Thanksgiving favorites

My family has eclectic taste! We love to mix things up for the Thanksgiving holiday meal, incorporating fun new appetizers, healthy side dishes, and not-overly-indulgent desserts with the traditional roast turkey. Here are some of the best-loved dishes from our holiday table.

Apple or pear tart, quick and easy

Apple raisin walnut spice muffins

Apple spice cake

Apple spice hand pies

Armenian red lentils and bulgur

Baked cherry tomatoes

Barley and lentil pilaf with mushrooms and spinach (vegan)

Beet and fennel salad

Broccoli and cauliflower sformatino

Broccoli raab with honey and grapes

Broccoli slaw salad with cranberries, almonds, and yogurt dressing

Brown rice and almond pilaf

Brussels and broccoli with maple mustard vinaigrette

Butternut squash and chickpea stew (vegan)

Butternut squash, apple and vadouvan soup

Caribbean gingerbread

Cornbread stuffing with sausage and raisins

Cranberry sauce (sugar-free, slow cooker)

Creamy mushroom gravy (vegetarian)

Curried apple and pecan broccoli slaw

Curried butternut squash and apple soup

Dried cranberry and pear chutney

Farro with butternut squash and pears

Fennel, apple and walnut salad with pomegranate-orange dressing

Fennel, avocado and grapefruit salad with orange vinaigrette

Fennel, pear and olive salad

Ginger spice mixed nuts

Greek hummus with white beans and feta

Green beans with lemon-dill yogurt sauce

Herb dressing with figs and pine nuts

Herbed cheese spread

Honey-roasted beets with orange and thyme

Irish soda bread muffins

Kale salad with mushrooms and mustard vinaigrette

Lentil and goat cheese stuffed baby potato appetizers

Maple miso glazed radishes

Mashed garlic sweet potatoes

Muhammara (pomegranate, pepper and nut spread)

Oven-roasted carrots

Pasta with tarragon pesto, dried cranberries and pecans

Pear and parsnip soup

Pear and pluot chutney with raisins and ginger

Pear spice cake with cardamom and ginger

Polenta with wild mushroom ragout

"Poor little eggplants"

Puff pastry tartlets with zucchini and slow-roasted tomato filling

Pumpkin chocolate chip biscotti

Pumpkin "hummus"

Pumpkin-pecan mini muffins

Raw beet, butternut and pecan slaw

Raw shaved Brussels sprouts with dried cranberries, feta and pine nuts

Red quinoa, beet and pecan salad

Red rice salad with roasted beets, sun-dried tomatoes, cherries and nuts

Roasted butternut squash with smoked paprika yogurt sauce

Roasted cabbage, apple and pecan salad with mustard vinaigrette

Roasted winter squash with cranberries, pepitas and honey-lime vinaigrette

Rum raisin pear pie

Salmon and quinoa patties with lemon-yogurt sauce

Sautéed escarole with garlic and parmesan cheese

Shredded Brussels sprouts salad with dried blueberries, pecans, and maple-miso dressing

Slow cooker chai-spiced pear sauce

Slow cooker poached pears in caramel sauce

Slow cooker ratatouille

Slow cooker turkey breast stuffed with ricotta, tomato and basil

Slow cooker turkey breast stuffed with wild rice and cranberries

Slow cooker white bean, garlic and olive spread or dip

Smoky pumpkin and brown rice enchiladas (with or without turkey)

Spicy turkey, bell pepper and noodle stir-fry

Spinach and feta phyllo cups

Spinach, golden raisin and parmesan tart

Spinach salad with glazed beets and blue cheese

Squash walnut wheat muffins

Sweet and sour slow cooker red cabbage with apples and onions

Sweet mocha ricotta cream phyllo shells

Sweet potato, lentil and raisin stew

Tangarine and feta salad

Thyme roasted new potatoes

Three Sisters soup

Turkey soup with black beans, corn, and green chiles

Warm Brussels sprouts, almond and goat cheese salad with maple mustard dressing

Warm salad of kamut, cranberries and feta

White bean dip with goat cheese and herbes de Provence

Wilted cabbage with warm lemon-dill dressing

Yam, apple and carrot soup with ginger and honey

Zanzibar tandoori grilled turkey breast

Zucchini pie

Zucchini with golden raisins, pine nuts and lemon