Happy Thanksgiving

Since Thanksgiving is barely two days away, I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite "Turkey Day" recipes. I enjoy these recipes because they are simple, yet unique. They are sure to spruce up a tired menu, without straying far from tradition. Enjoy, and have a delightful Thanksgiving with the ones you love!


It's Not Thanksgiving Without Turkey:

Rosemary Roasted Turkey
Best turkey I've ever had. I guarantee this turkey will make your guests rave! This recipe adds a wonderful mixture of herb flavors to your turkey, and keeps it moist at the same time. I doubled the pleasure by making this recipe with a kosher turkey a few years back, and the outcome was scrumptious. (Kosher turkeys are more expensive, but have a superb taste.) The only tricky part about this recipe is getting your hands between the skin and the meat of the turkey without puncturing the skin. If you do happen the tear the skin, you can always "stitch" it up with a toothpick. Yet, something about smoothing the olive oil/herb paste under the skin is sort of soothing in a strange way. You can always experiment with different mixtures of herbs if you have your favorites. 


On the Side:

Spiced Carrots
I originally found this recipe in the same magazine as the turkey recipe above, and it too was a hit. (For this blog post, I simply googled the names of the recipes, and viola, I found the exact same recipes online!) I love the unique flavors in this dish. The blend of brown sugar, lemon, cinnamon, and cayenne creates a warm sensation within, just perfect for an intimate holiday dinner. The spicy and sweet flavors are great compliments. It's a great dish for children. Carrots are already usually popular with the younger crowd, and they will also enjoy the cinnamon factor. Vegetable side dishes can tend to be boring and bland, but this unexpected veggie dish will surprise your guests!


For Your Sweet Tooth:

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
The best way to make a meal memorable is to top it off with an outstanding dessert. When I served these for dessert last Thanksgiving, my family was These muffins are healthier than pumpkin pie, but just as tasty. I chose to use the apple sauce in place of oil suggestion to make them a tad healthier. You can also try making them with dark chocolate chips for a twist! To make things easy, you can make the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it. Leave it out while you're eating so it can get back to room temperature, and then pop the muffins in the oven after dinner. Another great bonus about this dessert is that you can easily put extra muffins in plastic bags for your guests to take home. If you are having a Thanksgiving breakfast or brunch, these would also make a great menu item. Either way, these muffins are sure to please!