From the Planet Cheese archives, these six recipes may inspire you to bring something new to the Thanksgiving table. At least that’s my hope. Most are portable, in case you’re a guest. For pre-dinner nibbling, set out a creamy goat cheese dip imbued with fried shallots—an elevated take on the sour-cream classic—or smoky pimento cheese, an unusual recipe from the baker who makes the Obamas’ Thanksgiving pies. For traditionalists, I’ve got the recipe for Zingerman’s famous pimento cheese, courtesy of the beloved Ann Arbor shop.

Not smitten with stuffing? Try my focaccia bread pudding with wild mushrooms and goat cheese. (See the raves at the end of that post.) A Little Gems salad with radicchio, persimmons, candied walnuts and blue cheese brings some color and crunch to the table. At my house, we’ll wrap it up with a silky pumpkin cheesecake that unquestionably trounces pumpkin pie.

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Goat Cheese Dip
Smoky Pimento Cheese
Zingerman’s Famous Pimento Cheese
Focaccia Bread Pudding
Little Gems Salad
Silky Pumpkin Cheesecake

Here's wishing you and yours a tasty and joyous holiday.