Preparing a Thanksgiving feast is easy with this menu featuring favorite dishes and holiday fruits and vegetables.
Butter Roasted Turkey
The focus of the feast is often the turkey, and this turkey is so succulent and delicious, it is scary to think there are only 5 ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 1 7-9 pound turkey breast, thawed, washed, cleaned, and dried.
- 1 stick butter or 8 tablespoons margarine, 3-4 tablespoons extra butter for cooking
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon each, salt and pepper
- 1-2 cups chicken stock
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325°. Place clean and dry turkey breast into roasting pan.
- Loosen the skin of the breast, dividing it from the body without breaking it.
- Wash hands and mix the spices together well. Rub 1/2 tablespoon of spices under the skin of the turkey.
- Cut the stick of butter into 1/2 inch pieces, and place under the skin.
- Rub another 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning over the outside of the breast and place a few more pieces of butter on the outside of the skin. Pour 1 cup chicken stock over the bird and cook.
- Cook in the oven for 2 to 3 hours (until internal temperature is 165°. After an hour of cooking, spoon the melted butter onto the outside of the bird to keep the skin moist. Pour stock or place more butter pieces on the turkey breast if needed.
- Let turkey cool a few minutes once cooked. Cut and serve with cranberry and stuffing.
Cranberry Sauce
This sauce is simple and perfect for any holiday dinner.
Ingredients:
- 1 bag cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 orange for juice and zest
- 1 teaspoon each, cinnamon and nutmeg
Directions:
- Combine water, sugar, and brown sugar in a sauce pan over medium to medium high heat. Bring to a boil. Pour in the cranberries, and turn the heat to simmer.
- Add the orange juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest. Let simmer 10 minutes. Serve with turkey.
Cranberry sauce can be made in numerous ways. For more of an apple flavor, boil in apple juice and place chopped apples into the berries. For more orange, use orange juice instead of water. For a mix of fruit flavors, use half orange juice and half pineapple juice.
Cornbread Stuffing
Do not forget the stuffing on Thanksgiving. This is an easy-to-throw-together recipe, and very filling.
Ingredients:
- 1 bag cornbread stuffing mix
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 stick of butter
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups chopped celery
- 1 medium red onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Place 1/2 stick butter in a casserole dish and melt as the oven warms (this is to grease the dish and add flavor to the stuffing).
- Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat. Add celery, onions, and poultry seasoning. Cook until tender (3-5 minutes).
- Add the broth and stuffing mix. Cook for about 3 minutes just to heat. Take off heat, stir in some salt and pepper.
- Spoon the stuffing into a casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes.
This is a great recipe, and can be prepared towards the end of the turkey cooking. Then placed in the oven to cook, leaving just enough time to cool and cut the turkey.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes do not necessarily have to be mashed, turned into a casserole, or sweetened. They can simply be baked on a baking sheet or wrapped in foil, with some salt and butter.
Ingredients:
- 1 small to medium sweet potato for each person, washed and dried
- 1 tablespoon butter for each potato
- 1 teaspoon salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon sour cream (optional) or a drizzle of honey for serving
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400° (if cooking while turkey cooks, cook for 1 1/2 or 2 hours at 325°).
- Cut potato in half, but not all the way through. Place 1 tablespoon butter on the inside, along with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Wrap the potato in foil and place in the oven (can also be placed on a baking sheet wrapped in foil).
- Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
If desired sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and honey over the potato, or just add more salt, pepper, and some sour cream.
Collard Greens
Collard greens are a southern dinner tradition. They are easy to make, and taste great.
Ingredients:
- 1 package bacon (preferably thick cut)
- 1 pound of collard greens (can also mix with kale and mustard greens)
- 2 cups water
- 2-3 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons sea salt
- 1 tablespoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter (extra if needed)
Directions:
- Cook bacon on stove top following the directions on the packaging. Place cooked pieces on paper towels on a plate, and drain the grease.
- Add butter, collard greens, and 2 cups water to the pan. Cook on medium for about 3 minutes, then turn to medium low and cover for 15 minutes.
- Break the bacon into bits while the greens cook.
- Add garlic powder, sea salt, pepper, and bacon pieces. Mix together and simmer for 5 more minutes.
- Mix in more butter and take off heat.
Serve in a large bowl and enjoy.
Baked Apples
For desert, instead of cooking an entire pie or cake, keep it simple. Bake apples with sugar and spice, and serve vanilla ice cream or whipped cream sprinkled with cinnamon on top.
Ingredients:
- 4 Macintosh apples (more depending on the number of people), washed and cored
- Sugar and spice mix (recipe below)
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 scoops of ice vanilla ice cream for serving
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Place apples in a greased square baking dish.
- Put 1 tablespoon of butter inside each apple, along with 1 tablespoon of walnuts and at least a teaspoon of sugar and spice mix.
- Bake uncovered for 10 minutes. Then cover and cook for 40-50 minutes.
- Place apples on individual serving plates with a scoop of ice cream on top. Drizzle syrup from baking dish over the ice cream and sprinkle a few more nuts on top.
Sugar and Spice Mix:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Directions:
- Mix the spices together in a bowl or small container and store.
Everyone will be thankful and full of holiday cheer with this easy menu of roast turkey, savory cranberry sauce, smooth cornbread stuffing, baked sweet potatoes and collard greens, and baked apples with sugar and spices.
Allison Brown - My name is Allison. I have a degree in History and Political Science from Chaminade University, located on the beautiful Hawaiian island ...
