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If you don't want turkey for thanksgiving
dinner, how about substituting for one of the following:
Prime Rib Dinner I
(7-course dinner)
Prime Rib Dinner II
(Christmas or Thanksgiving Dinner)
Learn how to cook the
Perfect Prime Rib
Honey-Glazed Ham Dinner Menu
(with recipes)
Ham 101
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Learn all about the different types of ham and
how to cook them.
Roasted Crown of Pork Loin
Truly one of the most magnificent of all holiday entrees!
Impress your guest with this attractive Roasted Crown Loin of Pork. It is a real show stopper!
How about substituting your oven-roasted turkey for:
Barbecued or Grilled Whole Turkey
This is a very easy and efficient way to cook your Thanksgiving turkey.
No mess in your oven or the kitchen. A whole turkey may be prepared on either a
gas grill or a charcoal grill. This method requires a covered barbecue grill and
heavy duty aluminum foil. Your turkey will be crisp outside and juicy inside.
Cajun Fried Turkey
This is the best way of cooking a turkey
I've ever tasted.
The turkey is anything but greasy as
the deep-frying process seals the outside and the turkey remains
incredibly juicy, while the skin gets wonderfully crispy.
Smoked Turkey
Learn how to smoke a whole turkey.
Turducken
This regional delight has become one of the latest food
fads. From the outside it looks like a turkey, but when
you cut through it, you see a series of rings making up
the three birds and three stuffings.
Vegetarian
Thanksgiving:
For your vegetarian family
and friends.
Tofurky/Tofurkey
Recipe with Vegan Gravy
Southwest/Mexican
Thanksgiving:
Mexican Americans and others
have put their own gastronomical twist on Thanksgiving meals. These are not “tradition,” nor are they
found at all Thanksgiving celebrations, which include Latin American foods, but
they are the foods many consider a Thanksgiving meal in the Southwest:
Turkey in Mole Sauce
(Mole Poblano de Guajolote)
A Southwest and Mexican Thanksgiving favorite.
Homemade
Tamales
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Turkey Hints & Tips:
Turkey Basics
How to purchase, stuff, and
roast a turkey. Choosing a fresh or frozen turkey. How to thaw a frozen turkey. How to prepare turkey for stuffing.
Thanksgiving Planning - Stress-Free Thanksgiving
How to plan and prepare your Thanksgiving dinner in advance without stress.
Turkey Terminology - Types of Turkeys
Learn the differences between the
different types of turkeys in the marketplace.
Guidelines for Brining Poultry
The secret to juicy chicken breast is simple - brine them before grilling or
baking! It's very easy and economical, and requires no special cookware.
Guidelines For Roasting a Whole Turkey
Learn how to safely and easily prepare
and roast your turkey.
Advice on Stuffing a Turkey Safely
As the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday draws near, learn how to safely
stuff your turkey.
Using a Cooking or Meat Thermometer
Have you ever cut into a turkey to see if it has finished cooking?
Cooking thermometers take the
guesswork out of cooking, as they measures the internal temperature of
your cooked meat and poultry to assure that a safe
temperature has been reached, harmful bacteria have been destroyed, and
your turkey is cook perfectly.
Making Perfect Turkey Gravy
Hints and tips for making that perfect
turkey gravy.
Handling Leftovers Safely
Leftover" foods are cooked foods that you or your family do
not eat within 2 hours after they are cooked. Improper handling or
storing cooked food is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the home.
Let's Make Turkey Stock
My favorite thing to do the morning
after Thanksgiving is to make homemade
turkey stock from the turkey carcass. It
is so easy to do and so delicious! The
turkey stock can be used for a delicious
soup or frozen for future use.
Food Safety Pages:
Buffet and Party Safety
Also includes what to do if your guests have been
delayed at least an hour
Golden Rules of
Food Safety
IF IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT! If you have any
question in your mind about the freshness or safety of eating a food product,
throw it out. It is better to be safe than sorry!
Etiquette, Entertaining, and
Party Planning Help
Dining Etiquette Guide
Restaurant and Dinner Party Manners and Etiquette
Simple Rules for Planning a Dinner Party
What is a Recipe?
Learn how to follow a recipe, why some recipes do not work, and about Mise en Place
Appetizer Hints
How many appetizers to make for your party
Buffet &
Party Safety -
Organizing Your Buffet Supper
Etiquette Faux Pas and Other Misconceptions About Afternoon Tea
Due to the new popularity of Afternoon Tea, many people have jumped on the
bandwagon, including hotels, caterers, party planners, and protocol
and etiquette “experts.” While their enthusiasm is well
intended, unfortunately a great deal of misinformation is being
perpetuated by these.
Invitation to Afternoon Tea
The invitation has
just arrived in the mail. What do you do next? When one is invited to
an afternoon tea, or any event for that matter, there are protocols that
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Thanksgiving
Dinner Menu
Ideas and Recipes
How To Plan Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner
Before planning
this year's Thanksgiving Dinner, please read
Thanksgiving Planning - Stress-Free Thanksgiving
(How to plan and prepare your Thanksgiving dinner in advance without stress).
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Thanksgiving Appetizers:
More delicious and easy-to-make
Appetizer Recipes.
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Football Nachos
This easy-to-make nacho dish is a family favorite. A great appetizer to
serve in the late morning and early afternoon for your guests watching
the Thanksgiving Football Games on television.
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Appetizer ideas to serve your guests while waiting for Thanksgiving dinner to
be served. Serve light appetizers before your dinner, as you
don't want to fill up your guests. Also serve appetizers that can be made ahead of
time and kept in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Many, many more
Appetizer Ideas. |
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Cranberry Salsa with Cream Cheese
or
Cranberry Holiday Spread
or
Goat Cheese Torta
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Platter of assorted cut-up fresh
vegetables, chesses, and meats plus
Dill Dip for Vegetables
or
Cheese Boards, Cheese Plates, Cheese Platters
Entertaining frequently includes some kind of cheese tray, often
with fruit or vegetables or meat or a combination of these foods. This is an opportunity to be creative and
introduce your guests to some new cheeses. It's great fun!
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Soup
Course Ideas - Optional Course:
I like to serve a soup course to start the dinner off. Serve a light
soup and serve small amounts (more appetizer size). Just enough to
delight the taste palates of your guests and family. Lots of delicious
Soup, Stew, Chili and Chowder Recipes.
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Curried Butternut Squash Soup
This is one of my family's
favorite soup recipes. I have also served this delightful and interesting soup
for dinner parties. Give it a try!
Troppo's Squash Bomb Soup
This delicious
squash soup is like a dessert before dinner. It's sweet but spicy,
because of the cayenne pepper."
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Tomato-Basil Crab Bisque
This soup is so good! This is one of
the best bisques that I've tasted.
Carrot Vichyssoise
This recipe originally was made at the Four
Season's restaurant in New York. So good!
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Thanksgiving Main Dish and Side Dishes:
Turn off the TV during your Thanksgiving dinner.
Remember, Thanksgiving only comes once a year. Focus your attention
where it belongs on the delicious food and your family and friends. When
the dishes are done, EVERYONE can enjoy the games (or the chat in the
other room).
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Oven Roasted Turkey
America's traditional Christmas turkey dinner meat. Learn how to safely and easily prepare and
roast your turkey.
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Stuffing or Dressing
Choices:
Stuffing or Dressing choices
are usually made according to the region you live in and
also family favorites.
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Turkey Stuffing
Advice on
Stuffing a Turkey Safely
Whether you call it "stuffing" or "dressing,"
what's not to love about turkey stuffing? It's often one
of the best parts of a turkey dinner. It is so easy to
prepare. Also be creative and add your family's favorite
ingredients.
This is my family's favorite Turkey Dressing/Stuffing
recipe that I make every year. |
Grandma's Oyster Dressing
This oyster dressing must be served
as a side dish and not as a turkey stuffing in the turkey.
or
Scalloped Oysters
Scalloped oysters are fantastic served as a special
side dish, first course, or appetizer with crackers. For many families, this
dish is a Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition.
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Potato
Choices plus Gravy:
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Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Save your
valuable kitchen time on Thanksgiving day by
using this easy-to-make mashed potato dish
for your next Thanksgiving dinner. This
recipe is especially great when serving a
crowd as it eliminates the mess and
last-minute hassle of whipping potatoes.
This is the recipe I
use every year for Thanksgiving Dinner.
I, personally, like and use this crock pot version, as it frees up my oven
for other dishes when making my holiday meals.
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Perfect Mashed Potatoes
This mashed potato recipe is perfect for
Thanksgiving. This recipe is classic, simple, and perfectly fits the season.
What could go better with turkey than cranberry sauce and some mashed
potatoes? |
Browned Butter Smashed Potatoes with Butternut Squash
Try something new and impress your family and
guests with this delicious combination of potatoes and butternut squash. |
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Turkey Gravy
I can't imagine a turkey dinner without
having homemade turkey gravy.
Turkey gravy is so easy-to-make and absolutely
necessary with mashed potatoes. Learn how to make perfect turkey gravy.
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More Side Dish
Choices and Ideas:
It is up to you
how many side dishes you serve with your dinner. The more
family and/or friends invited to dinner, the more side
dishes. Our tradition is that each family invited will bring
a side dishes to the dinner to help out with all the
preparation involved in preparing the dinner. If you also do
this, be sure and decided in advance what you want everyone
to bring, so you don't end up the 3 or 4 versions of the
same dish.
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Cranberries: |
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Cranberry Relish
My son-in-law makes this wonderful family
recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner every year.
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Cranberry Sauce with Raspberry Vinaigrettee
This traditional sauce is enhanced by raspberry vinegar. Very delicious! |
Tangy Tomato Aspic
This gelatin salad is a favorite family
comfort food that we make and serve for
Thanksgiving Dinner every year.
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Vegetables:
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Green Beans Supreme -
Green Bean Casserole
This green bean dish is considered the ultimate comfort food
with some America families. Most holiday meals (especially
Thanksgiving and Christmas) wouldn't be complete without
this green bean dish.
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Butternut Squash Gratin
This butternut squash gratin is so good! My husband gave it a 10 rating,
and said that I can make it anytime I want - in other words, he liked it! |
German Creamed Spinach
This dish is absolutely wonderful! It's a family favorite at our house for all holidays and special occasions. Even children like this spinach dish!
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Hashed Brussels Sprouts with
Poppy Seeds and Lemon
This simple recipe has converted
lots of sworn Brussels-sprout haters into devoted connoisseurs. They've turned
the sprouts into comfort food by 'hashing' and stir-frying them with poppy
seeds. So delicious! |
Michael's Best Button Mushrooms
These mushrooms are so incredibly delicious!! This
is my "go-to" recipe for both special occasions and dinner parties.
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Roasted Cauliflower
This method of preparing cauliflower is very simple and extremely delicious.
If you have never roasted cauliflower, try it now! |
Relish Plate (pickles, olives, etc.)
A Thanksgiving dinner isn't complete without a relish plate
to nibble on.
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Salads:
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Caesar
Salad
My all-time favorite salad is the Caesar Salad. To many, including myself, this is the
King of salads. Caesar salads are very easy to make and can be prepared in advance. This salad
will definitely impress your dinner guests.
Following is my delicious
low-fat version of Caesar Salad. I promise you that your guests will never know the difference!
I make this low-fat and easy-to-make version all the time. I serve this
salad with
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
Low Fat Caesar Salad
Recipe
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Fresh Fruit Salad with
1-2-3 Fruit Dressing
This is very refreshing and
delicious fruit salad. I use whatever fresh fruit is in season when making this
salad. The combination of citrus fruits in the dressing gives the salad a
wonderful delicious flavor! This is an older Betty Crocker recipe. Sometimes the
older recipes are the best recipes!
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Bread or Roll
Choices:
Home made rolls
and breads are always preferred, but it you don't have the
time to make your own, purchase top-quality rolls and breads
at a local bakery.
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Make Ahead Butter Rolls
This is one my favorite roll recipe to use for holiday dinners, especially Thanksgiving
and Christmas dinner. Very easy to make ahead and bake at the last minutes.
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Northwest Cornbread
My family loves cornbread! It is easy to make and so good. Cornbread
made in the Northwest is a little sweeter and lighter than the
traditional southern cornbread.
Honey Butter
Honey Butter is a must when serving cornbread for our family. |
Various Breads
In order not to have to heat rolls in my oven, I
sometimes make various homemade breads the day before Thanksgiving. Saves
me a lot of time on Thanksgiving day and pleased all my guests. |
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Thanksgiving Desserts (lots of great ideas
and choices):
Most families
serve at least two (2) dessert choices.
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Pumpkin Cheesecake
This cheesecake is absolutely
wonderful. I
usually make this cheesecake a week or so before Thanksgiving and freeze it. |
Pumpkin Pie
Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie
How
about making this very easy and traditional pumpkin pie for your
Thanksgiving dinner? |
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
This very light and delicious pumpkin. This very light and delicious pumpkin chiffon pie will be a big
hit at your Thanksgiving dinner. People who are not a big fan of the
traditional pumpkin pie, will like this version.
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Pumpkin Empanadas
Pumpkin empanadas are made both on Thanksgiving and Christmas
for some Mexican-style Thanksgiving Dinners.
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Pecan Pie
The only way this pie
could be better tasting is to serve it warm and topped with a big scoop of
vanilla ice cream.
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Fig Pecan Pie
I first tasted this delightful fig pecan pie on a trip in western
Australian. This pie is absolutely wonderful! The figs are a delightful
addition to the traditional pecan pie.
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Chocolate Pecan Pie
This delicious chocolate pecan pie is taken above and beyond the usual pecan pie's
corn-syrupy incarnation. A layer of bittersweet chocolate
adds richness to the dessert while simultaneously balancing
its sweetness.
Pecan Praline Pie
There is the plain pecan pie and there is this "souped-up" version that the Southern people make for Thanksgiving dinner.
This is a delicious alternate to the classic pecan pie. Give it a try and you'll see.
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Old-Fashioned
Mincemeat Pie
This has been my favorite holiday pie since I was a
little girl. My grandmother used to make her own
homemade mincemeat.
Devonshire Cream
or
Crème fraîche
or
sweetened whipped cream
to top you pies.
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Lighter Dessert Ideas:
Spiced Pumpkin Mousse Trifle
How about a light dessert? Wouldn't this be an excellent dessert
for your Thanksgiving Dinner?
Pumpkin Parfait
This creamy parfait as a light alternative to pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner.
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Finale:
Now is the time to sit
back and relax. Forget about the mess in the
kitchen and just relax and enjoy your family
and/or friends. (I know, the mess is still
in your kitchen waiting to be cleaned up, but now is not the time to jump up and start
cleaning. Just relax and visit!)
  Coffee
- How to make a perfect cup
of coffee
How To Use a French Press
-
coffee press, plunger press and/or press coffee
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Thanksgiving Menu and Recipes by 
