T’is the season to be thankful! This occasion is a heart-warming celebration of the fortune and love we have received over the past year. So how about a wonderful surprise for your family and friends with some festive joy? A wholesome, perfectly roasted turkey and some melt-in-your-mouth, mashed potatoes sounds pretty delicious too. Join us as we drum up a classic Thanksgiving dinner. What’s the key to a great Thanksgiving Dinner? That’s right, the Tur-KEY, and we’ve got the juiciest Turkey recipe coming up! Even better, it’s not half as hard as you think!
1. Classic Roast Turkey
Populist media A thanksgiving dinner without turkey is simply unheard of. This roasted marvel of a turkey is tender, juicy and oh so delicious! This thanksgiving, crave into some meaty, fall-off-the-bone fun and breathe in the steaming, hot flavours.
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons of dried Parsley
• 2 tablespoons of freeze dried Rosemary
• 2 tablespoons rubbed dried sage
• 2 tablespoons of dried thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon of lemon pepper
• 2 tablespoons of salt
• 1 (15 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
• 2 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1 orange, cut into wedges
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 can of chicken broth(300-450ml)
• 1 (750ml) bottle of champagne (this is not a joke, we repeat, this is not a joke)
Instructions
1. Pre-heat the oven to 175 Degrees Celsius. Line a turkey roaster with long sheets of aluminum foil.
2. Stir together the parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, lemon pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Save a tablespoon of salt for the mashed potatoes.
3. Rub the herb mixture into the cavity of the turkey, then stuff it with the celery, orange, onion, and carrot. Do it with passion!
4. Place the Turkey into the roasting pan. Pour the chicken broth and champagne over the turkey, making sure to get some champagne in the cavity.
5. Bring the aluminum foil over the top of the turkey, and seal. Try to keep the foil from touching the skin of the turkey breast or legs.
6. Bake the turkey in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until it’s no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear. Uncover the turkey, and continue baking until the skin turns golden brown, 30 minutes to 1 hour longer.
7. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F. Remove the turkey from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow it to rest in a warm area 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
8. Allow yourself a moment to gaze at the delightful turkey you’ve made!
2. Perfectly Mashed Potatoes
This recipe is all about those good, old-fashioned mashed potatoes! It’s a simple, must-try 3-ingredient dish that you cannot go wrong with.
Ingredients
• 8-10 potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters.
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• ¼ cup of hot milk
Instructions
1. Now, onto the mashed potatoes. Place the potatoes in large saucepan; add enough water to cover
2. Add 3/4 teaspoon of the salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover loosely and boil gently for 15 to 20 minutes or until the potatoes break apart easily when pierced with fork.
3. Drain the saucepan. We’re almost there, relax!
4. Shake the saucepan gently over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes to evaporate any excess moisture.
5. Mash the potatoes with potato masher until no lumps remain. Add the margarine, the pepper and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt
6. Continue mashing, gradually adding enough milk to make potatoes smooth and creamy.
7. Place the delicious dish on the table full of thankful people!
3. Classic Thanksgiving Gravy
Add lots of flavour and spice to your thanksgiving with this simple yet lip-smacking gravy recipe. Pour it over the succulent turkey meat and the creamy mashed potatoes and your taste buds will thank you for it.
Ingredients
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour (Maida)
• 1 c. Pan drippings (from the turkey)
• 1-2 c. low-sodium chicken stock (or turkey)
• Salt
• Healthy Alternatives Organic Black Pepper Whole, Freshly ground
• 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves, minced
• 1 tsp. fresh sage leaves, minced
Instructions
1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute until the mixture is golden.
3. Whisk in the pan drippings. (If you have more than a cup, use it and reduce the amount of broth!)
4. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer gently until it has thickened slightly. Stir in the fresh herbs. Whisk in 1 cup of the broth and return the mixture to a simmer.
5. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer to 10 minutes, gradually adding more stock if the gravy is too thick. Check for seasonings. What are you waiting for?
Get Thanksgiving ready at Nature’s Basket! Looking for something contemporary? We think Caramelized Stone Fruit With Prosciutto will do the trick!