Happy November! It’s officially celebration season, so I thought I’d share a couple of side dishes my family makes for special occasions, and can easily feed a crowd if needed.

Pineapple Casserole

Paula Deen’s Sweet & Savory Pineapple Casserole is a Thompson family staple. It has the sweet and tart pineapple, mixed with cheddar cheese, and topped with a buttery cracker crumble. It’s one of my favorites, and incredibly simple to make. If you can stir and butter a casserole dish, you can make this side.

I made half the recipe this time because there were only four of us, so make sure to read the instructions all the way through before starting so you have the correct amounts for your serving requirements.

First, collect your ingredients and butter your casserole dish. Mix your sugar, flour, and cheese together, I use a large measuring cup/bowl so I can measure the cheese in it, then just dump the other ingredients on top. If you grate your own cheese, try not to grate yourself, but have a band-aid nearby just in case.

Next, add your DRAINED pinapple chunks, mix mix mix, pour into your buttered dish. Rinse out the bowl you just used because we do not have time to get 15 things dirty just to make one side dish. Melt your butter and mix in your crunched up Ritz crackers. Evenly sperad the cracker topping over the pinapple mixture, and pop that bad boy in the oven. Boom! Pinapple Casserole!

Southern Green Beans

Another easy Thompson family favorite, green beans in the crockpot. I have literally been eating these beans since I was old enough to eat solid foods, and I cannot remember a holiday without them. When I started learning how to cook, this was one of the first things I learned to make so I could contribute to the family feasts. I think I also lowkey wanted to take over this side because almost everyone loved it and I’m a serial people pleaser, I’m working on that.

To make this recipe you need a decent size crockpot, fresh green beans or pole beans, bacon, water, salt, and pepper.

Get your beans prepped by breaking off the ends of each bean, and then snapping them in half. Place your beans, bacon, water, salt and pepper in your crokpot and turn that sucker on. Cook time will vary based on how many beans you are cooking. Last time I made these beans I made two pounds and cooked them on high for 4-5 hours. This was enough time to get the beans soft but still have some structural integrity left. The longer you cook, the softer they get

I prefer to cook my beans on low for about 8 hour for around 2lbs. But if you are trying to feed a grows and you’re stuffing the crockpot full of like 5lbs of beans, start those little babies the night before on low.

Salt and pepper amounts will also vary by preference and how much bacon you use. Bacon is salty but also greasy, so try not to go overboard with the bacon.

You can also add onion or other spices to your beans if that’s what makes you happy. This is a pretty basic recipe and you can jazz it up however you like.

If you make either of these recipes for a holiday or a regular dinner, I hope you enjoy them. Happy celebration season. Don’t forget to take care of yourself.

Do you have any favorite family recipes for the holidays? Let us know in the comments!

Blog graphic background photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash