Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Dishes for Turkey Haters

Whip up these healthy delicious dishes this Thanksgiving. All the goodness of autumn bounty without the obligatory Thanksgiving turkey. For vegetarians these recipes adapt very well to meatless versions.

Italian Sausage Alfredo: This hearty dish is made even more soul satisfying with the addition of fresh MSG free sausage. Find that little local meat market in your community and try some of their special sausages. For us in Grand Haven, it's Frank's Meat Market. Like any good Polish butcher Frank's has excellent sausages.

2 pounds fresh sweet Italian sausage
two 8 ounce packages of Neufchatel reduced fat cream cheese
8 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
16 ounces of your favorite pasta; I prefer Barilla Piccolini Farfalle (miniature bow tie pasta)
One cored, seeded chopped green pepper
8 ounces fresh sliced mushrooms or canned mushrooms
One small chopped sweet onion
half stick of margarine
1 teaspoon nutmeg
half teaspoon white pepper

Boil the pasta and sausage together. In a large deep frying pan, saute green pepper, mushroom, onion and chopped basil until tender. Combine cream cheese, 6 ounces of Parmesan cheese (set aside two ounces), nutmeg and white pepper. Add to sauteed vegetables and simmer to form sauce. Serve one sausage link over a bed of hot pasta. Top with sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top.

Chicken Pesto Soup: This recipe couldn't be easier. And it's a huge family favorite at Thanksgiving and any time you need a hot, hearty meal.

two partially frozen chicken breasts (can substitute tofu for vegetarians)
one small onion, chopped
one jar pesto sauce (found in grocery aisle with canned tomatoes and jarred spaghetti sauces)
one stick butter
eight ounces small pasta
one box Progresso or Swanson's MSG-free chicken broth (can substitute vegetable broth)

Cut partially frozen chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces (partially frozen meat cuts more easily). Saute chicken and onion in butter until tender. Cook pasta in equal parts chicken broth and water. Add cooked chicken and pesto to pasta (do not drain). Blend to form soup. Garnish with fresh basil.

Celebrate the joy of Thanksgiving with these hearty harvest recipes.