Moms A Gourmet

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Turkey has been a mainstay on the Thanksgiving Day table for centuries. At one time Benjamin Franklin suggested that the turkey be the national bird instead of the bald eagle. So, turkey has gained quite the measure of importance in American and other societies. Honestly, Tom the Turkey doesn’t always want to be the center of attention - especially at dinner.

Many people are substituting other dishes as the main dish for the Thanksgiving meal. Maybe you are not having a big family get-together this year and everyone is fending for themselves. If that is the case, there is no need to fix a fifteen pound turkey with all the trimmings and dessert for less than a handful of people.

Many families this time of year have Sweet Potatoes with their holiday meals here is a slight twist to the traditional sweet potatoes that we have grown accustom to.

What You Need:

• 2 large sweet potatoes
• 2 Golden Delicious apples, cored and sliced into rings
• 1/2 C orange juice
• 1/4 C firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp. cornstarch
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
• 2 TBSP pecans pieces

How to Make It:

1. Place the sweet potatoes in microwave safe dish.
2. Microwave the potatoes on high 8 minutes, rotating once, until just starting to soften.

What You Need:

• 1 (12 lb.) turkey, thawed, giblets removed and deboned
• 1/2 C butter, cubed
• 1 C celery, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 5 C white bread, cubed
• 1 1/2 C corn bread, crumbled
• 1 tsp. salt, divided
• 1/2 tsp. sage
• 1 C chicken broth
• 3 tbsp. canola oil
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

How to Make It:

Place the turkey on a large cutting board and remove the wings.

Flatten the turkey to 1 in. thickness.

Separate the turkey into 3 pieces by cutting between the breast and thighs.

Families fly hundreds of miles to be together during the holidays. On Thanksgiving, they can share a meal and reminisce about old times. The last thing you want to do is have to worry about the meal itself. Start a new tradition this year that will allow you to enjoy both the meal and the company. Have your Thanksgiving dinner catered in.

This idea is not as far-fetched as it may sound. I know you are thinking about losing some of the sentimentality of the season, but really you are gaining what you really want - time with relatives. We all admit that the day wipes us out because of the preparations. So, catering the affair avoids all of that.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cups cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3 large eggs at room temperature
3/4 cup low-fat sour cream at room temperature
1/2 cup skim milk
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions:

Place the flour, cornmeal, salt, brown sugar and baking powder in a sifter. Sift together into a large mixing bowl.  Add the eggs and sour cream.  Pour in the milk and butter.  Mix with a rubber spatula just enough to moisten the dry ingredients.  Heat the oven temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Spray a baking pan with the non stick cooking spray.  Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.  Bake 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.