Hiya!
Just wanted to take a quick moment to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving! I will not be available tomorrow, as I’ll be cooking up a storm and entertaining family. Our grandson is coming over with mom and dad of course, and they’re bringing a friend along, too! Since I grew up around restaurants, making large meals is my time to shine! So in case you need some last minute advice, or you know of someone who could use it, please feel free to share!
I use a cooking bag, and I cut off the top for the last half hour so the top browns
TURKEY STUFFING/DRESSING (Can be made vegan)
Wet & Dry Mix:
– 1 lb bag herb seasoned stuffing mix
– 1 cup corn meal
– 1 can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix!)
– 1 can chicken/vegetable broth
– 1 tube breakfast sausage (jimmy Dean®, Gimme Lean®…)
– 2 snack size boxes of raisins
– 1 handful dried cranberries
– 1 pomegranate, squeezed into mix then pips added (for crunch)
– palmful dried herbs: lavendar, thyme, sage, rosemary
Mix ingredients with hands in very large bowl and let sit out. While resting…
Steamed Mix:
– 1 diced stalk celery, including leafy tops
– 1 diced large white onion
– 3 diced small apples, cored but skins left on
– 2 diced large carrots, peeled
Using a large sauce pan with tight-fitting lid, add Steamed Mix, with apples on bottom layer, and cook over medium heat. Cook for 20 minutes, shaking pan every so often to deter burning or scorching. Pour Steamed Mix into Wet & Dry Mix, including the accumulated water. Again, mix with hands until it becomes a good, loafy mixture. Stuff into turkey cavity, or…
Bake in preheated oven at 350F for 35-40 minutes until top becomes brown and crusty, yet the rest of the loaf is soft and moist.
CRANBERRY SAUCE (vegan)
– 1 cup orange juice
– 1/2 cup white sugar
– 1/2 cup brown sugar (loosely packed)
– 1 bag cranberries
– splash brandy or rum (I like Captain Morgan®!)
– pinch cinnamon
– 1/2 tsp ground ginger
– orange zest if available
In medium saucepan, heat orange juice, sugars, liquor and cinnamon, folding until sugar fully dissolves over medium heat. Add cranberries and give a good stir. Cover with a splatter screen (if available, hopefully!), stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes, watching for the berries to pop. Pour into serving container and allow to cool; will gel as it cools. (I usually make this the night before.)
LOADED DEVILED EGGS (can be made vegetarian)
– 1 dozen hard-boiled eggs, halved with yolks reserved
– 1 “Fun Size” bag nacho cheese chips like Doritos®, crushed very well
– 1 jar (imitation) bacon bits
– 1/4 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing like Miracle Whip® (depends on how creamy you want it)
– dollop brown mustard (again, taste preference here)
– paprika to taste
Arrange egg white halves onto tray. Mix all other ingredients except paprika in a bowl until chips start to become soft. Spoon in mix into egg white halves. Cover loosely with paper towel(s) and refrigerate at least one hour and sprinkle with paprika before serving. Can be prepared the night before.
Gobble Gobble!
May you and yours have a wonderful holiday, however you celebrate!
Lori Dake, an IL licensed broker
www.LoriDake.com
P: (773) 697-4474
F: (773) 717-5500
E: LDake@KaleRealty.com
Your referral is my greatest compliment!
Kale Realty
2447 North Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
www.KaleRealty.com
(312) 939-5253