You don't need a turkey to have stuffing on your Thanksgiving table. Many Americans long ago abandoned the fuss of cooking the stuffing in the bird. In addition to cutting the time it takes to get the turkey on the table, this also frees up the side dish to be enjoyed by vegetarians.

Rather than simply spoon the stuffing into a casserole dish, we took it a step beyond. We spooned a savory cornbread stuffing into portobello mushroom caps. The result is as attractive as it is delicious.And for do-ahead ease, you could prep these up through the stage of stuffing the mushroom caps, then refrigerating them until closer to serving.Cornbread stuffing mushroomsStart to finish: 30 minutesServings: 88 large portobello mushroom capsSalt and ground black pepper2 tablespoons unsalted butter1 small yellow onion, chopped1 medium leek, green and white parts, sliced1 medium carrot, grated1 celery stalk, finely diced1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary2 cups diced cornbreadVegetable broth, as neededHeat the oven to 350 F.Arrange the mushrooms on a rimmed baking sheet, gill sides up. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then roast for 15 minutes.Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and leek and sauté until tender, about 7 to 8 minutes. Add the carrot, celery, thyme and rosemary and cook until tender, about another 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and gently fold in the cornbread.When the mushrooms are done, pour any liquid that has collected on the rimmed baking sheet into the cornbread mixture. If the mixture is dry, sprinkle in a bit of vegetable broth. Gently mix. Spoon the mixture into the mushroom caps and return to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.