5 Seasonal Sides for Your Holiday Table — Fall Fest

If your diet has consisted mainly of sugar cookies and candy canes this holiday season, think about rounding out your Christmas dinner menu with seasonal vegetable sides.

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Christmas Stuffing with Bacon

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Photo by: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Brian Kennedy, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Though your holiday preparations may not have gone beyond trips to the store and hours spent scrolling for gifts online, another most-important element of the holiday season is coming up fast: Christmas dinner. While you may think of your recipes for  Christmas ham and  rib roast as yearly centerpieces, remember that seasonal side dishes are an integral part of your holiday spread. Start rounding out your celebratory meal by adding ingredients for in-season, produce-heavy side recipes to your shopping list. Here are some of our favorites:

Just like Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner puts the spotlight on stuffing. To differentiate from what was eaten in November, Giada De Laurentiis makes her  Christmas Stuffing with Bacon with two varieties of rice (short-grain brown rice and wild rice) in place of bread, and stocks it with hearty veggies like pearl onions, Brussels sprouts and chopped bacon.

Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Bacon

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Photo by: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Brian Kennedy, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

The Brussels sprouts lovers at your table will go back for second scoops of Ree Drummond's Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Cranberries. By reducing the balsamic vinegar with sugar on the stove, Ree creates a sweet, syrupy glaze that counters the earthy heartiness of the sprouts.

Roasted Celery Root and Carrots

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Food Stylist: Susan Spungen Prop Stylist: Pamela Duncan Silver

Photo by: Con Poulos

Con Poulos

When you're cooking for a crowd, the dishes that are easiest are the dishes that are best. For a no-fuss side that's ultra-low on prep time, heat the oven high for Food Network Magazine's  Roasted Celery Root and Carrots, which gets its distinctive flavor profile from fresh herbs and a dusting of hot paprika.

Fennel Gratin

entwine, May 2011

Photo by: Yunhee Kim ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Yunhee Kim, 2011, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Just like your favorite indulgent potato gratin recipe,  Fennel Gratin is a rich side that hinges on cream and Parmesan cheese. Just a tablespoon of mustard is all it takes to deepen the flavors in this dish, which comes out of the oven bubbling and golden.

Burgundy Mushrooms

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Photo by: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Brian Kennedy, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Over the course of nine hours, Ree transforms once-rubbery mushrooms into rich and luxurious  Burgundy Mushrooms. Though the mushrooms take hours to soak up the intensity of red wine and bouillon, they can be made up to a day ahead, making your holiday prep that much easier.

Get more holiday side dishes from family and friends:

Big Girls, Small Kitchen:  Cheesy Winter Squash Bake

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