Thanksgiving Recipes
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year to remember and be grateful for the people and circumstances that surround us. And, of course, thanksgiving is also the perfect opportunity to eat some amazing dishes and desserts. If it’s the first time you’ll have your family at your own house for thanksgiving and are a little nervous, I put together a list of thanksgiving recipes for you to prepare.
Thanksgiving Recipes #1 = Turkey
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without the turkey. This recipe offers you a perfectly seasoned and juicy turkey.
Preparation: 30 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Additional Time: 12 hours 30 minutes
Total: 17 hours
Ingredients
1 (18 pounds) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed,
2 cups kosher salt,
½ cup butter, melted,
2 large onions, peeled and chopped,
4 carrots, peeled and chopped,
4 stalks celery, chopped,
2 sprigs fresh thyme,
1 bay leaf,
1 cup dry white wine.
Method
Rub the turkey inside and out with the kosher salt. Place the bird in a large stockpot, and cover it with cold water. Place in the refrigerator and allow the turkey to soak in the salt and water mixture for 12 hours, or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Thoroughly rinse the turkey and discard the brine mixture.
Brush the turkey with 1/2 of the melted butter. Place breast side down on a roasting rack in a shallow roasting pan. Stuff the turkey cavity with 1 onion, 1/2 the carrots, 1/2 the celery, 1 sprig of thyme, and the bay leaf. Scatter the remaining vegetables and thyme around the bottom of the roasting pan, and cover with the white wine.
Roast uncovered 3 1/2 to 4 hours in the preheated oven, until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Carefully turn the turkey breast side up about 2/3 through the roasting time, and brush with the remaining butter. Allow the bird to stand about 30 minutes before carving.
Thanksgiving Recipes #2 = Mashed Potatoes
For a perfect traditional side, chose this recipe of mashed potatoes.
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12
Ingredients
5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed,
2 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese,
8 ounces sour cream
½ cup milk,
2 teaspoons onion salt,
Ground black pepper to taste.
Method
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Place potatoes in a large pot of lightly salted water. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, and mash.
In a large bowl, mix mashed potatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, onion salt, and pepper. Transfer to a large casserole dish.
Cover, and bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven.
Thanksgiving Recipes #3 = Gravy
Anyone can agree that gravy can’t be skipped. And this recipe is so delicious that you will want to make it for every special occasion. This recipe should also be made ahead of time with turkey wings.
Preparation: 30 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Total 2 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients
6 turkey wings,
2 medium onions, peeled and quartered,
1 cup water,
2 quarts chicken broth, divided,
¾ cup chopped carrot,
½ teaspoon dried thyme,
¾ cup all-purpose flour,
2 tablespoons butter,
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper.
Method
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Arrange a single layer of turkey wings in a large roasting pan. Scatter the onions over the top of the wings. Roast in the preheated oven for 2 hours or until wings are browned.
Place browned wings and onions in a 5-quart stockpot. Add water to the roasting pan and stir, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Pour the water from the pan into the stockpot. Stir in 6 cups broth, carrot, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 1-1/2 hours.
Remove wings from the pot and place them on a cutting board. When the wings are cool, pull off the skin and meat. Discard the skin and save the meat for another use. Strain contents of stockpot through a large strainer into a 3-quart saucepan. Press on the vegetables to extract any remaining liquid. Discard the vegetables and skim the fat off the liquid. Bring the contents of the pot to a gentle boil.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour into the remaining 2 cups chicken broth until smooth. Gradually whisk the flour mixture into the simmering turkey broth; simmer 3-4 minutes or until the gravy has thickened. Stir in the butter and pepper. Serve immediately or pour into containers and refrigerate or freeze.
Thanksgiving Recipes #4 = Cranberry Sauce
There is something about the sweet but tangy flavor of cranberry sauce that makes it another perfect side dish for turkey.
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 cup water,
1 cup maple syrup,
1 (12 ounces) bag fresh cranberries,
1 tablespoon brown sugar,
1 dash lemon juice,
1 tablespoon brandy.
Method
Combine water and maple syrup in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Add cranberries to the syrup mixture and cook at a boil until berries pop 10 to 15 minutes. Stir brown sugar and lemon juice into cranberries until brown sugar is completely dissolved. Mix in brandy.
Thanksgiving Recipes #5 = Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is another traditional dish that can’t miss on your thanksgiving.
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 10
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter,
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour,
1 teaspoon salt,
1 teaspoon white sugar,
¼ cup onion, diced,
1 cup sour cream,
3 (14.5 ounce) cans French-style green beans, drained,
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese,
½ cup crumbled buttery round crackers,
1 tablespoon butter, melted.
Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth and cook for one minute. Stir in the salt, sugar, onion, and sour cream. Add green beans and stir to coat.
Transfer the mixture to a 2 1/2-quart casserole dish. Spread shredded cheese over the top. In a small bowl, toss together cracker crumbs and remaining butter, and sprinkle over the cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden and cheese is bubbly.
Thanksgiving Recipes #6 = Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are yellow, creamy types of potatoes that are also called yams. Although sweet, this type of potatoes is a perfect side for almost any dinner.
Preparation: 20 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients
5 sweet potatoes,
¼ teaspoon salt,
¼ cup butter,
2 eggs,
1 teaspoon vanilla extract,
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon,
½ cup white sugar,
2 tablespoons heavy cream,
¼ cup butter softened,
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour,
¾ cup packed light brown sugar,
½ cup chopped pecans.
Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Bake sweet potatoes 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until they begin to soften. Cool slightly, peel, and mash.
In a large bowl, mix the mashed sweet potatoes, salt, 1/4 cup butter, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugar, and heavy cream. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup butter, flour, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. Mix with a pastry blender or your fingers to the consistency of the course meal. Sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture.
Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until topping is crisp and lightly browned.
Thanksgiving Recipes #7 = Pumpkin Pie
The pumpkin spice flavor in America now means that autumn is here. Almost everything has a pumpkin spice version!
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 (15 ounces) can pumpkin puree,
3 egg yolks,
1 large egg,
1 (14 ounces) can sweeten condensed milk,
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon,
½ teaspoon ground ginger,
½ teaspoon fine salt,
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg,
⅛ teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder,
1 9-inch unbaked pie crust.
Method
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Whisk together pumpkin puree, egg yolks, and egg in a large bowl until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, ginger, salt, nutmeg, and Chinese 5-spice powder; whisk until thoroughly combined.
Fit pie crust in a 9-inch pie plate and crimp edges and pour filling into the pie shell and lightly tap on the work surface to release any air bubbles.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake until just set in the middle, 30 to 40 more minutes. A paring knife inserted into the filling, 1 inch from the crust, should come out clean. Allow cooling completely before serving.
Thanksgiving Recipes #8 = Pecan Pie
Complete the meal with a delicious pecan pie. And the best part is this recipe doesn’t need any syrup, making it taste more like a pie than a sweet treat.
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Additional: 10 minutes
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients
1 cup light brown sugar,
¼ cup white sugar,
½ cup butter,
2 eggs,
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour,
1 tablespoon milk,
1 teaspoon vanilla extract,
1 cup chopped pecans.
Method
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy, and stir in melted butter. Stir in the brown sugar, white sugar and flour and mix well. Lastly add the milk, vanilla and nuts.
Pour into an unbaked 9-in pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until done.
