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Post by Chris on Nov 5, 2005 17:05:01 GMT -5
The past two years we have gone out to eat for Thanksgiving. The first year the food was horrible and last year it was just okay. It just doesn't seem like a holiday when we go out so I have decided that we need to spend the day at home even if it does mean a ton of work for me. I want my children to remember Thanksgiving as a day where we watch a parade in the morning, stuff our faces in the afternoon, play games and stuff ourselves some more. Unfortunately, my entire family lives in Texas and my husband's family are not on speaking terms (don't ask  ). My MIL will be joining us so it will just be the five of us for Thanksgiving. I am looking for some really special, yummy recipes for our dinner. I am not making a whole turkey since nobody eats the dark meat so it's just a turkey breast. Thanks for sharing! Please share other things you do to make this a special day. Chris |
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Post by ValerieC on Nov 5, 2005 22:21:32 GMT -5
My MIL makes the entire Thanksgiving dinner, we kids bring dessert. The majority are now diabetic so it looks like a lot of sugar free stuff. Yukkk!
Anyway, I always make Christmas dinner for our kids and the "homeless" ones in our lives. I have found that Christmas is way to stressful to make a full dinner with all the trimmings so I began a few years back preparing a lasagne on Christmas Eve and popping it in the oven for dinner on Christmas. That way I can enjoy the clean-up time with my kids! Uh...did I say clean-up with my "KIDS"?
I know you asked for recipes, I'm sorry I just had to a share a tradition.
Valerie C
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Post by Ericsmomma on Nov 6, 2005 7:23:26 GMT -5
I usually end up cooking cuz we have enough room for everyone....usually about 10-15 people. Here's a couple of favorite recipes I usually make:
Fruit Salad
1 large can peaches (drained and diced)
1 large can pineapple chunks (drained)
1 can mandrian oranges (drained)
1 cup grapes..red or green..seedless
1 pint fresh or frozen strawberries
2 tablespoons TANG (instant breakfast drink)
1- 3oz pack of vanilla INSTANT pudding...add DRY
mix together....then
2 sliced bananas....but do not add them until right before serving
enjoy!
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Post by Ericsmomma on Nov 6, 2005 7:30:27 GMT -5
here's another one I use for an appetizer:
Horseradish cheese
1- 1lb. velveeta cheese (cubed)
1 cup mayo
1 jar horseradish sauce (8oz)
1 tablespoon horseradish
Melt velvetta cheese over low heat-stirring constantly. Add mayo and stir in completely.
Add the horseradish sauce and horseradish and stir . Serve warm or cold... put in crock or jar...keeps for long time in fridge....serve with variety of crackers.
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Post by Ericsmomma on Nov 6, 2005 7:41:47 GMT -5
here's a soup recipe too...its yummy!
Chicken and wild rice soup
1 box (6oz) of PREPARED long grain and wild rice mix..I use the quick fix type
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
8 oz. boneless chicken breast chopped (about 2-3 breasts)
2 cups fresh, sliced, mushrooms
1-1/4 cup chopped onions
2 cloves garlic chopped
3 3/4 cups chicken broth ( thats 2 14 1/2 cans)
1/2 teaspoon tarragon
1/4 tsp. thyme
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 cups carnation evaporated milk (12oz. can)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons dry white wine.
heat vegetable oil in large sauce pan. Add chicken, mushrooms, onion, and garlic. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally till veggies tender and chicken is not pink. Add cooked rice, broth, and spices. Bring to a boil over medium heat. In a small bowl, combine small amount of evaporated milk and cornstarch. Stir until smooth. Add to saucepan with remaining milk and wine. Cook, stirring occassionaly for about 5 minutes or until thickened.
if you want, you can use low fat, low sodium chicken broth, and low fat evaporated milk.
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Post by dannysmom on Nov 6, 2005 19:16:55 GMT -5
My mom makes the best stuffing, this is her recipe:
1 package sausage (we like the hot, but you can use sweet if you like)
1 small onion finely chopped
3 stalks of celery chopped
large package season bread cubes
Make the bread cubes (stuffing mix, I believe we use pepridge farms) ) according to package instructions (usually butter, water or chicken stock) You don't use the instant kind (stove top) you need the kind of stuffing (bread cubes) that are not already pre done and just add water...you'll know what I mean when you see all of them at the store.
Take sausage out of casing and pan fry until brown
Sautee onion and celery in butter
Mix stuffing mix, cerely and onions and sausage together. You want it real moist, so you need to kind of use your judgement on how much chicken stock to add. You can do this all the day before...because your last step is to bake it at 350 until warm through and the top gets a little crusty.
It's delicious. Sorry the instructons aren't exact you kind of have to eyeball it to your liking.
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Post by ALLISA on Nov 7, 2005 19:15:37 GMT -5
Lisa.....I have to say that is the stuffing recipe we use every year.....good and traditinal....it IS thanksgiving to me.....but I'll tell you a great addition to it......
Craisins.....Ocean Spray makes them.....dried Cranberries...like Raisins.....but Craisins.......ooohhhhh so delicious and festive !
Allisa
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Post by dannysmom on Nov 7, 2005 22:04:39 GMT -5
OOh, thanks for the tip!! I think I'll try that this year. I love the stuffing, it's the best part. I saw a cooking show today that did a sweet potato receipe that looked great..I'll have to look it up on foodtv and copy it over here...it looked delicious!!
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Post by Chris on Nov 8, 2005 15:09:45 GMT -5
Keep the recipes and traditions coming!
I found a stuffing recipe that looks really yummy
Awesome Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing
1 1/2 cups cubed whole wheat bread
3 3/4 cups cubed white bread
1 lb sausage
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
2 1/2 teaspoons dried sage
1 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 chopped golden delicious apple
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1 cooked turkey liver, finely chopped
3/4 cup turkey stock
4 tablespoons melted butter
Directions:
1. Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Spried the white and whole wheat bread cubes in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes in the oven or until evenly toasted. Tranfer toasted bread cubes to a large bowl.
2. In a large skillet, cook the sausage and onions over a medium heat, stirring and breaking up the lumps until evenly browned. Add the celery, sage, rosmary and thyme. Cook, stirring for 2 minutes to blemd flavors.
3. Pour sausage mixture over bread in bowl. Mix in chopped apples, dried cranberries, parsley and liver. Drizzle with turkey stock and melted butter. Mix lightly and spoon into turkey to loosely fill.
I may add some chopped nuts, too.
Chris
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Post by ALLISA on Nov 9, 2005 18:37:39 GMT -5
LOL !! I really need this thread now.... I jsut found out I was "elected" to hold Thanksgiving dinner !! LOL
That's what happens when all hte other siblings go to mom & dad's house to help "winterize" and I bailed out......if you are not present.....they assign you other things !
Sol PLEASE keep some recipes coming....I'd love to see the sweet potatoe recipe someon mentioned......and a GOOD squash one !
Thanks ! Allisa
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Post by ValerieC on Nov 9, 2005 20:12:43 GMT -5
Allisa,
Don't follow these recipes! Do a terrible job and you'll never have to make Thanksgiving Dinner again! Hide a separate dinner for you and DH in a different room so you can eat a decent meal though. LOL
Valerie C
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Post by Jackie on Nov 10, 2005 7:34:14 GMT -5
LOL...making note of many of these....my WHOLE family ....all 4 kids an spouses and grandkids are coming this year..staying at the house for a few days...all of them.....so my best recipe will be the phone number for....Bourbon Street Cafe... www.bourbonstreetcafe.com/catering_order.html ;D We did it last year and you just can't beat their cajun fried turkey!!!! We pick up the entire meal at 11:45 and its on the table 30 minutes later! Jackie |
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Post by Ericsmomma on Nov 13, 2005 8:47:11 GMT -5
Here's another recipe:
Sweet Potato Casserole
2-1/2 lbs. sweet potatoes (about 3 large) scrubbed
2 large eggs, lightly beaten with a fork
3 tablespoons butter, melted, plus more for the pan
2 tablespoons packed Dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
pinch of nutmeg
1/4 cup coarsley chopped pecans
preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put the sweet potatoes
on a baking sheet and pierce each one 2-3 times with
a fork. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until tender. Set
aside to cool.
Turn the oven down to 350 degrees. Scoop the sweet
potatoes out of their skins and into a medium bowl.
Discard the skins. Mash the pototoes until smooth.
Add the eggs, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger,
and nutmeg. Whisk the mixture until smooth.
Butter an 8x8 inch casserole. Pour the sweet potato
mixture into the pan and sprinkle the top with the
pecans. Bake for 30-40 minutes until a bit puffy.
Serve immediately.
I double the recipe...
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Post by Chris on Nov 13, 2005 14:50:54 GMT -5
Dolly,
I have a recipe very similar to your sweet potato recipe. Whenever I have taken this dish to potluck, everyone has begged for the recipe. It is delicious! Unfortunately, my husband will not even try this dish. He eats his sweet potatoes plain, no butter or anything.
Chris
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). My MIL will be joining us so it will just be the five of us for Thanksgiving. 
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