Monday, November 22, 2010

Thanksgiving: The Menu

We don't do gourmet.

We don't step outside the box.

We are traditional.

We stick to what we know.

That's how we roll on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving 2010:

roasted turkey breast
gravy
wild rice stuffing
roasted sweet potatoes
green bean casserole
roasted Brussels sprouts
cranberry sauce
rolls
pumpkin pie

A few notes:

Our little family of four is not one to eat turkey for weeks on end. A breast is more than enough to give us our fix.

I've been searching for the perfect wild rice stuffing recipe going on three Thanksgivings now. Each year I've used a different recipe. I'm hoping this is "the one". 2010's version includes walnuts, dried cranberries, fresh sage, and a bit of sausage.

We skip the mashed potatoes and opt for roasted sweet potatoes. No brown sugar or marshmallows needed. I simply peel and cube a bunch of sweet potatoes, toss with olive oil, add salt & pepper, and roast at a high temp. They are caramelized on the outside and soft on the inside. They are like candy.

I treat the Brussels sprouts in a similar fashion: Trim, cut in half, toss with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. The key to good sprouts, in my opinion, is adding another layer of flavor. I will toss in a bit of crumbled bacon as they cook or squeeze some fresh lemon on top as they are removed from the oven. And like the sweet potatoes, cook at a high temp. They should be tender inside with a crunchy outer layer.

Green bean casserole is the bomb. I don't care what you say. I've been known to eat the leftovers for breakfast. It just ain't Thanksgiving without it.

The Boy's favorite part of Thanksgiving is the homemade cranberry sauce. I bought a 3 lb bag of berries so we would not run out this year. However, I fear we will all the same.

I was never a pumpkin pie fan until I started making it with a graham cracker crust. Am I the only one that likes it this way?

That's our plan...how about you?

I'm including a linky. But it's really low pressure. If you don't have a whole menu planned, post a favorite Thanksgiving recipe. Maybe it's a post from last Thanksgiving. Or even a non-Thanksgiving post about something really tasty.

It doesn't have to be current. We are all pressed for time these days.

There are no rules here, peeps.

Please know there are panic stricken folk out in Blog Land that need your assistance.

I'm going to wish all of you happy Thanksgiving preparations. If you need me, I'm in the kitchen.

Gobble-gobble.