Thanksgiving Recipes and Resources I Love
I am constantly inspired by the creativity of others and I love it when people share their favorite recipes and ideas online. What did we do before the Internet and Pinterest? The following are some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes and resources. For more inspiration, check out my Giving Thanks Pinterest Board with 100 Thanksgiving ideas captured in one place.
After searching and testing countless roll recipes, I finally found a fool-proof roll recipe that I love! Our Best Bite's World's Best Dinner Rolls always make an appearance on Thanksgiving now.
photo credit: Our Best Bites
These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping are so incredible that words can't describe their deliciousness! As a huge fan of Mel's recipes at Mel's Kitchen Cafe, you cannot go wrong adding these to your Thanksgiving repetoire.
For whatever reason, years ago, I was assigned the job of bringing the Cranberry Sauce to the Thanksgiving gatherings. Perhaps it was the fact that I complained one year about the appearance of the stuff coming out of a can, jelly-style? Needless to say, I experimented with many recipes before settling on these two recipes. The cooked-style cranberry sauce and the fresh cranberries with oranges sauce that I found via All-Recipes. The Brandied Orange and Cranberry Sauce is my favorite, makes four cups and is ready in 25 minutes.
This year, I really want to try the Cherry-Lemon Relish recipe found in the November 2012 Food Network Magazine but use the adaptations that Clay and Zach at The Bitten Word have used to thicken up the sauce.
This is my new favorite classic apple pie recipe, adapted slightly from Cook's Country.
Years ago I searched for a Green Bean Casserole using fresh beans and a recipe that didn't use canned soup. This simple but delicious recipe is now my go-to bean recipe. It garners rave reviews wherever it goes. My adaptations are that I use fresh or frozen beans (not canned) and instead of the buttery crackers on top, I use either carmelized onions or if we are in a hurry, the French-fried onions. This recipe from the Brown Eyed Baker mirrors my quest for a from scratch green bean casserole and it looks divine.
Photo credit: Brown Eyed Baker
My friend Heather was famous for serving amazing food and drinks at all her gatherings and I can't drink punch without longingly craving her Cranberry Punch made with cranberry concentrate, lemonade concentrate and a 2 liter of ginger ale. You float cranberries, lemon rounds and ice on top. It would make a delicious complement to the turkey dinner.
As for turkeys, we plan to smoke our turkey on the Traeger. This humorous article with photos on "What Not To Do To Your Turkey" cracked me up. Especially the Turkey/Mashed Potato/Stuffing/Yam Cake, below.
Photo credit: search.chow.com
My mom has an amazing, traditional recipe for stuffing that is chocked full of bacon. Mmmm....bacon! I would be open to trying something new such as this Cook's Illustrated Rustic Bread Stuffing with Sausage, Cherries and Pecans prepared by The Bitten Word guys, but my mom's recipe only comes out once a year so it would be sorely missed.
Thanksgiving Dinner Menu Selection via Mel's Kitchen Cafe lists numerous tried and true favorites to consider adding to the holiday meal.
The Chow Thanksgiving Dinner Coach is a free app that organizes the recipes you pick into a shopping list and guide you for your prep and cooking work for the days leading up to Thanksgiving. How cool is that?
This copycat recipe for Ruth's Chris Sweet Potato Casserole may make its' debut this year.
A family tradition my mom started when the kids were young is to make Gingerbread houses after the Thanksgiving Feast (not this house but this is definitely inspiring).
Photo credit: Vanessa Zinke Photography
Here are a few great printables to give your holiday table a special touch. Adorable 50 Free Thanksgiving Party Printables
We don't want to forget to show our appreciation for our loved ones. I have a feeling this idea for a spiced-up Thanksgiving Themed Date Night with your spouse via The Dating Divas would be a clever way to show your appreciation.
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Photo credit: Dating Divas
The Dating Divas also share a cute idea for a Thanksgiving Prep Date and a Love on the Run idea in which you hide free printable Thanksgiving love notes (such as "You're my sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top...even when things get a little gooey, I know we'll always stick together.")
What ideas or recipes have you found and love or do you plan to implement this Thanksgiving?
