Monday, November 23, 2009

Thanksgiving SuperPost

And now...the blog post you have all been waiting for...for approx 48 hours--the Thanksgiving SuperPost! I am so excited because this is my very first attempt at hosting Thanksgiving dinner, and therefore a little relieved it'll just be for four people :-) My hope is that it'll be a successful meshing of Bobby and I's traditions. So if you really don't have anything else to read, here's a tally of Bobby and I's compromises and concessions:

1. Turkey AND Ham
Winner: Bobby
We'll be having both

2. Mashed Potatoes
Winner: Anne
Don't get between me and my potatoes

3. Macaroni and Cheese
Winner: Bobby
I don't know why I fought it, it's not like I don't love Mac & Cheese

4. Cranberry Sauce
Winner: Anne
Who cares if I'm the only one who eats it?

5. Broccoli Casserole v. Steamed Broccoli
Winner: Bobby
I guess things covered in cheese are pretty good...

6. Pumpkin Pie
Winner: Bobby

7. Bobby makes his own #$@*&! pumpkin pie
Winner: Anne

8. Dinner Time (lunch or dinner?)
Winner: Bobby
Butts in seats by 12:30 or 1:00pm

9. Gravy Boat Debacle
Winner: TBA
I need a gravy boat to serve gravy. Bobby is (and I quote) "Morally Opposed" to gravy boats because it would imply we ate gravy regularly.

Compromise casualties: Stuffing, Sweet potato casserole, Green bean casserole


OK enough of that...onto what you're actually reading this for!

Champagne Turkey

OK I'm going to be totally honest here. I have ONE oven. So as much as I love this turkey recipe, and would love the bragging rights of making my own turkey, I just can't do it this year. Thank you Kroger for helping me out! However, IF I were to make my own turkey, my mother and I swear on Grammy's fudge that this is the very best turkey you can make.

1 (12 lb) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
1/2 cup butter, cubed
2 apples, cored and halved
1 Tbs garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
2/3 (750 milliliter) bottle champagne

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Rinse turkey, and pat dry. Gently loosen turkey breast skin, and insert pieces of butter between the skin and breast. Place apples inside the turkey's cavity. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place turkey in a roasting bag, and pour champagne over the inside and outside of the bird. Close bag, and place turkey in a roasting pan.

Bake turkey 3 to 3 1/2 hours in the preheated oven, or until the internal temperature is 180 degrees F when measured in the meatiest part of the thigh. Remove turkey from bag, and let stand for at least 20 minutes before carving.

It makes the BEST gravy too!



Holiday Ham with Ginger and Bourbon

Because it's not a Kentucky holiday without some Bourbon. Bobby made me buy some Jim Beam from Costco so I'd stop cooking with his Four Roses!

1 fully cooked ham, 5-6lbs, outer skin and fat removed
4in piece of fresh ginger root
1/2 cup (ish) of Bourbon
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed (1/4 cup if using Splenda)

Score a diamond pattern into the ham, 1/4 inch around top and sides. Peel ginger root with a spoon and grate finely. Place ham into crockpot or slow cooker. Combine ginger, Bourbon, and brown sugar in small mixing bowl and pour over the ham.

Cover, and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. Baste often.


Mom's Mexican Cranberries

Since I'm the only one eating them, I'm making them the way I like!

1 (16oz) can jellied whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 (10.5 oz) jar jalapeno pepper jelly (preferably red but green works)

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided

Cook cranberry sauce, pepper jelly and 1/4 cup cilantro in a small sauce pan over low heat, stirring often, until jelly melts. Pour into serving dish and mix in remaining cilantro. Cool in fridge until dinner time.


It's good on turkey and ham both, and if you end up with a so-so turkey, it's the best! I'll also use it on turkey paninis with some brie after the holiday :-) Everything's better with brie!


Mom's Garlic Mashed Potatoes

These may be a little bit more work, but they are worth every mouth watering bite! I don't care how you've previously made mashed potatoes. From now on you should make these--end of story.

10 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
6 cloves of garlic, crushed (sorry Dad)
1 cup butter
8oz cream cheese (I use 1/3rd less fat, but I mean, it's the holidays...)
1.75 cup sour cream
2 tsp salt
1 tsp white pepper

Bring 3" of water to boil, add potatoes and garlic. Cook until tender. Mash with all your strength (or Bobby's strength in my case) until smooth and creamy. Add cream cheese, butter, sour cream, salt and pepper. Mix very well. Spoon into a 3-4 quart baking dish, and bake for 30 minutes at 350.

**Can be made a day ahead of time and refrigerated! Just be sure to bring them to room temp before baking.


Jan's Mac & Cheese

This recipe was actually the very first blog post! So you can flip back through the archives, or keep reading. I've eaten a lot of mac & cheese in my day, and this is by far some of the best I've had.

1 (8oz) package of elbow macaroni, or about 2 cups uncooked macaroni
2 cups milk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp onion salt
4 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup soft breadcrumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted

Cook macaroni according to the package directions, and drain. Place milk, flour, and onion salt into a container with a lid that you can shake. Once the lid is on tightly, shake for approx 1 minute.

Stir together flour mixture, 3.5 cups of cheese, and cooked macaroni is a large mixing bowl. Pour mixture into Pyrex or other 9x13" baking dish that has been greased or Pam-ed. Sprinkle evenly with last 1/2 cup of cheese, followed by the breadcrumbs. Pour melted butter evenly over the top (to keep the breadcrumbs from burning). Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.


Easy Pumpkin Pie

Last but not least. Oh, who am I kidding? We use the Libby's recipe!

1 (9in) unbaked deep dish pie crust (in freezer aisle)
3/4 cup white sugar (use less if working with Splenda)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
2 eggs
1 (15oz) can Libby's 100% Pumpkin
12oz of Evaporated milk

Preheat oven to 425. Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, and cloves in a small bowl. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pie shell.

Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce temp to 350, and bake for an additional 40-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 2 hours.

________________________
Well OK. I'm tired of typing and you're probably tired of reading. Just remember that if you're also cooking with one oven to watch the dishes closely. The dish on the top rack will heat faster, so you made need to have them switch places halfway through. Here's the FINAL MENU for Gibbons Family Thanksgiving, check back over the weekend for photos of how everything turned out--and HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Final Menu

Oven-Roasted Turkey
Holiday Ham with Ginger and Bourbon
Mexican Cranberries
Garlic Mashed Potatoes and gravy
Macaroni and Cheese
Broccoli Casserole
Crescent Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Chocolate Cake
Champagne

3 comments:

  1. 1) I don't know what you have against pumpkin pie.
    2) I understand the mac n cheese argument; it's just not a thanksgiving dish.
    3) I am still willing to cook your turkey if you want the campagne influence + champagne gravy...
    4) sounds AWESOME!!!

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  2. LOVE this post! Taylor was laughing out loud when I read him Bobby's take on the gravy debacle! haha... wish we were there to try everything- it sounds amazing! Can't wait to see pics :)

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  3. Well I'm going on record that I won the gravy boat issue thanks to Pier 1 having just a plain white one for about $5. Unfortunately it looks more like a genie lamp that Barbara Eden is going to pop out of at any moment!

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