The Wild(card) Side: Unique Thanksgiving Dishes

Is yours among the families that have a special Thanksgiving Jell-O recipe? Your gelatin mold may be packed with fruit, nuts, coconut, or mini marshmallows; it may have the creamy, dreamy additions of whipped topping or sour cream; whatever treasures lie within its quivering walls, it’s just not Thanksgiving without it. Try Martha's from-scratch version, dressed for the occasion thanks to a turkey-shaped cake pan.

"My mom, Susan, makes this for Thanksgiving every year. People often look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them about it -- but then they try it and they become addicted too."

--Sarah Carey

Watch Sarah and Martha make the stuffing and discuss the recipe’s origins.

"My mother married an Italian, so she did a great deal of artichoke stuffing, especially for large groups. On her own, she made it into a casserole. It represented her way of cooking. She usually made it for special occasions, Thanksgiving, sometimes Easter, or a birthday, because it’s a family favorite."

--Lucinda Scala Quinn

Marshmallows: mandatory or monstrous? Discuss.

The families that stake out the pro-marshmallow side of the fence may add other sweet supplements to the casserole as well, such as crushed pineapple, or, as in this recipe, shredded coconut and lime zest.

Marylanders love their Old Bay seasoning. If your family falls into the anti-marshmallow camp, you may just love these sweet-savory morsels.

Sweet persimmons and tart pomegranates, both autumn staples in the backyards of California, are nicely complemented by bitter chicories in this salad.

Butternut squash lasagna, flavored with sage and grated nutmeg and layered with sheets of homemade pasta, is autumn in a baking pan. The dish serves the dual role of paying tribute to Italian heritage and satisfying the vegetarians in the clan. If you prefer to stick to something more traditional, try our exquisite Lasagna Bolognese.

For the family that prefers airy, eggy popovers to regular ol' dinner rolls, this recipe can't be beat.