By request of our friend Bill, I’m starting early on Thanksgiving recipes this year. As I thought about side dishes, I surprised myself with a general feeling of disgust. Do I dislike Thanksgiving? No, I do love Thanksgiving. Any holiday with lots of food is a friend of mine for sure. The problem is, a few traditional side dishes do turn me off, particularly that sweet potato dish, the one covered in marshmallows. It’s sugary sweet, too busy competing with desserts, and not pulling it’s weight during the main course. To those that are big fans, hear me out. I do think there’s a place for a sweet dish, besides dessert, but let’s compliment the turkey and not mask it in a coat of soft wet sugar.

Roasted Butternut Squash, Pears, and Cranberries

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