Thanksgiving 2013

Here is the recipe round-up for this year's Thanksgiving.  We also had Simply Lemonade (blueberry flavor).

Brussels Spouts - halved, seasoned with olive oil, smoked sea salt and pepper, and roasted at 400* for 45 minutes.

Turkey - Honeybaked Ham

Stuffing - Stove Top

Cranberry Sauce - Ocean Spray

(This is not very impressive so far!)

Mashed Potatoes - I did make these. I used whole milk, butter, and lots of salt.

Sweet Potato Casserole - Susan's recipe per John's request. Everyone liked it.

Rolls - Jamie's recipe

Simple Apple Tart

Pumpkin Roll

Gravy - 1 T. butter, 1 T. flour, 1 c. chicken broth. Nothing fancy.

And a turkey cheese ball for appetizer.

Jamie's Rolls

My goal these days is to only put tried and true recipes on this blog, mostly so I can find them again! This roll recipe is from my sister-in-law Jamie.


Jamie's Rolls
1 t. sugar
2 T. yeast
2 c. warm water

Dissolve and set aside 5 minutes before use.

In Kitchen Aid add:
3 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 t. salt

Beat with mixer.  Add yeast mixture.  Then add:

1 egg
1/4 c. oil
2 1/2 c. flour
more flour until the dough isn't sticky (I added nearly a cup this time).

Knead with Kitchen Aid 3-5 minutes. Let rest 5-10 minutes. Knead with mixer 5 minutes more.

Place in a greased bowl Coat top with oil—place a greased plastic lid (do not seal shut) or damp cloth over bowl. Let rise 2 hours or more.

Punch down. Form into balls.  Place on jelly roll pan—6 rows of 4 Let rise 45 minutes to 1 hour (or longer).   Bake 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.   Makes 24 rolls

Turkey Cheeseball

Here's the turkey cheeseball we made this year. My original idea!

It's just my regular cheese ball recipe, covered in nuts with carrots, Craisins and Wilton candy eyes for a face/feet.

We also made one for Halloween that was covered in crushed Doritos and had an olive jack-o-lantern face.

Dipped Marshmallows for Roasting

John had the idea to start a new tradition of roasting marshmallows on Thanksgiving. He made these special marshmallows for roasting. They are actually pretty easy.  Just get the marshmallow wet, then press it in the crumbs.  He used:

• graham cracker crumbs and shaved chocolate
• peppermint crumbs and shaved chocolate
• Oreo crumbs
• graham cracker crumbs
• peppermint crumbs
• and more Oreos

We don't have a BBQ, so we went to the park with some charcoal and roasted them in the grate.  Yum! My favorite was the Oreo.  John liked the peppermint with chocolate shavings. The kids liked them all.

Simple Apple Tart

Every year I try to recreate the apple tart Leonard has made, but my recipe sources always disappear.  So, here is the simple apple tart I made this year.



Simple Apple Tart

Sweet Pastry Dough
1 1/3 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
1 egg
1 T. cold water

Filling
2 pounds apples, peeled and sliced
2 T. melted butter
3 T. sugar

Glaze
1/2 c. sugar

Make the dough and cool in the refrigerator 1/2 hour.  Press into tart pan.  Fill with apples and fold the dough over the edges of the apples. Brush melted butter over the tart edges and the apples.  Sprinkle the sugar over the apples and tart edges. Bake at 400 for 45 minutes (I over cooked mine with that time) rotating every 15 minutes.

Make a glaze by boiling the apple cores and peels with 1/2 c. sugar and a small amount of water. (I think this could really be cut down. I'll try one apple peel/core and 2 T. sugar next time.)  Let the tart cool 15 minutes, then brush on the glaze.

I had a helper brushing the glaze on the tart.

Source: Smitten Kitchen

Sweet Potato Casserole

This recipe comes from my mother-in-law, Susan.  I'm not a fan of sweet potato casserole, but this version is growing on me.

Mom's Sweet Potato Casserole

1 29oz can of yams
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. evaporated milk
1/4 c. butter softened or melted
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. cinnamon
2 T. brown sugar

Grease 8x8 baking dish.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat all ingredients together. Bake for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean. Don't let it burn on the edges.

*Note: I had to bake this for an extra 25 minutes. Not sure if my oven is off, if it's the elevation or what. The edges didn't burn, the center just took a long time to set.