3 Delicious Sides for a Healthier Thanksgiving!

It's truly possible to enjoy the feast of Thanksgiving without feeling like you are packing it on to go into hibernation for the winter! Tweaking these recipes is half the fun of cooking - so feel free!

1. Cranberry-Pear Sauce

1/2 cup sugar
12 oz fresh cranberries
3 Bosc pears, peeled, cored, and chopped
cinnamon
nutmeg
ground cloves

1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 cup water, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil. Stir well.

2. Add cranberries, pears, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves; stir well to combine. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 25 to 30 minutes. Cranberries should be soft.

3. Remove from heat. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

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2. Twice Baked Potatoes

  4 potatoes, non-fat sour cream, scallions, 2% milk, Pepper Jack cheese

1. Bake potatoes for one hour, cut lengthwise and scoop out potato into large mixing bowl.

2. Add sour cream, milk and chopped scallions. Season with black pepper.

3. Spoon back into potato shells, and sprinkle shredded cheese on top.

4. Before serving, place back in oven to warm again and melt cheese.

Makes 8 servings

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3. Sauteed Veggie Mix

Mushrooms, green squash, vidalia onion, sliced almonds, olive oil, black pepper

1. Scrub clean muchrooms and squash, then chop with onions.

2. Saute all the vegetables with olive oil in large frying pan - about 10 minutes until mushrooms are soft and onions are clear.

3. Transfer to serving bowl and toss with black pepper and sliced almonds.

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After your feast - why not enjoy a family walk along the Parkway, or an adult vs. kid soccer match out back! These are the memories...Enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!