There's a lot at stake when you put together a Thanksgiving meal. For starters, you need to be a multitasker. There's a turkey to roast and stuffing and gravy to make. Count on making that green bean casserole, too.
Thanksgiving is also a holiday of side dishes. It's not enough to have just mashed potatoes and a single side vegetable. Folks look forward all year long to some of those holiday sides.
When making them, it's best to pace yourself. Do as much of the prep work as possible in advance.
Plenty of those side dishes come in the form of casseroles and gratins, including today's Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole. It's creamy, and it's pure comfort food.
For this recipe, I used a blend of cheddar and colby jack cheese, but any good melting cheese will work. Cauliflower is mild in flavor, so you can be daring and spice the dish up a bit. Use a mix of pepper jack with the cheddar or add a few pinches of cayenne.
Blanching the cauliflower shortens the baking time and rids it of excess water. Don't skip the step of draining the cauliflower and pressing on it with a towel to soak up the moisture after it's blanched. Excess moisture will make the dish soupy.
Here's some more advice to keep in mind as you prepare your Thanksgiving side dishes:
POTATOES
When making mashed potatoes, peel them in the morning or several hours in advance and put them in a bowl of cold water and refrigerate.
Take mashed potatoes to another level. Add cooked and mashed parsnips for a sweet flavor or rutabaga for a heartier flavor. For seasoning, add your favorite fresh chopped herbs to the potatoes.
Once you cook the potatoes, let them drain. Always use warm milk, cream or half-and-half and softened butter when mashing the potatoes. Cold liquids will make the potatoes tough and gluey.
OTHER VEGETABLES
Clean and prep any vegetables you plan on using in casseroles or in side dishes the day before.
Chop, slice or dice vegetables and store in plastic sealable bags. Stack the bags in the refrigerator.
If your recipe calls for it, you can, blanch (slightly precook) vegetables a day before using. Pat them dry before storing in bags.
CASSEROLES AND STUFFING
Make any dish in advance that will reheat well, but remember: Dishes that have lots of cream or a sauce don't always reheat well.
Assemble any casserole dishes you can the day before baking. Let the casserole sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before baking.
Prep all your ingredients for stuffing in advance. Saute onions, celery and any meats you are using the night before. Cool and store in the refrigerator.
Dry the bread for stuffing by cutting into {- to 1-inch cubes. Set it out overnight to dry. You can also dry in the oven at a low (200 degrees) temperature.
Don't forget about your outdoor grill. It's like having an extra oven. You can keep the grill on its lowest setting (about 200 degrees) to keep things warm. Side dishes made in foil trays are best for the grill. If you're using metal dishes or casserole dishes, place them on a sided baking sheet. Make sure the heat is low. Also, cover whatever you're keeping warm so it doesn't dry out.
