Thanksgiving Tips Part 3 – It’s All In The Prep!!!

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food prep, Holidays, organization, Thanksgiving

Inside Kel's Kitchen

The planning and shopping are important, but it’s the prep that will really reduce the stress of preparing a large dinner like Thanksgiving. As you do your prep, try to think of every litle thing you can do ahead of time. Even if it doesn’t seem like much, unwrapping your butter to put on a dish or opening the cans of cranberry sauce, will shave minutes off your Thanksgiving Day work. Trust me! It all adds up and you’ll cherish those free moments on the day of thee holiday!

Let’s Get Prepping!!!

My key to a relaxing Thanksgiving day is to hit the prep activities hard. I usually take the day before Thanksgiving off from work and work my rear off that day Go dish by dish and think about what you can do in advance

• Brine your turkey?

• I usually stuff my turkey with fruit, so I have that…

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Thanksgiving Tips Part 2 – Making That Grocery List and Shopping

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grocery list, Holidays, shopping, Thanksgiving

Here are my Thanksging tips continued from my earlier post… 1. Decide what to make and what to buy. I’m not a great baker and my husband LOVES the sweet rolls from our Win…

Source: Thanksgiving Tips Part 2 – Making That Grocery List and Shopping

Thanksgiving Tips Part 1 – The Details of Menu Planning

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Holidays, Meal, organization, planning, Thanksgiving

Last year I posted a series of Thanksgiving related posts discussing everything from planning to recipes. Since most of you started following my blog after that time, I thought I would re-blog some of these entries. I really enjoy the Thanksgiving meal and would love to help others learn to make a delicious meal while keeping stress to a minimum. If you haven’t already, follow my blog to see my Thanksgiving series.

Inside Kel's Kitchen

It’s probably no surprise that November is this foodie girl’s favorite month to cook. In addition to it being the beginning of soup and slow cooker season, it also means Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

I LOVE Thanksgiving dinner!!! I love cooking it and I love eating it! Because I have cooked Thanksgiving dinner numerous times over the years for groups both big and small, I think I have really developed my large meal preparation skills. Over the next few weeks, I would like to write a few blog entries highlighting recipes, strategies and techniques that you all might find helpful in preparing your own Thanksgiving meal.

My goal for the Thanksgiving meal is to serve delicious food, while trying to keep it healthy and not killing myself with the stress. This is where careful planning comes into play. My Thanksgiving days are usually pretty relaxing as I get…

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Thanksgiving Dutch Apple Pie – A Traditional Favorite

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baking, dessert, Dutch Apple Pie, Thanksgiving, vegan, vegetaria

Yesterday I was a baking fool! First I made cranberry pecan muffins. These were only so-so, so I won’t burden you with that recipe! BUT then, I went on to bake an apple pie and chicken pot pie. Now these two recipes are worth sharing! Today I’ll start with the Dutch Apple Pie. This was my first time ever baking an apple pie! I decided to keep it basic and use a frozen ready made pie shell and went with a dutch topping, instead of crust. The pie was fairly easy to make and it was delicious!!! If you’re looking for a pie to serve at your Thanksgiving dinner, this is an easy version that can fit into your busy cooking schedule. Pies even freeze pretty well, so you can make it ahead and freeze for the big day.

Now I say this was pretty easy, but this is coming from a girl who was blessed to receive a Kitchen Aid spiralizer for Christmas last year. This particular spiralizer has a spiral slicing blade along with a peeling blade, so I did not have to peel and slice 8 cups of apples! Having to do this manually would make this pie more time consuming to make. If you don’t have a Kitchen Aid mixer, but you think you might make this more if you didn’t have to peel and slice apples consider investing in an hand crank apple peeler/corer that attaches to a table. We have an antique one of these and they work great!

Lastly, I cannot take credit for this recipe. This is a Betty Crocker recipe minus the portion to make your own pie crust. I substituted a frozen pie shell.

Dutch Apple Pie

1 frozen pie shell (set out and let thaw for 10-15 minutes)

Filling

8 cups peeled and sliced apples (I used about 5 medium sized apples)

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Topping

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup all-purpose flour

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Preheat ove to 400 degrees. In large bowl, toss Filling ingredients. Pour into pie plate, mounding apples toward center.

In medium bowl, use pastry blender or fingers to mix butter, 1 cup flour and the brown sugar until a crumb forms. Sprinkle evenly over top of pie. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon granulated sugar on top.

Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until pie crust and crumb topping are deep golden brown and filling begins to bubble. Transfer to cooling rack to cool.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie – I really need to try this!!! It sounds fantastic!!!

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baking, Chocolate Bourban Pecan Pie, Thanksgiving, vegetarian

This pie sounds and looks fantastic!!! I’m going to have to try this myself!!!

https://casseylouise.wordpress.com/2016/10/07/the-thanksgiving-desert-saga-part-1/

Turkey and Cornbread Casserole – Use Your Leftover Turkey!

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casserole, Cooking, cornbread, Food, leftover, Leftovers, Thanksgiving, Turkey

  

 So after a day or two I get bored eating the Thanksgiving leftovers as is. I’m ready to start cooking again and get creative in the kitchen, so what can I make with all that leftover turkey? How about a yummy casserole!?!

This recipe uses pretty basic ingredients that most folks will have in their kitchen. I hope you enjoy it as much as my famly and I do!

Turkey and Cornbread Casserole

1/2 meidum onion, chopped

1 tbsp canola oil

3 cups crumbled cornbread, packed

1 tbsp poultry seasoning (if you don’t have this, see my tip below)

3 1/2 cups cooked turkey

1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or use your turkey broth you made with your carcass!)

1 cup sour cream (I use fat free)

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese

Cook onion in hot oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until tender. Set aside. Combine cornbread and poultry seasoning in a large bowl. Layer half of cornbread mixture on bottom of a 11×7 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Combine onion mixture, chicken, and next 6 ingredients in a bowl. Spoon mixture evenly over top of cornbread mixture in baking dish. Top evenly with the rest of the cornbread mixture. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Remove frrom oven and top with shredded cheese. Bake uncovered 10 minutes more or until cheese is melted and starting to turn golden. Makes approximately 6 servings.

Poultrry Seasoning Tip: I once found myself without poultry seasoning and looked up how to make it with other spices. 

• 3/4 tsp sage
• 1/4 tsp thyme
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• dash marjoram
• dash ground cloves 

Mix together.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Need Last Minute Recipes???

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Cooking, Dinner, Food, recipe, recipes, Thanksgiving, Turkey

  
If you’re looking for last minute recipes for your Thanksgiving dinner, check out my previous Thanksgiving series of blog posts. You’ll find everything from hummus appetizer, cranberry sauce, salads, barbecued turkey to a wonderful chocolate pie. You’ll find lots of great recipes that are sure to be a hit!

I hope you have a blessed time with all your loved ones!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hardcore Thanksgiving Prep is Underway!!! How about you?

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Cooking, Food, prep, preparation, Thanksgiving

 
  How is your Thanksgiving prep going? I’ve got my cranberry sauce made, turkey has been brining since last night, my cornbread chorizo dressing is made and now I’m going to start the dough for my Hawaiian sweet rolls.
  

   
 

Thanksgiving Tip #17 – My Prepping and a Very Berry Cranberry Sauce

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Cooking, cranberry sauce, Food, Pioneer Woman, recipe, ree drummond, Thanksgiving, very berry cranberry sauce

  
Tomorrow is the day before Thanksgiving and if you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner, it’s the day to hit your prep hard! My prep started today with wrapping up shopping, brining my turkey, making my cranberry sauce and baking the cornbread for my dressing (See previous post for Cornbread Chorizo Dressing recipe).

Tomorrow will be incredibly busy and many of my sides will be completely made, so on the day of the holiday they can just be slid into the oven.

One of the things you can do a couple days in advance is make your cranberry sauce. I’ll admit that I have often used canned cranberry sauce, because I had yet to find a homemade recipe that made the work of making from scratch worthwhile. I think that may have changed this year!

In a previous post, I mentioned the TV special Pioneer Woman’s Ultimate Thanksgiving. One of the recipes she shared on that special was Very Berry Cranberry Sauce. I made this recipe today and my husband and I agree; YUMMMMM!

It has the usual tangy flavor and bright color that you would expect from cranberry sauce, but this sauce sports more than just cranberries! It also has raspberries, blueberries and a surprise ingredient. Whiskey!!! I was worried that the whiskey would overpower the fruit flavors, but that was not the case at all! That flavor is really not distinctive, it blends in to simply make a great, fruity tasting sauce! The 3 different berries are what really make it!

So thanks to Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman! I would like to  share her recipe.

Very Berry Cranberry Sauce

2 bags fresh cranberries

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup whiskey (I used Jack Daniels)

1 cup blueberries

1/2 cup raspberries

Put the first 5 ingredients in a large saucepan and stir. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. When boiling, lower heat to low and allow to simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining berries and cook for an additional 4 minutes. I noticed a lot of whole cranberries still, so I used my potato masher to gently mash it a little and break up the berries. Remove from heat, cool and refrigerate until cold and thick.

The original recipe says it makes 24 servings. I can believe it’s that many small servings. It makes quite a bit.

Super simple and it tastes fantastic! I can’t wait to try it with the Pioneer Woman’s Maple Whiskey Turkey that I’m also making!

Thanksgiving – Tips, Tricks and Recipes for a Stress-Free Holiday

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Cooking, Dressing, Food, potatoes, recipe, recipes, salad, Sweet potatoes, Thanksgiving, Tips, Turkey

  
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and it is not too soon to start your preparations. This is a reminder that I have been posting a series of posts that can help you have a stress-free holiday. Please look back over these posts starting November 4 that include tips on menu planning, dish planning and preparation and recipes for all the basic (and not so basic!) Thanksgiving dishes including…

1. Barbecuing and brining your turkey
2. Cornbread Chorizo Dressing – This stuff is the BOMB!!!
3. Sweet Potatoes and Apples – Always a crowd pleaser!!!
4. Curried Carrot Soup – A delicious, healthy first course
5. The Joy of Mashed Potatoes!
6. Green Bean Casserole – Made from scratch with all fresh ingredients! Delish!
7. Festive Green Salad – Pear, apples and a homemade poppyseed dressing make this a tasty different green salad
8. Cranberry Salad – This may not be the healthiest salad, but with cranberries, green apples and mini-marshmallows it is so pretty!
9. Hummus – A light, healthy dip to keep your appetizers light and leave plenty of room for the main meal!
10. Platte County Pie – Like pie? Like chocolate chip cookies? You’ll love this pie!

I even covered some ideas for your leftovers!

• Making your own stock from your turkey carcass
• Layered Thanksgiving Lasagna

It’s not to late to review these posts and get your Thanksgiving dinner planning underway! I wish all of you a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! Please feel free to send me comments with your questions. I’ll try and make time in all my cooking to get back to you ASAP. I am so thankful to all of you that take the time to read my blog!

Please let me know how your Thanksgiving dishes turn out!