Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

Welcome to the menu for Thanksgiving Dinner for 2005! In order to make the best use of Menus 4 Moms, before beginning the Menu please read the Menus 4 Moms plan basics and the Busy Cooks Pyramid as Menus 4 Moms will be based on these items each week. If you have questions, please check the FAQ page.

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Thanksgiving Dinner Menu 2005

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Thanksgiving Dinner - Recipes

Turkey and gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Cran-Apple Crisp
Slow Cooker Green Beans
Party Potatoes**
Cornbread or Regular Stuffing
Macaroni and Cheese**
Broccoli with Lemon Juice and Parmesan Cheese
Homemade Rolls**

Dessert - Recipes

Pumpkin Roll**
Pecan Pie** with Vanilla Ice Cream

** Indicates a dish that can be made ahead

Grocery List

This week's Grocery List can be downloaded here:

Grocery List for Thanksgiving 2005 - PDF

Shopping List Software format (download shopping list free Windows software)

Dinner Recipes

Notes:

This menu should serve 10-12 adults plus smaller children comfortably. If you have growing teens, big appetites, or more people, I suggest doubling several of the side dishes and cooking a larger turkey.
Be absolutely sure to give your turkey enough time in the refrigerator to thaw!! Nothing is worse than finding a frozen turkey on Thanksgiving morning. Allow at least one day of thawing for every 4 lbs. of turkey. Source: Butterball.com
The size of the turkey you buy will depend on the number of guests you are having and how many leftovers you want to have. I am including a 12-lb. turkey on the list, but adjust this according to your needs.
If you have a grain mill, you may wish to try the whole wheat Flora rolls recipe below. If not, you may either use frozen roll dough and bake it, or the alternate recipe from allrecipes.com below for bread machine rolls.
If you have a turkey dilemma, call the experts at the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line at 1-800-323-4848. Specially trained home economists will be ready and waiting to take America's calls beginning November 1 at 8 a.m. CST.
Next week's menu includes a couple of dishes to use your leftover turkey, green beans, and mashed potatoes, so don't feel the need to polish off all of your leftovers.
Don't forget to open and slice your cranberry sauce and put it on the table. It is easy to forget something that takes virtually no preparation.

Turkey with Gravy

I am not going to reinvent the wheel with this one. Butterball has an excellent description of how to roast a perfect turkey, so I am sending you there:

Easy cooking guide: How to roast to perfection

If roasting isn't your style, there are many other options. I am a traditional roasted turkey person, but I have to admit that I have had some mouth-watering smoked turkey in my time. For other options for cooking a turkey, check out these alternative methods:

Smoked turkey

Grilled turkey

Clemson Extension Office's guide to cooking a turkey includes roasting, smoking, microwaving, and deep frying as well as safety considerations.

Gravy preparation

When I roast my turkeys, I like to use a Reynolds Baking Bag. It eliminates clean up mess and traps all the wonderful juices for gravy in the bag. When the turkey is done, transfer the juices from the baking bag or roasting pan to a saucepan through a strainer. In a glass jar I put 1/2 cup warm water and 2 Tbsp. flour. Tighten the lid and shake vigorously until the flour is dissolved. Pour through a strainer (to catch any lumps) into the saucepan with the juices. Heat, stirring frequently, until gravy is thickened. If you need to stretch your gravy, add all or part of a can of chicken broth.

Cranberry Apple Crisp

5 cups apple slices
1 cup cranberries
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup pecans - chopped

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine apples, cranberries, sugar flour, and cinnamon. Toss to coat and spoon into greased 9x13 baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine rolled oats, brown sugar, and flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping over fruit.

Bake until topping is golden brown and apples are tender (30 to 40 minutes).

Slow Cooker Green Beans

3 - 32 oz. cans green beans
1-1/2 sticks butter

Combine beans with juices and butter in a slow cooker and bake for 3-4 hours. Before serving, salt to taste. If liquid bakes down, add water during cooking process.

Party Potatoes**

5 lbs. baking potatoes
2 (3 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened
8 oz. sour cream
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp. Adobo
Paprika for garnish

Peel potatoes and cut into 1 inch cubes. Cook in boiling water until tender and drain. In a large mixing bowl, combine potatoes and all ingredients except paprika. Beat at medium speed until smooth and fluffy, but leaving a few lumps is fine. Do not overbeat or they will not have enough form. Spoon into a greased baking dish. You may refrigerate for up to 2 days before cooking. When ready to bake, set cold potatoes on the counter for 30 minutes, then bake at 325° for 50 minutes. When done, put a pat of butter on top and sprinkle with paprika before serving.

Cornbread or Regular Stuffing

Note: For easier preparation, chop and saute your onion and celery the day before and refrigerate until needed.

1 bag Pepperidge Farm stuffing, cornbread or regular
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
olive oil
1 can chicken broth
1 stick butter, melted

Saute celery and onion on stovetop in olive oil. In a saucepan, heat broth and butter to boiling. In a large bowl, combine celery, onion, stuffing mix, and heated broth and butter. Mix well, adding up to 2/3 cup water if necessary for correct consistency. Serve immediately.

If you wish to stuff your turkey, follow the safety guidelines found in Butterball's Top Turkey FAQs .

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese**

2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard (optional)
1/4 tsp pepper
2-1/2 cups milk
2 tbsp butter
2 cups (8 oz) shredded American or Cheddar cheese, divided
8 oz Mueller's Elbows (about 2 cups), cooked 5 minutes and drained

In medium saucepan combine corn starch, salt, dry mustard and pepper; stir in milk. Add margarine. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in 1-3/4 cups (425 ml) cheese until melted. Add elbows. Pour into greased 2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake uncovered in 375 degree oven 25 minutes or until lightly browned. This can be prepared ahead of time and kept refrigerated until you are ready to bake. Add 5-7 minutes to the cooking time if cold.

Source: Mueller's elbow macaroni box

Broccoli with Lemon Juice and Parmesan Cheese

Family pack (32 oz.) frozen broccoli
lemon juice
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Steam or boil broccoli according to instructions. Drain. Place in a serving bowl and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. lemon juice (or more to taste). Toss to distribute evenly and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve warm.

Homemade Rolls

Note: For each of the homemade roll recipes, you may prepare the rolls ahead by completing the recipe up to the point of the second rise. Before the second rise, shape the rolls and freeze them individually on a flat tray.Once frozen, the rolls can be bagged in freezer bags and kept until you are ready to bake them. To bake, thaw the rolls in a greased pan in a warm spot until they have thawed and doubled in bulk. Bake according to the original instructions.

Allrecipes.com has a good article called Dazzling Dinner Rolls that you may find helpful. Be sure to let the rolls rise enough during the second rise (in the pan) or they will not turn out light and fluffy. I like to shape my rolls by dividing the dough for each roll into three equal balls and baking them in muffin tins for uniformity.

The ingredients for the Bread Machine Rolls will be on your grocery list; please adjust your list if you will be using the recipe for Flora Rolls.

Bread Machine Rolls**

Recipe provided by:
allrecipes.com
Submitted by Kay

"These are the BEST dinner rolls I've ever made. They also make great buns for sandwiches. For a festive presentation, sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds before baking." Original recipe yield: 1 dozen rolls.

3 cups bread flour
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dry milk powder
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 egg white
2 tablespoons water

Place the bread flour, sugar, salt, milk powder, water, butter, and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Set on Dough cycle; press Start.

Remove risen dough from the machine, deflate, and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into twelve equal pieces, and form into rounds. Place the rounds on lightly greased baking sheets. Cover the rolls with a damp cloth, and let rise until doubled in volume, at least 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a small bowl, mix together the egg white and 2 tablespoons water; brush lightly onto the rolls. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown.

View nutrition, print, scale, or convert the recipe
Read reviews of this recipe

This recipe is featured within our Tried & True Thanksgiving & Christmas cookbook. If you would like to learn more, please visit http://allrecipes.com/holiday/.

Flora Rolls**

If you own a grain mill, you may wish to use this recipe for rolls using freshly ground whole wheat. I do not recommend using this recipe with whole wheat flour from the grocery store.

Sponge:

2 c. warm milk (110°)
2 Tbsp. yeast
Drop of honey
1 3/4 cup freshly milled whole wheat flour

Mix gently and let sponge for 30 minutes.

Mix:

2/3 c. oil
2/3 c. honey
4 eggs
1 tsp. salt

Add to sponged mixture. Add freshly ground whole wheat flour until dough is proper consistency. Knead for 7 minutes. Shape into rolls (golf ball size is good). Place in greased pan and let rise until doubled in bulk. Bake at 325° for 10+ minutes.

Dessert Recipes

Pumpkin Roll**

This wonderful and pretty holiday dessert is such a hit in our family that my sister-in-law always makes 2 so we don't run out!

Cake:

3 eggs
1 cup white sugar
2/3 cup solid pack pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup chopped pecans
confectioners' sugar for dusting

Filling:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
confectioners' sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.

In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer on high speed for five minutes. Gradually mix in pumpkin and lemon juice. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger; stir into the pumpkin mixture. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle pecans over the top of the batter.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the center springs back when touched. Loosen edges with a knife. Turn out on two dishtowels that have been dusted with confectioners' sugar. Roll up cake using towels, and let cool for about 20 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, 1 cup confectioners' sugar, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Unroll pumpkin cake when cool, spread with filling, and roll up. Place pumpkin roll on a long sheet of waxed paper, and dust with confectioners' sugar. Wrap cake in waxed paper, and twist ends of waxed paper like a candy wrapper. Refrigerate overnight. Serve chilled; before slicing, dust with additional confectioners' sugar.

Marmy's Pecan Pie** with Vanilla Ice Cream

3 Eggs
3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
3/4 cup white corn syrup
dash of salt
1/4 cup melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
Unbaked 9-inch pie crust
Vanilla ice cream

Beat eggs thoroughly; add sugar, syrup and salt mixing well. Add butter and vanilla: mix well. Put pecans on bottom of pie shell. Pour mixture over nuts. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 and cook for 35 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

* Indicates that of the options listed, this item is the one on the grocery list