Easy Thanksgiving Side

Okay, y'all, we're down to crunch time. Thanksgiving is only two days away. You know what that means. Let the cooking begin.

My turkey has been thawing in the refrigerator since Friday. Tomorrow I'll start brining it so it's ready to go in the oven Thursday morning. And then there are the sides. For most meals, I'm good with just meat, a salad and a veggie. But on Thanksgiving, it's too difficult to decide on which beloved side dishes to make so I just make them all. Mashed potatoes, dressing, green bean casserole (with fresh green beans and mushrooms), broccoli and rice... Everyone seems to have their favorite. But the one thing we all agree on is Corn Pudding.

And the best thing about it is that it's so easy to make.

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 - 15.5 oz can cream style corn
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 - 4 oz. can diced green chilies
• 1/2 cup corn meal
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Mix everything together in a medium size bowl.

Now I know some of you are thinkin', "Chilies? Cayenne?" I promise, this is not spicy. However, you're free to skip the cayenne, if you must. The green chilies aren't hot, though. Just flavorful. And we're all about flavor, right?

Pour mixture into a greased casserole, bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

It should be golden to slightly brown on the top and around the edges. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture before people started digging in. 

Depending on how many folks I'm feeding, I usually double the recipe and extend the baking time as needed. The shallower the pan, the faster it bakes.

Four out of five kiddos will be making their way home for Thanksgiving this year. Having the two youngest grandbabies in the house at the same time should be fun. One is two and half and the other will be two the day after Christmas. Oh, just think of the mischief they could get into. 

So what are your plans for Thanksgiving? And what is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? 

Three-time Carol Award finalist, Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com