I did not include a turkey recipe. I considered adding one that I have used, but I thought I should focus on the side dishes and desserts. Please leave a comment here or on Facebook if you are interested in a turkey recipe recommendation or if there is any other recipe you are looking for.
Meals for Week of November 15, 2010
Thai Honey Peanut Chicken- A very easy 10 minute stir fry. Delicious!
Chicken Posole- This is a very quick and basic version of a traditional Mexican soup. Don’t use the oregano listed in the recipe, add cumin instead so it has a smokey, Mexican flavor.
Chicken Strips with Blue Cheese Dressing- This is a lower fat version of baked chicken strips.
Baked Chicken with Rice and Black Beans-Sometimes a meal like this is great on a busy weeknight because you don't have to watch something on the stove.
Black Bean and Tortilla Bake- Kid-friendly and healthy vegetarian meal. Easy to make and you can always adapt it to suit your tastes.
Artichoke Spinach Lasagna- Vegetarian lasagna that takes very little prep time. It can be frozen to cook another time or freeze leftovers.
Pumpkin Pancakes- This recipe is perfect for if you purchased the large can of pumpkin and didn’t use it all as it only requires 6 tablespoons of pumpkin. Or, just purchase a smaller 15oz can and then keep the extra in the fridge or freezer to make more another day. Keep in mind with the pumpkin that if frozen or refrigerated a lot of moisture comes out and that’s ok, you should just squeeze the water out of it.
Thanksgiving Sides and Desserts
Sweet Potato Spoon Bread- Really good! And a little bit of a different change from the typical sweet potato casserole.
Mashed Potatoes with Brown Butter, Goat Cheese and Sage- If you are open to trying something new for Thanksgiving instead of basic mashed potatoes, you MUST try these. THE BEST.
Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing- For many years, making stuffing was not my job on Thanksgiving. I actually never cared for stuffing, I would take a tiny serving and that was it. It’s not that it didn’t taste good, just not my favorite. Anyway, I found myself having to make stuffing and this is the recipe I used as my guideline. I really like how simple it is and it tastes really good. I actually add chopped apple and cook it with the celery and onion. Look to get a natural, nitrite free sausage.
Simple Stuffing- Basic stuffing recipe that you can adapt to add more ingredients like apples, mushrooms or nuts.
Thanksgiving Stuffing- Another very easy and traditional stuffing recipe.
Golden Beets and Brussels Sprouts- I happen to love Brussels sprouts and I recently discovered my love of beets. The two roasted together is fantastic.
Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Apples- Brussels sprouts really pair well with something sweet, it gives them a mellow flavor. In this one the sprouts are shredded, so it's a whole different texture. The recipe includes using tofu to make it more of a complete meal with protein. You can leave that out for a side dish or keep it for vegetarian guests.
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts- This recipe is my personal favorite, maybe because it's my own creation and won a contest. However, I no longer "own" it and it's published in a book, so I don't have permission to post it. Here's the basic directions: Trim and then roughly chop sprouts (don't leave them whole) and sautee in a pan with some butter or olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until tender, then drizzle in some good, thick balsamic vinegar, mix it around, let that bubble and caramelize. Add another pat of butter and stir to create a smooth sauce. As an option- caramelize onions first, then mix those in with the sprouts toward the end.
Quinoa Pie with Butternut Squash- A vegetarian main dish option using high protein quinoa.
Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes- As with most things from Paula Deen, these are equal parts delicious and terribly fattening. They are sort of like a cheesecake bar, but with a cake-like crust. It's great to bring to a Thanksgiving pot luck, people with love you for them.
Pumpkin Cream Pie- Basically your standard pumpkin pie recipe, but includes a recipe for a whipped cream topping.
Georgia Pecan Pie- This is "my" pecan pie recipe. I wrote the recipe down in a spiral notebook when I was in high school. I took it from a Thanksgiving issue of Bon Apetit and I regret that I didn't include the year of the issue. In any case, I am pretty sure that I've made this pie every year at Thanksgiving (and sometimes Christmas) for probably close to 20 years. I have never bothered to search for it online since I have it written down, but was happy to find it so I could share it with you.
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