Hi folks, it is time to plan the menu for this year’s feast with our top recommended Thanksgiving recipes. Whether you are doing big or small, the menu needs to be set and a plan in place soon.
Like all good food bloggers, I will make everything from scratch; I will plant the seeds, harvest the wheat and mill the flour. Well maybe not. While I love Thanksgiving, the amount of work can be overwhelming. So let’s get our plan started.
The first part is easy. How big do you need to go? How many people? Do you love or hate leftovers?
Second, how much time do you have? Some super planners out there will pull everything off from scratch. I’m not there, and honestly, we don’t want to be. We want time with the family. We have X amount of time and energy and will put it where it does the best.
Things we will buy this year: the pies and the bread, I need a variety of both, but I may make my 60 minute rolls if I can work it in. I have some excellent recipes for bread and desserts, but with the variety we need it is just better to buy. We have good sources, and I’m not embarrassed to use them.
Molly: Come on Lilly. Let’s go shopping for the bird.
Recommended Recipes for Thanksgiving
Breads
60 Minute Yeast Dinner Rolls*
Stand Mixer Lunch Lady Rolls
Julia Child’s French Bread – Simplified
Turkey Suggestions
Cider Brined, Herb Buttered Martha Roasted Turkey – The Full Monte
How to Brine a Turkey*
Butter Turkey Tenderloin – Pan Seared Oven Roasted with Gravy
Grilled Brown Sugar Rubbed Turkey Breast
Crock Pot Honey Glazed Ham
Side Dishes
Turkey Sausage Stuffing*
Green Bean Casserole without Soup
Broccoli Slaw*
Clark Family Sweet Potato Casserole*
How To Make Gravy – 101*
Desserts
Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Apple Cake from Scratch
Apple Crumble
Really Easy Apple Crumb Pie
Sweets
Rachael Ray’s 5 Minute Fudge
Homemade Candied Nuts
Oreo Fudge
Crock Pot Apple Crisp
NOTES: * are recipes I’m using this year.
With the turkey, I’m trying a new simple Cooks Illustrated Easier Roast Turkey and Gravy . Briefly, many recipes go through lots of maneuvers to get the dark meat done correctly like starting to cook upside down. They take a large pizza stone and heat to 500 degrees and set the roaster on that adjust the temp to 425 and tent for 45 minutes. Then remove the tent and decrease temperature to 325 and finish cooking. They also do a dry salt rub that I’m replacing with a brine and brush on oil with baking powder to crisp the skin (also doing). Pictures and recipe after the cooking.
The food safety (Thanksgivings edition) coming next week.
Let’s get shopping.
DrDan
Last Updated
November 17, 2016
Hi All, I’m DrDan and welcome to 101 Cooking for Two. We present some of the best recipes with easy to follow step by step photo instructions to make your everyday cooking needs easier.
Joan
How I use leftover turkey
This is not a recipe although I am sure it started as one and is how my family uses some leftover turkey. My family calls it High Turkey Sandwich. It is really a form of a club sandwich and I first had it at Gilmore’s Tea Room in Kalamazoo, Michigan and I think it may have been served at Marshall Field’s in Chicago.
So here is my non recipe which I would like to share with you. One slice of white bread, a slice of cheese, cold turkey meat, a slice of bread, bacon, tomato, lettuce, a slice of bread, slices of hard boiled egg, and to top it off, Thousand Island dressing made from mayonnaise, ketchup, and sweet pickle relish. Once, I ate the whole thing, but now I leave out the center slice of bread and can’t really get through that.
You are welcome to make it into a recipe if you wish, Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
DrDan
Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays.
Dan