By now, you’ve probably already defrosted the turkey. Tomorrow, it’ll be ready to go. But now you’re worried about what to serve the guests who don’t eat turkey! That’s tough. Personally, I’m a turkey fan, but here are some recipes that’ll save the day if you’re in need of a turkey-less meal option for turkey day.

Let’s begin with an all-too-familiar favorite. Ham! Save the maraschino cherries and canned pineapple slices for another day! Think outside of the can… well, not totally. Why’s that? You’ll be making itsme’s Cola-Baked Ham with Cherry Orange Glaze. Soda on pork with orange glaze? It’s a sweet combo.

Chicken is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving… but how about a cornish hen? Fred’s Cornish Game Hen with Bacon and Onions would make a tasty, fancy meal any night of the week, but I could definitely see this on my Thanksgiving buffet table, right next to the cranberry sauce.

How about a semi-familiar classic, homemade. Avalon’s Duck a l’Orange is a sweet, citrusy and delicious alternative to either turkey or ham. So many flavors going on here, you won’t need to serve it with gravy because it comes with its own sauce.

So you want to be a little creative this year and surprise your dinner guests with a far from average turkey, huh? Well, if you’re looking for some tasty ideas, you’ve come to the right blog.

S_Steelman posted a recipe for Turkey Roulade with Spinach and Mushrooms that’s guaranteed to be moist. Making a moist turkey isn’t easy, but when you stuff a turkey breast with bacon, it’s bound to be juicy. This is a great recipe for those only planning on having 3 or 4 guests over for the holidays.

As far as leftovers go, try this savory soup recipe that Mytastytreasures posted: Turkey Soup! It’s a recipe that she adapted, so feel free to add your own favorite ingredients. Hey, maybe even throw in the leftover broccoli or corn!

So let’s say the turkey didn’t defrost in time! Oh no! Be sure to check on that turkey tomorrow night. If it looks like it might be a little too late to go with plan #2, don’t worry. Our Plan #2 is Akselden’s Orange-Braised Turkey with Ginger and Sun Dried Cranberries. Just purchase a couple of chicken breasts from your local grocery store tomorrow evening and you’ll have a mouthwatering dish just in time for the big dinner!

What are you Googling these last few days before Thanksgiving? Pumpkin pie or maybe, eggnog, mashed potatoes and gravy? Though we can’t guarantee that these recipes have been Googled, because they’re so original, we do know that your guests will be oogling the many foods on the dinner table if you dress it up with these tasty holiday sides and entrees.

Let’s start off with something that blows cranberry sauce outta the water. If tart isn’t your thing, you just might like blueskygirl’s cranberry fluff. Pure eye candy, you might say, but this pink dessert also doubles on a side dish.

What about those few guests who just don’t care much for turkey? Serve up the other white meat, chicken! Sunshinemom’s Apple Cider Chicken defines fall comfort food. CannedFoodFan’s Pumpkin Lasagna is another dish you might want to serve up.

Someone’s bound to bring pumpkin pie to the party. Bring a dessert that literally doubles as a tabletop centerpiece, Westie757’s Caramelized-Apple Spice Cake. Those pumpkins aren’t full of seeds, they’re made of marzipans.

What could be better on a chilly evening than a cup of hot cocoa or tea and… biscotti. It’s the perfect sweet treat for cooking. It may have a fancy name, but you need not be intimidated at the thought of baking up this twice-baked cookie at home. Even those of us who haven’t been baking too long will find these recipes easy to follow.

Catherine75 posted a recipe for Cranberry-Orange Biscotti that she also recommends we whip up when we’re in the mood for a dunkable cookie. Who can resist a nutty chocolate coated cookie?

Not in the mood for sweets? Westie757’s got you covered, try this Aged Gouda Biscotti with Walnuts. Talk about a great appetizer and conversation starter. There just aren’t enough savory biscotti recipes out there, especially cheesy and buttery ones like these!

Of course we’re not going to let this post pass us by without talking about a holiday recipe :)! Surprise Santa this year by leaving him a few of Mother’s Holiday Biscotti with Cranberries and Pistachios. I’m sure the reindeer will even love the festive color of these crunchy cookies ;).

Our last recipe contest was a hit! Check out this Pumpkin Fudge. What made Maureen’s entry a winning recipe? It was original, a recipe she made up herself; it was festive and… delicious. We’re looking for more original holiday recipes, sweet or savory!

If you’ve got a handful of holiday recipes that you feel are winners, submit them to our second Demy Holiday Recipe Contest for a chance to win your very own Demy Digital Recipe Reader.

To enter a recipe, you must be 18 years or older and a US resident. We also ask that all recipes be uploaded to Key Ingredient. Submit your recipe(s) by commenting or emailing us (with a link to the Key Ingredient url of the recipe) by December 7 midnight Eastern for a chance to win a Demy.

Cold nights are for stews, soups, and… macaroni! That’s right, macaroni and cheese warms the belly and the soul. This comfort food is at it’s best when homemade, but have you checked out all the mac and cheese recipes we have on Key Ingredient? It’s enough to make you salivate on the keyboard, here’s a glimpse…

Let’s start off with something intense. Cheese fans, this one’s for you. Prettyfeet702’s Cardiac Macaroni and Cheese will make your heart skip a beat ;), in a good way. “Wow!” is enough to describe her macaroni dish.

I’m always working on my homemade mac and cheese recipe. How do you give it that extra creaminess? I think I’ll take Ginasheppard’s advice and add evaporated milk. Carnation Evaporated Milk Macaroni and Cheese sounds like a recipe worth trying. How do you make your mac and cheese creamy?

Here’s a little something different for those who like their cheesy pasta dishes with a twist: DomesticMuse’s Macarronada Ranchera (Mexican Mac & Cheese). The secret ingredient in this recipe? Eggs!

What’s your favorite ice cream? How about homemade? If you’re asking for an ice cream maker for Christmas this year, today’s post is for you. Get a bowl and spoon (or a cone), it’s time to make ice cream!

FoodieWife’s Pumpkin Custard Ice Cream will even make the purist’s mouth water, yes I’m talking about the vanilla ice cream fans. She says it’s a great alternative to pumpkin pie for the holidays and we agree. Don’t know how to make custard? Check out her blog for details.

What if you still want pie? Check out the recipe Snoo shared with us. This Peppermint-Marshmallow Ice Cream Pie looks like it might be a tough dessert to make, but you can prepare this right before your holiday party! This is the perfect dessert for the holidays; save the oven for the turkey, this is a bake-free pie!

Avalon’s Eggnog Ice Cream Pie looks and sounds like a decadent treat. Even non eggnogg fans will droll over this ice cream, she says, and I agree. Eggnog ice cream is the only way I can enjoy eggnog during the holiday season :).

Do you have any holiday ice cream recipes??

Whatever the season, chocolate is always ready to shine. It’s the key ingredient in so many favorite recipes. When you think of chocolate desserts, what comes to mind? Maybe chocolate chip cookies or brownies. Here are a few unique recipes that creatively and deliciously include chocolate. Chocoholics, beware :)!

I’m sure there’s a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie lover in your home, or maybe next door. Such a popular cookie and for good reason! But what about the milk chocolate fans? Here’s a recipe for you, it’s Hendria’s Macadamia Nut Chocolate Chunk Shortbread. You can forget about the cookie sheet because this recipe makes jumbo cookies in a cake pan!

Since we mentioned brownies, let’s give them the attention they deserve. Ice cream cakes aren’t just for summer birthday parties… you won’t want to wait that long to make Awelsh728’s Chocolate Chip Brownie Ice Cream Cake.

If you’re shivering from the ice cream, then warm up with Kmad’s Warm Chocolate Molten Cakes with Whipped Cream. Getting that perfectly gooey center isn’t easy, but Kmad seems to be the expert when it comes to molten cakes, just take a look…try her recipe!

Need more chocolatey recipes? Check out Tjberen’s Chocolate Amaretto Torte or Jeannie’s Ultimate Molten Lava Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Warm up from the inside out with these spiced-up recipes. Ever thought of adding cinnamon to a steak or sprinkling it on a pre-roasted chicken for extra flavor? Take a look at your spice rack, all those ingredients you’d normally see in a holiday cake or cookie recipe can also be added to a savory dish…

Mitch’s Six Spice Hanger Steak includes a spice mix you might want to make in bulk and save for other cuts of meat, it sounds so good! Anise, cinnamon and brown sugar are just a handful of the ingredients in the dry mix. But there’s also a sauce, don’t forget that!

Now that we’ve done surf, let’s do turf with Stuart’s Pan Seared Five Spice Tilapia . Did you know that chinese five spice is a mixture of some pretty familiar ingredients, including cinnamon and cloves? Need a recipe that’ll make even a finicky eater appreciate fish? This is it! If you’re a long-time fish fan, you might also like urbcindy’s Sugar and Spice Salmon.

Did you leave room for dessert! Who wouldn’t leave room for Jamests_comcast’s Holiday Spice Cake. From scratch? Yep. Delicious? How could a spicy, nutty, fragrant and moist cake not be? If you’re still craving something sweet, try Kiep’s Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake.

We’ve been hearing a lot about turkey these days. Though it’s fitting, since the holidays are upon us, it seems the spotlight’s been taken off of chicken. Because cold weather puts us in the mood to cook more than just a Thanksgiving feast, here are some recipes worth celebrating simply because they’re good. Check them out.

ElenasPantry Mango Chicken sounds like tropical paradise on a plate. With so much flavor, you’ll convince even the red meat eaters that this is a savory dish worth making again and again. It’s lean and filling. Meals like this make our job easier, they’re perfect with a simple side of rice!

You’ve heard of chicken pot pie, but how about KMad’s Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas! This is a perfect example of a savory empanada done right. Don’t have room in the fridge for a large platter? These hand pies will fit anywhere in the fridge.

No need to order take-out this weekend, now that you’ve got bsherill’s Sweet, Sour and Spicy Orange Chicken with Broccoli and Cashews. What makes a stir fry? The sauce! Bsherill makes hers from scratch and, thankfully, she shared her recipe with us.