With Thanksgiving just around the corner I know a lot of people are preparing their menus and starting to buy some ingredients for the big day. I (Amber) do not cook for Thanksgiving so personally I am just getting excited to enjoy some of my favorite foods at my Mom’s house and Mother-in-law’s house.

I thought it would be fun to do a post with the dishes that each of our families “can’t live without” on Thanksgiving.

Hands down the thing I look forward to the most of anything is my Mom’s Sage dressing. Put a little cranberry sauce on it and I am one happy girl! Here is the link to her recipe: Sage Dressing.

The food my husband looks forward to the most is his Mammaw Betty’s Southern Cornbread, recipe HERE.

Both, Ann Kelly and my families, feel mashed potatoes are a MUST for Thanksgiving Dinner. HERE are some of the best, unhealthy, mashed potatoes you can make!!

Each of our Mother-in-law’s cranberry salad is something that each of our families really enjoy.

This is my mother-in-law’s cranberry jello salad. HERE is the recipe.

This is Ann Kelly’s mother-in-law’s cranberry salad. HERE is her recipe.

Now on to our favorite sweets!!! Both of our families always have pretzel salad. Recipe is HERE.

My Dad’s fruit salad is a staple at our Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think the entire family would be lost if he didn’t make it. My brothers and uncle and aunt always take home leftovers of this!! I especially love it because I remember every year growing up he and I would sit and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and make it together. HERE is his recipe.

I think it is funny that all of our favorite or “must have dishes” are side dishes or desserts. I know for my family we are not huge ham and turkey fans. We will eat it but it just isn’t something that we look forward to. If you are looking for an easy way to cook your ham for Thanksgiving check out these two crock pot recipes.

I will say if I am going to eat ham I like it cooked using THIS recipe.

HERE is another great ham recipe that is as good as the Ham Store.