5 Friendsgiving Side Dishes to Serve Up This Year

Take Your Holiday Hosting to the Next Level in a Luxury Apartment in Kansas City

As Thanksgiving approaches, so does the impending worry: what do I cook? There are the obvious traditional Thanksgiving foods like turkey and cranberry sauce, but this year, you want to impress your friends with something new and unique.

It’s time to put that gourmet kitchen to use! The Apex at CityPlace not only has state-of-the-art appliances and functional kitchens in every modern apartment, but our thoughtful, open floor plans make hosting a breeze.

We’ve curated some show-stopping recipes to truly round out your Friendsgiving meal, so don’t panic! You can sit back and enjoy your Friendsgiving festivities in your Kansas City luxury apartment with dishes like this on your side.

Charred Honey Glazed Brussel Sprouts

There’s nothing like bringing out a true crowd pleaser at the Friendsgiving function, and these brussel sprouts are just that! Despite the vegetable getting a bad rap, this charred, honey glazed recipe will change the minds of even the pickiest of nay-sayers.

What You’ll Need:

• 1½ lb. brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• ¼ cup honey
• ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
• 3 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3 scallions
• 1 tsp. lemon zest

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Toss the brussels sprouts and oil in a large bowl, and season with salt and black pepper.
2. Arrange the brussels sprouts cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes until the brussel sprouts are charred and brown.
3. As the brussel sprouts are roasting, bring honey to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, for three minutes, or until the honey is a deep amber color. Remove the sauce from heat.
4. Add vinegar and whisk until sauce is smooth. Set the saucepan over medium heat, add butter and salt, then cook, for about 4 minutes.
5. Transfer the brussels sprouts to a large bowl. Add the glaze and toss to coat. Top with scallions and lemon zest.

Homemade Stuffing with a Twist

You can’t go wrong with stuffing, but why not add something a little special this year? Let this delicious dish bake in the oven while you attend to your guests and show off your incredible apartment complex. By the time it’s done, your space will smell like the warmest, coziest place, and mouths will undoubtedly be watering.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 sourdough bread loaves
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 4 stalks celery, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp. fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp. fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 large eggs, beaten to blend

Instructions:

1. Tear or slice bread into 1/4" cubes. Arrange on a baking sheet and leave out overnight to dry.
2. Preheat the oven to 350º and grease your baking dish with butter.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup butter. Add onion and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.
4. Stir in garlic, parsley, sage, thyme, and rosemary and stir for about 1 minute more, then season with salt and pepper.
5. Place bread in a large bowl. Add onion mixture, and toss to combine.
6. In a medium bowl, whisk broth and eggs and pour over bread mixture and season with salt and pepper. Toss until completely coated. Transfer mixture to baking dish and cover with foil.
7. Bake stuffing for 45 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake until bread is toasted and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.

Maple Roasted Carrots

Who said veggies couldn’t be sweet? These maple roasted carrots are perfect for the cool, fall weather and adds some great nutritional value to your meal without losing any of it’s tastiness.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 lb. medium carrots, tops trimmed
• 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• ⅓ cup (packed) light brown sugar
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
• ¾ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with three sheets of foil. Cut the carrots on a diagonal into 3" pieces.
2. Spread carrots out on foil. Evenly top with butter, brown sugar, syrup, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and toss to combine.
3. Bake the carrots, tossing every 20 minutes, until tender and browned around the edges, for 50 to 60 minutes. Transfer to a platter with syrup, if desired.

Creamy Green Bean Casserole

Nothing beats this classic, undeniable side dish. Although this can be found at most Thanksgiving celebrations, not every casserole packs the same punch. This recipe is a surefire way to serve up this classic dish effortlessly without ruining its obviously delicious roots.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 (14½ oz) cans green beans
• 1 (10½ oz) can cream of mushroom soup
• ½ cup milk
• 1 (6 oz) can fried onions

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8×8-inch oven-safe dish with cooking spray.
2. Drain the green beans and place in a large bowl. Add ¾ cup of french fried onions, and toss gently to combine.
3. In a small saucepan, heat the mushroom soup and milk over medium heat for 2 minutes. Whisk to combine. Pour the mixture over the green bean mixture and stir to combine.
4. Place the mixture into the prepared dish and bake for 20 minutes.
5. Sprinkle the remaining fried onions over the top (as many as you’d like – you may not need them all). Bake for 5 additional minutes. Serve while warm.

Brown Butter Candied Yams

Take sweet potatoes to the next level with this mouth-watering recipe! Easy and sweet, you’ll impress your guests with this simple, yet elegant dish. Plus, your Kansas City luxury apartment – and maybe down the hall – will smell absolutely delicious.

What You’ll Need:

• 3 large yams or sweet potatoes
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 8 tbsp. salted butter

Instructions:

1. Prep the yams. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350ºF. Peel and cut the large yams into 1-inch pieces.
2. Partially cook the yams until they can be pierced with a fork and starting to soften, about 10 minutes.
3. Transfer to a baking dish using a slotted spoon. Spread the yams out in an even layer. Reserve the cooking water.
4. Transfer 3/4 cup warm reserved cooking water into a measuring cup or medium bowl. Add 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar and stir to dissolve. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and stir to combine.
5. Top the yams with spices, the sugar mixture, and butter. Put the yams back in the oven and continue baking until fork tender, about 15 minutes.
6. Remove the baking dish from the oven and spoon remaining candied mixture evenly over the top.

Host The Best Friendsgiving in Your Luxury Apartment at The Apex at CityPlace!

At The Apex at CityPlace, you’ll discover tons of different ways to host and cook in your beautiful gourmet kitchen.

In our modern apartments, you’ll find yourself cooking more and enjoying every moment of it! If you’re ready to explore your luxury apartment options, reach out to our team and schedule a tour today.