Last-Minute Thanksgiving Menu

November 22, 2011

Are you guys ready for Thanksgiving? If you’re not, here’s an easy menu, and pretty much exactly what my family is having this year! Click the photos to go to the recipes.

The Simplest, Easiest Turkey by the kitchn

White Wine Gravy by Martha Stewart

Sausage Stuffing by me (recipe linked above is not the recipe I use):

For 4 cups cooked stuffing (look at package directions on UNSEASONED stuffing mix, no need to make your own dried bread cubes here!) add 1/2 – 3/4 cups cooked breakfast sausage (Bob Evans is the best) 2 – 4 tablespoons of chopped fresh sage, and 1 – 2 tablespoons each of chopped fresh thyme, rosemary and Italian parsley. All to taste. Stir to combine and further bake according to stuffing package directions. Also, I can’t remember what the package says, but if it says to use water for your liquid, don’t. Use chicken or vegetable stock.

Cranberry Chutney by Martha Stewart

Brown Butter and Scallion Mashed Potatoes by my sister (I don’t know if this is the exact recipe she is using, but I’m sure it’s close!)

Maple-Whipped Sweet Potatoes by Martha Stewart, with slight adjustments by me (add 3/4 cup sour cream to butter and syrup stage, add 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg to seasonings stage)

Garlicky Green Beans by me:

Buy pre-washed, pre-trimmed green beans in a self steam bag (which you won’t use). Heat some olive oil in a non-stick pan, then brown some minced garlic and sea salt. Adjust to your level of love of garlic. I use about 4-5 largish cloves. Add the green beans, stir to coat with the garlic salt mixture and cook until heated through.

Gratineed Mustard Creamed Onions by my sister (ditto above)

Buttermilk Biscuits by Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Pie by my sister (ditto ditto)

And finally, Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie by Anne Thornton

I know this all sounds like a lot, but guess what? You can make stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberries and both pies in advance. You could totally make the biscuits in advance too (Martha even says to serve them room temperature) but I think one of the greater joys in life is buttermilk biscuits fresh out of the oven.

And don’t forget to make some fresh whipped cream (heavy cream + sugar and beat til it peaks) and pick up a few bottles of wine. We went to Chaddsford Winery this weekend and got a few bottles of their Spiced Apple Wine, and also tasted the Holiday Spirit. Both were amazing warm (toss in your crock pot on low 30 minutes before you plan to serve).