Savory Thanksgiving Menu
Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday menu for entertaining. Many people are overwhelmed by it, but all of these recipes have a great make-ahead component. And by using my four-day turkey “Game Planner” you will be completely organized so that the day of Thanksgiving you’re just basically assembling things and cooking the turkey. You will have plenty of time to relax and enjoy your family…. and that something to definitely be grateful for.
So, what are we cooking?
Greens & Mushroom Galette
This is a scrumptious, savory pastry free-form tart filled with sautéed Swiss chard and mushrooms. Its just enough to ward off pre-festivities hunger, but not fill you up. Perfect paired with a glass of bubbles!
Perfectly Roasted Turkey, Gravy and Stuffing
This is the way my mom cooked a turkey. She calls it steam roasting. It’s a tried and true method that results in a turkey that is both moist and delicious. You roast the turkey uncovered for 30 minutes, and then tightly sealed the pan with aluminum foil. This creates a moist environment that results in a juicy bird. And no basting required! The stuffing is a delectable combination of Italian sweet sausage, mission figs and sage. And, of course, the perfect pan gravy to top it all off!
Fig, Sausage & Sage Stuffing
Prepare your tastebuds! This stuffing will be your new Thanksgiving favorite.
Perfect Gravy
What is delicious and sits atop your sliced turkey? This amazing gravy!
Brussels Sprouts Gratin
Beautiful tender Brussels sprouts are blanched and then tossed with a delicious white sauce called the Béchamel. Topped with Panko and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, this is a delicious side dish that is rich in flavor, but not too heavy, and adds a little texture to the plate as well.
Cardamom Carrots
Cardamom has a lovely, sweet floral note, and combined with the ginger, gives these carrots and exotic taste that is a nice counterpoint to all the savory goodness on your plate. These add both a little color and counter-balanced flavor. Perfect!
Cranberry Ginger and Pear Tart
In this dessert, the tanginess of the cranberry, sharpness of the crystallized ginger, and the sweetness of the pears combine together in a flaky pastry to make this a show-stopping way to end your meal. Top with a dollop of whipped cream. What could be more delicious?
4 DAY TURKEY GAME PLAN
Monday & Tuesday:
• Shopping for food, wine and flowers
• Organize serving pieces, china, glassware, flatware and linens
• Cube bread for stuffing, let dry overnight then put in zip lock bag (can freeze)
• Sauté sausage & vegetables for stuffing, put in zip lock bag (can freeze)
• Toast nuts
• Make crème brûlée
Wednesday:
• Set Table
• Wash bird
• Cut butternut squash
• Cut parsley
• Roast winter veggies for tarte tatin
Thursday/ Thanksgiving:
• Start turkey prep 6 hour before serving ahead.
• Assemble stuffing. Stuff turkey, place in oven
• Assemble tarte tatin & bake
• Prepare butternut squash and bake while turkey is resting.
• Make gravy
• Right before serving brûlée the crème brûlée
• Relax, Enjoy, Happy Thanksgiving!!
November 2017