O.K. I'm FINALLY getting enthused about cooking Thanksgiving dinner. We have a huge (22 lbs) turkey even though we won't have that many people. I just think big turkeys taste better----something about the longer roasting period I guess. Whenever I cook smaller turkeys I don't like them as well. So here's the tentative menu:
Roast Turkey---I'll probably do some kind of spice rub under the skin...don't know what yet
Stuffing---I usually cook it in the turkey...I think this year I'll try it separate. I usually add spicy sausage, apples, lots of onions, celery and garlic. I have some good olive bread in the freezer I'm going to add to some basic stuffing mix. Lots of fresh parsley and sage too....
Basic mashed potatoes
Mashed sweet potatoes and parsnips. I don't like sweet potatoes sweetened a whole lot and I also generally don't like two pureed dishes but I read (somewhere, I don't remember) about a puree of sweet potatoes and parsnips that sounded great...
Shredded Brussels Sprouts with bacon, dijon mustard and cream (an experiment based on a couple of recipes I read)
Two kinds of cranberry sauce because I like it so much.....one with a vanilla bean and cardomon seeds and one is a relish with jalopenos, mint and pecans....
I'm making turkey stock right now for the gravy---I try to make it ahead so all you have to do is pour in the drippings and you're done. Good turkey stock with a splash of vermouth or maderia....
Kraft macaroni and cheese. Yup. The boys want it and I'm really thankful for them so what the hell....it's a holiday.....
For dessert I'm thinking apple pie because my Dad loves it. Brownies and cup cakes because that's what the boys want. Ernie and I aren't really dessert people so we don't care. Sometimes I make Indian Pudding....hmmm, that sounds pretty good, particularly as we have a quart of Custard Cup Vanilla in the freezer....we'll see...
I usually obsess about appetizers but on Thanksgiving all I do is grapes and nuts in the shell
What do you think???
