Stuffing is, without a doubt, one of the best parts of Thanksgiving. Here at Alexian, we like to put our own twist on things, and this seasonal classic is no different. Read on for some of our favorite pâté-inspired stuffing ideas to try in your own home this season:

Mouthwatering Mushroom-Leek

The warm, earthy flavors of mushroom paired with the mild bite of a leek is a classic combination in holiday cooking. Bring those flavors to life in a new way by incorporating our Wild Forest Mushroom Pâté into your classic recipe.

First, make a classic stuffing base. Sauté chopped onions, shiitake mushrooms and leeks until soft. Add the sautéed vegetables to your base mix and add a hearty amount of our Forest Mushroom Pâté. Serve the stuffing as you would normally.

Apple+Duck Delight

Our Duck Rillette has an abundance of flavor, in part to the special blend of spices we add during the slow-cooking process. First, create a cornbread stuffing base, with celery and onion. Next, peel, core and chop three apples. Then combine it all together and bake until golden brown.

Top the cooked stuffing with a layer of our Duck Rillette, and serve.

Turn it into an Appetizer

With hungry guests eagerly awaiting the dinner of the year, you’re sure to get the occasional wanderer in the kitchen hoping to score a sample. Don’t make your guests wait for the main course! Tease their appetites with a bit of stuffing.

Simply double your classic stuffing recipe (or set some aside if you’re making a lot already), then scoop the uncooked ingredients into a lined cupcake pan. Bake until golden brown.

To make each cup more filling, top with something savory, like our Truffle Mousse or our Black Peppercorn Mousse. Top with a dollop of cranberry sauce for an added bite of sweetness.

Decadent Pheasant Rosemary Stuffing

Thanksgiving is a day of indulgence, and what better way is there to spoil yourself than with a decadent gourmet stuffing?

Create a meal to remember by adding our Pheasant Rosemary Pâté – rich with pheasant, pork, and duck meats, rosemary and pecans – to your stuffing recipe!

Simply cut this coarse-cut pâté into small cubes and mix into your stuffing base, along with garlic, shallot, parsley, thyme and (optionally) mushrooms.

As it cooks, the flavors of pheasant and rosemary will blend into your stuffing, giving your whole meal a heavenly taste.

To quote Three Dog Night: One is the loneliest number— but not with a delicious and savory snack in front of you. 

Pâté isn’t just a snack or side, it’s an entire vibe. Not to mention, when experiencing a little bit of solitude, you’ve earned the right to enjoy yourself and indulge.

Ultimately, when snacking on pâté by yourself, there are only a few things you should know to get the most out of your experience. Luckily for you, we’ve gathered them here for your reading pleasure.

• When it’s just you, presentation isn’t everything. Sure, if you want to practice putting together a beautiful cheese and meat board complete with pâté, then this is a good chance to go through some trial and error. But, honestly, why go through the trouble? When snacking on pâté alone you can throw presentation—  and even etiquette—  out the window. Grab a plate, a boxful of Alexian speciality crackers, and bring on the pâté so you make your snack session all about enjoying every last bite.
  
• Make an adventure out of being on your own. Pâté and the best crunchy sides that go with it, are known for being portable. Plan a beautiful hike and reward your bold spirit with a savory solo picnic.
• Experiment. Without any prying eyes (or judgemental friends) you can see just how many delicious snacks pâté goes well with. Our philosophy is “If it goes crunch, it goes with your pâté at lunch!” Rest assured, there’s plenty of food you can try for the first time with pâté that will please your palate. From cucumbers to pretzel sticks, there are plenty of foods that aren’t always included in a pâté spread that could (and should!) be. Get creative, and you might just find your new favorite combination.

Above all, remember this: the best part about solo snacking on pâté is that you don’t have to share!

Cucumber bites: the perfect healthy snack with plenty of crunch.

As savory as they are fulfilling, there are tons of different recipes for cucumber bites (because like pâté, they can pretty much go with everything). These bites of deliciousness are portable for picnics, easily shareable for group gatherings, and the coolness of the cucumber is particularly refreshing in warm weather.

The best part about cucumber bites? They’re incredibly easy to make! Check out our five favorite recipes below.

Shrimp Cucumber Bites

Ingredients:

• 3 cucumbers
• 1 pound of cooked, peeled shrimp 
• Cajun seasoning, to taste
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
• 1/3 cup of olive oil
• Sea salt, to taste
• Guacamole (any brand)
• 2 tbsp of Cilantro, finely choppedInstructions:
• Cut and peel cucumbers before slicing them into tokens.
• Roughly chop shrimp
• Combine lime juice, honey, garlic, and olive oil, n a bowl. Add shrimp and sprinkle in both cajun seasoning and sea salt.  Mix and let marinate. Pro tip: the longer you marinate, the more flavorful the shrimp.
• Slather guacamole on cucumbers, add shrimp mixture, and garnish with cilantro.

Classic Dilly Cucumber Bites

Ingredients:

• 3 Cucumbers
• 1 pint of grape tomatoes, sliced
• Container of Greek yogurt
• An 8-ounce block of cream cheese
• 1 small container of ranch dressing
• 3 tbsp of fresh dill
  

Instructions:

• Cut and peel cucumbers before slicing them into tokens. 
• Combine yogurt, cream cheese, and dill in a bowl. Add ranch dressing for flavoring. 
• Slather mixture on cucumbers and garnish with grape tomatoes. Yum!

Prosciutto Cheese Cucumber Bites with Prosciutto

Ingredients:

• 3 Cucumbers
• 1 slice of Alexian Eggplant and Goat Cheese Pâté 
• 3 ounces of thinly sliced prosciutto

Instructions:

• Cut and peel cucumbers before slicing into tokens
• Slather eggplant and Goat Cheese Pâté onto each token
• Garnish with prosciutto

Cucumber Bites

Ingredients:

• 3 Cucumbers
• 1 slice of Alexian Chicken and Veal Pâté, thinly sliced
• 1 pint of grape tomatoes, sliced
• Fresh arsley leaves

Instructions:

• Cut and peel cucumbers before slicing into tokens. Place thin slices of Chicken and Veal Pâté onto cucumber tokens.
• Use toothpicks to stack cucumber, pâté, a slice of grape tomato, and parsley together.

Tomato Basil Cucumber Bites

Ingredients:

• 3 Cucumbers
• 1 slice of Alexian Tomato Basil Pâté
• That’s all! (Yes, seriously.)

Instructions:

• Cut and peel cucumbers before slicing into tokens. 
• Spread Tomato Basil Pâté.
• That’s all you need for this simple yet savory snack!