MY FAVORITE THANKSGIVING RECIPES
Dear Friends,
With another Thanksgiving right on our heels I thought I’d help to make your Thanksgiving as delicious and as drama-free as possible by giving you my favorite Thanksgiving recipes all in one place, right here! All you have to do is click on the name of the recipe, or on the photo, and it will take you right to my printable recipe and recipe tutorial. What could be easier than that?
THE COCKTAIL
Let’s start with the cocktail. I think it’s nice to begin the festivities with a signature cocktail. This recipe for my Spanish Style Rosemary Gin Fizz is festive because it incorporates sparkling wine, and it’s great for fall with a hint of rosemary. It’s not too sweet, just light, refreshing and delicious, and will give you the opportunity to make your first toast of the day.
Cheers!
Just add sparkling wine and serve!
THE APPETIZERS
The last thing you want is to fill your guests up on appetizers before the big meal. So I suggest that you decide on one light appetizer, add a bowl of spiced nuts and call it good. One of my all time favorite appetizers is this one for Blue Cheese and Rosemary Pinwheels. It will pair very nicely with the Spanish Style Rosemary Gin Fizz and is very quick and easy to prepare.
Add to this a bowl of my delicious Sweet & Spicy Roasted Mixed Nuts and call it good.
THE SOUP COURSE
I like to serve soup as my first course instead of salad. In fact, I never serve salad for Thanksgiving. Why? Because between a side dish or two of veggies, plus 2 types of potatoes, I think serving salad is overkill. But hey, that’s just my humble opinion. I love salad but if I had to leave one dish off my Thanksgiving menu salad would be it.
I have developed several great soup recipes that are ideal for Thanksgiving dinner. Here they are. You choose.
- Acorn Squash and Sweet Potato Bisque
- Roasted Pumpkin and Vegetable Soup
- Creamy Asparagus Soup
- Roasted Vegetable Soup
Acorn Squash & Sweet Potato Bisque | Roasted Pumpkin & Vegetable Soup
Creamy Asparagus Soup | Roasted Vegetable Soup
SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE CREAM BISCUITS
In our home Thanksgiving would just not be complete without the addition of my Simply Irresistible Cream Biscuits. They make the perfect accompaniment to your soup course, and I’m not exaggerating when I call them irresistible. I dare you to eat just one!
LET’S TALK TURKEY
My recipe for Super Moist and Delicious Brine-Cured Roast Turkey is absolutely outstanding, if I do say so myself. If truth be told it is not entirely my recipe, as I adapted it from one I received from acclaimed chef Patrick O’Connell from The Inn At Little Washington in Virginia hunt country. What makes this recipe so outstanding is the brining process. If you have never brined a turkey now is the time to start. It makes all the difference in the world and you will be amazed at how moist it will make your bird. Click on the photo below and it will take you to my step-by-step turkey brining and roasting tutorial. Get started several days early because you’ll need time to thaw the bird and then brine it.
SENSATIONAL SIDE DISHES
The one side dish I make without fail every Thanksgiving is this one for Parsnip, Carrot & Leek Gratin. I can just hear you now, PARSNIPS!!?? Yes, that’s right, parsnips. I don’t make this often but when I do everyone asks for seconds, really. The combination of the parsnips and the carrots gives the dish a crispy bite, while the leeks add a subtle onion flavor. Combine that with cream, fresh thyme and grated parmigiano reggiano and you’ve got a winning recipe. Try it. You’ll be glad you did!
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Crumble
Pecans and Sweet Potatoes, need I say more? It’s screams quintessential Thanksgiving. We’ve all had the rudimentary and obligatory sweet potatoes every Thanksgiving, but this recipe is anything but that. It combines the essentials but elevates them with a delicious oatmeal and pecan crumble, and just a few of marshmallows thrown in for good measure.
It goes without saying that Mashed Potatoes are a must for Thanksgiving. While I’ve never published a recipe for Mashed Potatoes, I explained how I make them in my tutorial on Shepard’s Pie.
THE DESSERT
Our family is very traditional when it comes to Thanksgiving dessert. Because we love Pumpkin Pie so much, it’s hard to introduce anything else without feeling deprived. And I’ve got one delicious recipe for Pumpkin Pie in the Sky you really need to try.
So there you have it: MY FAVORITE THANKSGIVING RECIPES
Wishing you a wonderful thanksgiving.
Thanks for dropping in! Do please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
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