Thanksgiving Recipes

Here are some great recipes to get your Thanksgiving meal off to a great start. Have a safe and Happy Holiday.

SUGAR FREE PUMPKIN PIE

1 sm. box sugar free butterscotch instant pudding
1 sm. box sugar free vanilla instant pudding
2 c. milk
1 sm. can Libby's pumpkin
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 pre baked pie shell, cooled

In large bowl mix boxes of pudding mix and milk. Fold in pumpkin and spice. Pour into pre baked pie shell and chill until firm. This pie can be frozen. Simply thaw 15 minutes before serving

SUGAR FREE CRANBERRY SAUCE

2 c. fresh cranberries
6 tbsp. raisins
6 oz. frozen apple juice, undiluted
1/2 tsp. grated orange rind

Combine all ingredients. Simmer gently until cranberries are all popped. This may be served warm or chilled.

TURKEY GRAVY

10 tablespoons roast turkey drippings
4 cups chicken or turkey broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1-2 tablespoons minced celery (optional)
1/2 cup thinly sliced mushrooms (or 1 small can)
8 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon Gravy Master
salt and pepper, to taste
onion and garlic powder, to taste
1 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley, minced (optional)

Remove cooked turkey to heated platter.

Pour off as much of the top fat as possible from roasting pan. Remove all but 10 tablespoons of pan drippings from roasting pan. Using a baster, obtain the dark flavorful drippings from the bottom of the pan, discarding the clear fat portion. Return the drippings to the pan.

Add 1 onion, thinly sliced and 2 cloves garlic, minced. A few tablespoons of finely minced celery and 1/2 cup thinly sliced mushrooms may optionally be added.

Blend in 8 tablespoons flour and stir, scraping up bits from the bottom of the pan, until mixture bubbles.

Add 4 cups of chicken or turkey broth and simmer for 5 minutes. (If you have turkey or chicken soup base, this can be used; follow directions on container to reconstitute to make 4 cups).

Stir in 1 teaspoon Gravy Master. After simmering for 15 minutes, adjust consistency as desired by adding more flour if the gravy seems too thin, or more water or broth if the mixture is too thick. Simmer another 5 to 10 minutes after adding flour to give it a chance to cook.

Add salt and pepper, onion powder and garlic powder, to taste. Stir in parsley during the last 2 minutes of cooking.

Makes 8 - 10 servings.

Variations: Add green onions, coarsely chopped, or scallions. A pinch of rubbed sage or Bell's Seasoning goes well with turkey. Wondra Flour may be used to thicken the gravy; less may be needed; add half as much and check consistency, adding more if you like. Add 1/4 cup dry sherry or port wine and simmer for another 10 minutes. Use up to 1 lb. fresh mushrooms.

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

30 ounces green beans, canned, drained *
10 3/4 ounces Cream of Mushroom Soup
3/4 cup milk
2 3/4 ounces French-fried onions
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Combine green beans, soup, milk, pepper and 1/2 of the onions; gently stir together to mix well. Spread mixture in a 1 1/2 to 2 quart ovenproof casserole dish.

Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Top with remaining onions. Bake 5 minutes more.

Cooks Note: *May substitute 18 ounces frozen cut green beans, thawed and drained.

Serving Size: 6

TURKEY STUFFING

1 pkg Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing (cubed)
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup onions, chopped
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups chicken broth
3 eggs
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon paprika
1 lb turkey giblets, finely chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1/2-1 teaspoon Bell Seasoning (or rubbed sage)
1/4 teaspoon each: salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder
a light sprinkling of cayenne pepper, if desired
1 teaspoon Knorr's powdered chicken bouillon or Minor's Chicken Soup Base

In a large saucepan, sauté chopped giblets and (de-stringed) celery in 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil; adding onions and after 2-3 minutes and minced garlic and parsley and mushrooms after 5 minutes. sauté 1 minute more and add chicken broth. Dissolve chicken bouillon in broth. Add paprika, Bell Seasoning, salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Add remaining butter and stir over low heat for 10 minutes.

Stir package of stuffing cubes into broth quickly. Liquid will be absorbed. Turn off heat but leave pan on stove.

Allow to sit for 2-3 minutes, then stir in 1 egg at a time using a large wooden spoon, mixing quickly. Stir completely after adding each egg.

Stuffing should be somewhat sticky. If it's not holding together, add 1/4-1/2 cup more broth and mix in.

Line the bottom of a bread loaf pan with aluminum foil, leaving enough along the sides to cover the top of the pan when folded over. Spray foil inside the pan with oil or non-stick spray. Pat mixture into pan evenly, spreading with spatula or the back of a spoon. Do not press heavily. Shape into a bread loaf shape.

Bake in 350 degrees 45 minutes; uncover by removing foil from top and allow to bake another 10-15 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Cut into 2 inch slices for each serving. It's easier to remove from the pan if you use a pancake flipper to cut the slices.

Baste top with turkey juices from cooked turkey or gravy before serving.

MAPLE CANDIED YAMS

1 stick butter
4 or 5 large fresh yams or sweet potatoes
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon OR 1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp. freshly grated ginger root
1/2 tsp. sea salt
2 to 2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows (optional)

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Peel yams or sweet potatoes (either may be used). Cut into 1 inch cubes or wedges.

Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish generously.

Arrange yams in baking dish.

In a saucepan, melt butter, and stir sugar until dissolved over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup water and spices.

Bring to a boil, add maple syrup; reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Pour butter mixture over the yams, turning them over to coat well. Cover the yams tightly with aluminum foil and bake on center rack in oven, basting the potatoes with the butter syrup once or twice during the baking for about 45 minutes or until fork tender.

Cooks Note: If adding mini-marshmallows, spread them evenly over the top of the potatoes at this time, and broil for 5-10 minutes or until lightly browned, otherwise proceed with next step.

When the potatoes are done, remove foil. Bake on the upper third of the oven at 475°F until the syrup has thickened and the potatoes are just beginning to caramelize (about 20 minutes - but watch carefully and do not allow them to burn; if they are browning too quickly reduce oven temperature).

Baste with additional butter before serving.

Variation: Use honey or Karo syrup instead of the maple syrup; add 1/4 cup frozen orange concentrate. Omit cinnamon; use vanilla.