Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Asparagus makes a tasty side dish to any meal.

Although your kids may pick out all the lima beans in this classic side dish, they will have fun making it--and saying its name.

Your kids may crinkle their noses at the idea of eating sweet potatoes, but this version, with toasty marshmallows and a name as delicious as dessert, is sure to be a winner.

Smashing the spuds is a great way to harness your child's holiday excitement.

From the kitchen of: Fran Podlesney, Springfield, Virginia

From the kitchen of Heather Hommey, Grimesland, North Carolina

From the kitchen of R. Wagner, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

While risotto does require your attention, it is really quite simple to prepare, especially if you enlist your kids to help stir the pot. This variety is full of sweet butternut squash, and makes for a cozy dinner when served with a salad and bread.

Though sweet potatoes might taste like dessert, they are actually packed with nutrients, including vitamins A and C, and most kids will readily gobble them up, especially when prepared this way.

This classic holiday side gets an update with the simple addition of slivered fennel. The mild hint of licorice in the fennel adds wonderful flavor and texture to the creamy potatoes, and breathes new life into an otherwise plain side dish.

Everything about this dish says fall -- the sweet earthy flavor, the rich fragrance and the bright orange hue. It's a quick dish to throw together and is even faster when you buy a package of squash that's already cleaned, peeled and cubed.