Thanksgiving may be a traditional holiday, but that doesn't mean you're tied to the same old sides. Reinvent a tired meal with new takes on the classic dish known as mashed potatoes. Try blending other root vegetables into the mix, such as sweet potatoes or turnips.

For
Thanksgiving, sweet potato casserole is a surefire winner: those who don't eat vegetables and kids who won't eat yams will happily sink their forks into this delicious casserole. While the toppings vary based on the recipe, the concept is the same: creamy, puréed, sugar-tinged sweet potatoes with nuts, glaze, or marshmallows on top. These two variations are similar, but the expert version, with its nutty topping, requires an extra step and a food processor.

When I hear the word appletini, I can't help but cringe and think of a cloying, neon green cocktail. That's why, while at a recent
Root Division art auction, when I saw that the specialty cocktail was an appletini, I avoided it. However, when I heard the appletini was a creation of one of San Francisco's best bartenders,
H.

I mentioned last week that I've noticed
casseroles making a comeback. What better time to bring them back than during the
holidays? If you've got a lot to plan this
Thanksgiving, stick with a no-muss, no-fuss recipe that'll be ready in around half an hour.

From
butternut squash mac and cheese to
persimmon and pomegranate salad, lately I can't get enough of everything
Fall. Desserts, in particular, are comforting in a way that no other dish can be, and
FinnLover's pudding, with its Autumn spices, apples, and brown sugar syrup, embodies exactly that. To make this basic dessert and Québécois favorite, .

In the San Francisco Bay Area, I rarely have to worry about a frost, which means that I can leave plants out all year round without incident. I know that's hardly the case with readers living in the Midwest and on the East Coast, though.
Steve, over at Gardening Gone Wild, recently
wrote, "I overwinter a host of plants in my cold dark basement.

It seems as if I can't get enough of
leaves this Fall. If you like celebrating the season by bringing outdoor elements into your home, then I have a perfect project for you. This pressed leaf art would look wonderful hung in multiples by a
Thanksgiving table, and would also make great gifts for any arboreal enthusiasts in your life.

Recently, I came across this great, simple trick from Better Homes and Gardens for transforming a holiday Autumn table. For a beautiful twist on boring old votives, collect colorful leaves from your backyard or nearby park. Then, tie the leaves to the votive with ribbon, twine, or yarn.

Although pie making is a year round activity, I find myself more particular about pies in the Fall. Because they are the sweet accompaniment to holiday dinners, a pie's presentation is incredibly important. A homemade
pumpkin meringue pie just doesn't look as special in a disposable, foil pie tin.

Although pie making is a year round activity, I find myself more particular about pies in the Fall. Because they are the sweet accompaniment to important holiday dinners, a pie's presentation is incredibly important. To ensure that all of our pies are pretty, you headed off to market in search of the perfect pie pan.