Thanksgiving Recipes & Dinner Menu Ideas
Thanksgiving is, without a doubt, my favorite holiday. I love when everyone comes together and celebrates the idea of gratitude, something we all mean to do every day, but seem to lose sight of most of the time. I also love the cooking—the days of planning and chopping and basting. This year, I decided to work out three variations on the traditional meal: A big group, a small gathering, and a cozy dinner for two.
Turkey will always be the main event of Thanksgiving (at least in my house) and a whole turkey is the way to go if you’re feeding at least 12. But if your party is smaller, the stuffed turkey breast turns out to be a great halfway point. Brining it overnight insures that you don’t need to baste it and it has a quick cooking time. Why should things be any less festive if dinner is just for two? I came up with these stuffed turkey burgers which were a giant hit in my house. They are the perfect solution for anyone who isn’t feeding a big group (or for a big group that wants to try something different!).
Mostly, make sure that no matter what type of meal you are having, you take a moment to think about how much you do have (health, love, friendship, passion, perspective, appreciation, intellect, reason, kindness) and reflect on how you can share more of it with others.
Love,
gp
Menus
Thanksgiving for a Crowd…
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Greens with Goat Cheese, Walnuts and Dried Cranberries
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Whole Roasted Turkey
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Thanksgiving Gravy
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Cranberry Chutney
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Classic Bread Stuffing
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Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
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Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup, Orange and Spices
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Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie with Maple Whipped Cream
Thanksgiving for a Small Crowd…
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Roasted Turkey Breast with Molasses
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Same side dishes as “Thanksgiving for a Crowd” (just cut the recipes in half)
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Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie with Maple Whipped Cream
Thanksgiving for Two…
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Stuffed Turkey Burgers
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Cranberry Ketchup
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Pumpkin Ice Cream
Whole Roasted Turkey
This recipe is a smaller-scale version of Martha Stewart’s accurately named Perfect Roast Turkey. It’s not afraid of butter.
Greens with Goat Cheese, Walnuts & Dried Cranberries
Endive, arugula and radicchio are a great combination and easy to get all winter long; the maple syrup balances the bitterness.
Thanksgiving Gravy
This is a classic gravy that really benefits from using all parts of the turkey—the neck to the sticky browned bits at the bottom of the roasting pan. Don’t throw any of that stuff away, it’s like gold!
Cranberry Chutney
Cranberry chutney is a wonderful seasonal condiment that goes beyond the turkey. We also use on our Stuffed Turkey Burgers, with cheeses, and more.
Classic Bread Stuffing
Generous on the onions and fennel seeds, this stuffing is hearty and satisfying but not soggy or heavy as stuffing can sometimes be.
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
These get deliciously sweet and crispy as they cook. Serve as a winter side dish to your greatest sprout cynic and watch them convert.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup, Orange & Spices
These sweet potatoes get sticky, sweet, and full of great holiday flavor when roasted. Serve anytime of year.
Roasted Turkey Breast with Molasses
Brining the turkey breast guarantees moist meat and roasting it with plenty of stuffing, herbs and molasses assures great flavor.
Stuffed Turkey Burgers with Cranberry Ketchup
All the flavors of Thanksgiving in a burger—what could be better? Pair with some baked sweet potato or butternut squash ‘fries’.
Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie with Maple Whipped Cream
A cool alternative (literally) to traditional pumpkin pie using vanilla ice cream, good canned pumpkin and lots of wonderful spices.
