Tag: Fall

Seasoned Turkey Stock

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To limit waste after Thanksgiving, I like to use what is left of the turkey to make stock. Last year was my first time, and the frozen stock lasted me a year. Last year I didn’t flavor my stock before it was frozen, and it was a huge shame. This year I seasoned my stock with onion, celery, and garlic. These flavors go well with turkey, and can be used in a variety of dishes throughout the year. I purposely left out herbs because I want a very versatile stock. I also didn’t add salt to this stock, though I would need it if I were to make a soup with it, I didn’t want any future dishes to be too salty as a result of a salty stock. Otherwise this stock is straight forward. Boil, strain, then store.

Seasoned Turkey Stock Recipe CardDownload

What You Will Need

  • 1 Cooked Turkey with Meat removed
  • 1/2 Onion, quartered
  • 2 Celery Stalks, cut into 1/3s
  • 2 Garlic cloves, peeled and halved
  • Large Stock Pot and Lid
  • Ladle, Large Wooden Spoon, Small Bowl
  • Strainer
  • Large Dutch Oven
  • Freezer Containers

Directions

1. Place the turkey bones into the stock pot. Soak in water for 10 minutes. Drain. Cover bones with water, leaving about 1-2 inches until the lip of the pot. Place on stove over medium heat. Add in your cut veggies and let simmer uncovered for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Every 10 minutes, skim off bubbles forming on surface and place in a small bowl on the side.

2. Once most bubbles have seemed to stopped settling on top, turn up the heat a little to bring the pot at a gently boil. Boil for 2 hours covered, then remove the lid and boil for another hour uncovered. Remove from heat and let cool for about 1 hour.

3. Once cooled, place your strainer on top of your dutch oven and place in your sink. Pour about 1/2 of the liquid and bones into the strainer. Shake your strainer, then discard what is in your strainer. Place the strainer back on top of the dutch oven, and pour the second half of the stock into the strainer. Shake and discard remaining bones. Use a ladle to transfer broth into freezer safe containers. Label then store.

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Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

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Mashed potatoes and gravy are a must in our house for any and every holiday! I’ve made chunky mashed potatoes and creamy, I’ve made watery mashed potatoes, and I’ve made airy mashed potatoes. I always use white or yellow potatoes. I find them easier to work with and the aren’t nearly as starchy as russets. Next, how chunky or smooth your potatoes are is based on how long you let them cook. If they cook until they are fully tender, you are more likely to get smooth mashed potatoes, if you strain them early, you will get a chunky mashed potatoes that will take longer to come together with a mixer. You want to avoid adding too much liquid of they will be runny, and if you want them airy, you can bake them for 10-15 minutes in a casserole dish. If you bake them too much longer, they will turn very starchy and heavy. Less cooking time for airy mashed is better.

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As for gravy, I used the last of the turkey stock I had made last year. If you don’t have a turkey stock, you can make some the day of, by boiling the neck submerged in water for about 4 hours, but you can always use a chicken stock. You’ll want to season as you desire, salt, maybe some butter, sage, rosemary, or thyme. You also want to start by mixing the corn starch with a small amount of broth before adding it to the gravy. Corn starch doesn’t create clumps as much as flour, but it can still happen, so it’s good practice. This recipe makes 8 adult sized servings of mashed potatoes and gravy.

Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes and Gravy Recipe CardDownload
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What You Will Need

  • 7 lbs White Potatoes, Peeled and Cubed
  • 1/2 Cup Butter (1 Stick)
  • 1-2 Cups Milk (As Desired)
  • Large Dutch Oven
  • Mixing Bowl
  • 2 Cups Turkey Stock/Chicken Broth
  • 1/2 Cup Turkey Drippings
  • 1/2 Cup Corn Starch
  • Small Saucepan

Directions

1. Place your cubed potatoes into the dutch oven. Rinse several times, then cover potatoes with 1-2 inches of water. Place over medium heat, cook for 30 minutes or until a potato falls apart when stabbed with a fork.

2. Strain your potatoes, then transfer to a mixing bowl. Add butter and slowly add milk and begin smashing potatoes with a mixer or a hand masher. Taste and add salt as desired.

3. Add broth to a small sauce pan, reserving 1/2 cup. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Mix corn starch with reserved broth. Once fully combined, add to heated broth. Bring to a boil and serve once thick.

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Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole and Honey Roasted Beets

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These two sides are easy to make and add so muck variety to the meal. The sweet and savory sweet potatoes adds a new flavor and texture to the meal. The beets offer a warm earthy flavor that tastes great with the sweet and natural honey, and once roasted, you can taste the natural sweetness in the beet too. Both these dishes can be made from jarred products and, in my opinion, taste just as good as homemade. If you choose to buy canned sweet potatoes, you can either buy sweet potatoes or yams. Yams are very uncommon in the U.S., so a container labeled yams contains sweet potatoes.

Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes and Roasted Beets Recipe CardDownload

What You Will Need

  • 1 Jar Pickled Beets, Strained
  • 1/3 Cup Honey
  • Small Sided Baking Dish
  • 1 Can Diced Sweet Potatoes (Or Yams), Strained
  • 2 Cups Marshmallows (Regular or Mini)
  • Bread Pan

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Add your pickled beets into your small dish. Top with honey and coating each beet. Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes, or just until warm. Serve immediately.

2. Add your strained sweet potatoes to your bread pan. Top with marshmallows. Bake for 15 minutes or until marshmallows begin to melt. Serve immediately.

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Thanksgiving Turkey and Stuffing

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This year Thanksgiving wasn’t normal, however though we didn’t have any family over, we still did our full spread. Every year Josh gets a free turkey from work. Last year, he got a 20 pound turkey, and this year we got a 21 pound turkey. This year, I also made doubled the stuffing I made last year, because I love stuffing and it goes very fast, so the recipe below is how to make double stuffing, and how to cook the turkey once you are done. I always start with the stuffing to season my roasting pan, then I work on the bird. This was also my first year of not stuffing my turkey, and I have no regrets about that! Stuffing in the bird gets way too moist and almost a weird flavor from all the turkey drippings. Some people also use a roasting rack for their turkey. I don’t find that necessary or helpful. Without the rack, my dark meat always gets done, and with basting, my white meat always stays juicy, and by the time I was done, the wings had already begun to fall apart they were so tender.

Thanksgiving Turkey and Stuffing Recipe CardDownload

What You Will Need

  • 1 1/2 loaf of 3 day old white bread, cubed
  • 3 Onions Diced
  • 8 Celery Stalks, Diced
  • 1 1/2 cup Salted Butter, 3 sticks
  • 2 Tbsp Ground Sage
  • 3 Tbsp Ground Thyme
  • Dutch Oven
  • Thawed Turkey
  • 4 Tbsp Butter
  • Roasting Pan
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Turkey Baster

Directions

1. Place dutch oven over medium heat. Add butter, celery, and onion, and cook until onion is translucent.

2. Add cubed bread to roasting pan. Sprinkle sage and thyme over the top of the bread. Pour butter mixture over bread. Stir together until everything is moistened and coated in seasoning. Transfer stuffing to casserole dishes. Cover and place in the fridge, or enjoy a bowl.

3. Heat oven to 350 F. Clean out your turkey, removing giblets, neck, and make sure you can go straight through the turkey. Rinse gently under cool water, then transfer to roasting pan. Stuff with 1 cup stuffing, or with 1/2 an onion, cut celery stalks, and a sprinkle of sage and thyme. Top turkey with 4 Tbsp butter. Cover with foil then add to oven.

4. Cook Turkey for the first hour without basting. Baste, then cook for remaining time, but basting every 45 minutes. Cook your turkey about 10 minutes per pound of turkey. Make sure internal temperature of the thigh and several other places is over 165 F.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers! Thank you for subscribing to my blog and for your visits. Thanksgiving is a very special holiday to me. I began this blog a little over a year ago and Thanksgiving was the first big set of posts I was able to upload. Thank you for allowing me to do what I enjoy to do. I love cooking and I’m very glad to be able to cook for my family, and I’m glad I can share my recipes and experiences with each one of you. Let’s make this new year a better one, and I hope you get the opportunities and/or motivations to accomplish some of the things you’ve always desired too! Have a great day and happy thanksgiving!

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