A Few Of My Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

I don’t cook often on Thanksgiving, usually we go to the inlaws. I do cook Christmas dinner since we do a dinner with them on Christmas Eve. Although that changes this year with our trip to Homestead. Anywho I love to cook big meals. I usually precook all week long so that I spend the day cooking just a couple of things and reheat the rest (in the oven at that). Anyway I thought I would share a few of my recipes….perhaps you will find one you want to try out.

Easy Turkey – this is by far the best way to make a turkey imho. After the first year I tried to cook a turkey my mother in law shared with me this secret. It really isn’t a secret anymore since I share it with whomever will listen lol. You will need;  2 brown bags from your grocery store, a turkey, turkey pan, heel of a loaf of bread, and some olive oil(or oil of your choice). Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Put your turkey in your pan and rub down with oil. Season to your liking and place the heel of bread on the breastbone of your turkey. Put the entire pan in the two bags, one on each end of the turkey so that the entire thing is covered with the bags. IMPORTANT!!! The pan MUST be inside the bags. If you put the turkey in the bags and then place in the pan you WILL have a fire! Put the turkey in the oven and cook 20 minutes per pound.  No need to baste. With the bags enclosing the turkey and the heel it will create a self cooking bag. Another note: You will smell the bag as the turkey cooks, don’t be alarmed. Also make sure that your using the lowest rack in your oven. If the bag touches the top you will have another fire.

Green Bean Casserole – You will need:
16 oz pork sausage
1 cup of milk
2 10.75 oz cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 clove garlic minced
2 16 oz packages of green beans
12.8 oz of fried onions

First brown and crumble the pork sausage.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
Coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray
Mix everything else except the fried onions and place in baking dish
Bake for 30 minutes
Sprinkle with onions and bake 5-10 minutes longer.

Pecan Pies – this will make 2 pies (great to give one to a neighbor)
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup butter
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup pecan halves
2 shortbread crusts
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Cook sugar, corn syrup, and butter over low heat. Stir constantly until sugar dissolves and butter melts. Cool slightly.
Stir in eggs, vanilla, and salt.
Pour into pie crusts.
Arrange pecans on the top.
Bake for 50-55 minutes.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate – serves 8
3 cups heavy cream
3 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 tsp salt
12 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped.
6 drops peppermint oil
4 cups whipped cream
Chocolate shavings for garnish
In a saucepan, over medium low heat; combine the cream, milk, sugar, and salt. When the cream mixture just begins to steam add the chopped chocolate and stir until melted. Stir in the peppermint oil. Divide the hot chocolate among mugs and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Enjoy!