HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Celebrate a truly American holiday with traditional fare
The Bird
Use the bird of your choice for Thanksgiving-goose, duck, turkey, whatever! Follow the package directions for roasting fowl. For best results, do not cover the bird unless it is browning too quickly. Cover bird with pats of butter and baste often, even if it is self-basting, to keep the meat moist. Allow about 1/2 pound of meat per person. I recommend stuffing the bird to enhance the flavor!!
Stuffing
You will need:
!/2 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork sausage
1 cup margarine or butter
1 can of chicken of rice soup
1/2 c celery chopped
1/4 c onion chopped
1/2 tsp sage
3-4 packages croutons
Brown beef and pork together with sage, onion and celery. When the meat is thorougly cooked, add the soup and the margarine. Cook on low until margarine is melted and mixture comes to a boil. Pour over croutons and mix completely. Stuff bird, pressing it firmly into the cavity of the bird. Excess stuffing should be placed in the oven 45 minutes before serving. If stuffing becomes too dry, add a small amount of hot water.
Smashed Potatoes
Peel potatoes and cut into 1X2" pieces. Rinse and place in a pot with cold water and 1/2 tsp salt. Cover and cook on high until water boils, then reduce heat. Pierce potatoes to check tenderness. Drain, add 1/2 c milk, and whip with a mixer or hand masher.
Squash
Choose your favorite squash, half, and remove seeds. Place one inch of water in a shallow baking dish and bake at 325 degrees for one hour or until tender when pierced. If water evaporates, simply add more. Serve with a tad of butter, salt, and pepper.
Homemade Gravy
Pour drippings from roasted bird into a pan and add one cube of chicken or turkey boullion. Stir one cup of flour into two cups of cold water. Add to drippings and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Scrape sides and bottom of pan well to prevent burning! Add Kitchen Bouquet or other coloring agent if gravy is too light. Mixture will thicken as it boils.
Sides
Serve jellied cranberries, several steamed vegetables (corn, broccoli, etc), warm rolls, quick bread, sweet potatoes, and any other family favorites.
Pie
For dessert, serve apple and pumpkin pie with whipped cream or ice cream.
Pumpkin Pie is best made by using canned pumpking and following the recipes on the can-they are they pumpkin experts after all! I usually add a little extra spice to the mixture when I make pumpkin pie.
Follow dinner with mints, coffee, and apple cider. Card games, board games, football, and conversation over clean up make a wonderful holiday. To make your holiday more stress-free, include everyone in clean up! Most guests are happy to pitch in.