It is the first week of November and officially the holiday season. In just a few weeks comes Thanksgiving; and what is the highlight of Thanksgiving? An abundance of delicious food (next to being with family of course). Over the next couple of weeks I will share with you some of the recipes for my favorite dishes cooked by my mom on Thanksgiving. You can use these to possibly cook with your mom on Thanksgiving or even to make a dish here at school for an early turkey day feeling.

For every holiday I can remember, my mom has made rice dressing. This is not solely a holiday dish, but it is a holiday dish to me because that is the only time that we eat it. To start it off, you will need a container of dressing mix. Some different brands include Savoy’s or Richards. This is a little 16 oz container found in the frozen food section. This mix is combined with some ground beef and a little ground pork, just for another layer of flavor. I would drain the meat mixture of the fat once it is cooked so that the dish will not be overly greasy. Mix in some cooked rice, pair it with some baked beans, and you have got a great side dish.

This same mixture can be used to make cornbread dressing. Instead of adding cooked rice to it just add cooked cornbread and mix well. With the same ingredients you have made two completely different sides.

Ingredients

1 onion, diced

1 chopped bell pepper

2 tbsp olive oil

1 lb. ground beef

½ lb. ground pork

1 16 oz dressing mix container

Cajun seasoning

Garlic powder

3 cups cooked rice

Preheat a large pot over medium heat. Once it is heated, pour in olive oil. Add chopped pepper and onion and sauté for about 10 minutes.

Add in the ground beef and pork, breaking it up with a spoon. Season the meat. Once meat is browned drain most of the fat. Stir in the dressing mix and continue to cook the mixture for about 15-20 minutes.

After the meat is cooked well, stir in the cooked rice about a cup at a time. When it looks like a good ratio of meat to rice, meaning there is not too much of the meat mixture left, but just enough of it and rice then you have added enough rice. Make sure it is mixed well with no chunks sitting at the bottom.

This is a side dish even a college student can make and afford. Hopefully some of you will be motivated to try it and help out in the kitchen. If not, maybe one of the future recipes will.