Fresh Green Bean Casserole

At our house, we have a tradition with Thanksgiving. All of us get to pick one “favorite” dish for the lineup, and I promise to make everything on that list. And, at this point, my love of checklists and systems has really nailed down the process of how to make Thanksgiving dinner stress-free.

But, here’s the secret… it doesn’t matter what the favorites are. They want them all. If something gets overlooked, there’s a mutiny in the kitchen that starts with a chorus of “But, we have to have that!”

Believe me, I’m not complaining. I love knowing that my family loves eating these dishes. Thanksgiving is a holiday that I remember fondly from my childhood. There were times that we struggled, but my mom never failed to make this opportunity to practice gratitude feel like a feast.

You probably already know your way around a green been casserole. But, I’m convinced that this version is my best one yet. It starts with fresh beans, giving it the texture upgrade that keeps them tender crisp instead of becoming mushy.

It’s the classic side dish you already know and love, but with a little more life in every bite. A little more effort? Sure. But it’s so, so worth it.

Mushroom Quesadilla

My kids aren’t always fans of mushrooms, but every once in a while I find a recipe that leaves everyone coming back for seconds. And, these mushroom quesadillas do exactly that.

From start to finish, I can whip up a batch of them for my family in 20 minutes or so. Sometimes, one of the boys will help prep ingredients and it goes even faster. But, pretty much any dinner that I can have on the table in that amount of time (especially one that only dirties a single pan!) is a win in my book.