Best Thanksgiving Ever

For the best Thanksgiving ever, I'm trying a new strategy and letting all of Thanksgiving's star ingredients shine on their own. There won't be any green beans shrouded in mushroom cream or turkey overpowered by Cajun spices. Instead of having a marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole, I'm highlighting the tubers with honey and seasoning to let their true flavor take over.

I could only locate the thin, yellow-skinned sweet potato variety, although any sweet potato or yam works. Roast them until they're crunchy and caramelized with a lovely sweet-savory flavor. Then you can eat them with virtually anything: a poached egg and harissa for breakfast, curried cauliflower for lunch, and, of course, turkey. Get the easy recipe when you read more.

For your best Thanksgiving ever, begin planning for the big day earlier than you normally do. Rather than being daunted with the turkey up front, ease yourself into the holiday by selecting your side dishes first. Start with sweet potatoes, a surefire table topper at any Fall meal.

Serve them mashed in place of conventional white potatoes; you'll enjoy the same fluffy texture but also gain vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. Balance out the salt on the table with a dessert-like puree studded with maple syrup and nutmeg, or skip the sugar and try out a savory chipotle version. Try either — or both — when you read on.

To get you excited for your best Thanksgiving ever, I want to know what dish you look forward to making and eating most over the holiday. Do you gobble up the turkey, or is it all about the sides? Better yet, do you save the most room for dessert? Share your favorite dish below!