recipe uses salsiccia calabrese which is different. I asked our favorite Calabrian butcher how they make it and here’s what he said…
pork
lard
salt
pepe rosso (sweet or spicy)
fennel seeds
For spicy sausage, hot chili powder and cream of sweet chili pepper are added. For sweet sausage, sweet chili powder or cream of sweet chili pepper is used.
The butchershop sells it in the casing. We remove it before cooking.
How can you find salsiccia calabrese in the U.S.?
Your butcher might have it. Ask for calabrian sausage or salsiccia calabrese. Otherwise…
Buy regular Italian sausage and add sweet/spicy pepe rosso.
Buy ground pork and add all of your own spices.
What spices to add?
Add 1 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (skip if Italian sausage already has lots of fennel)
2 tsp finely ground Italian/Calabrian sweet pepper or paprika (the sausage should be quite red so add another 1 tsp if needed)
If you’re into hot food feel free to add extra spicy red pepper powder or fresh chili. Add the seasonings right when you add the sausage to the pan so the flavors can combine early on and cook in the fat.
The bread needs to be old
1 to 2 day old bread works best but bread doesn’t stand a chance around our house so we always end up toasting it. If you buy bread today and chop it up it should be ready for baking by tomorrow! Otherwise, dry it out in the oven.
Potato Pie AKA Gateau di Patate
Hear us out…
Mashed potatoes + cheese + breadcrumbs + baked in oven = superior to regular mashed potatoes.
When you dig a spoon in there should be a light crunch! And if you’re feeling really adventurous, some folks like to add salami or prosciutto. But for Thanksgiving, we like it simple, with just cheese and breadcrumbs.
We’ve already established these can replace mashed potatoes. But if you’re a potato person (like us), you can have BOTH.
Weigh the ingredients for this recipe because almost everything is chopped or grated. Cup measurements will not be accurate. Don’t forget to charge your scales : )
Let this dish rest. It will be so tempting to cut in and take a bite but it needs to cool in order to form into a ‘cake’. It should be served warm but not fresh out of the oven. It can also be easily reheated (cover with foil). This is a great dish to make ahead or heat up early in the day.
If you’re feeding a large crowd double this recipe and bake it in a larger dish, a 13x9 baking dish will work.
Looking for more last-minute Thanksgiving ideas? Take a look at this post, we still swear by the pie crust recipe.
We were on the news!
Fox 7 Good Day Austin was kind enough to have us on live (virtually). We discussed what it’s been like making it onto Oprah’s Favorite Things for a second time! And how important it is to support small businesses around the Holiday season. Speaking of which, here are some quick facts about us…
We’re a small business
100% family-owned with ZERO external funding
Female-led
We own our olive trees
We produce our Italian EVOOs
Holiday Shipping Cutoffs
Our oils make for incredible gifts for friends, family, neighbors, employees, and more! If your business is looking for holiday gift sets please email us or respond to this email.
Important shipping cutoff dates below:
US Ground: 12/14
US Air: 12/18 (5+ bottles not eligible)
Canada: 12/8
We highly encourage you to place gift orders ASAP to avoid delays. Shipping only gets worse closer to Christmas.
We wish you and yours a very happy, delicious, and warm Thanksgiving!!
Un grande abbraccio,
-Skyler & Giuseppe, Founders