With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we all are getting our menus together. Our family always gets together at my youngest daughter's house, along with her husband's family and other friends. We usually have a large crowd and everybody has a good time. We have a chance to visit together, show off the new babies in the family . Reminisce old times and most important, give thanks for our years blessings. This year we will be especially praying for our military men and women and ask that they be kept safe. We will have one guest that is returning from Iraq and we are all greatfully for him and what he has done for us and look forward to spending time with him.
I hope all of you have a Joyous Thanksgiving Holiday with your loved ones. I have listed a few dishes that I know we will be enjoying on this holiday. Hope you like them.
Brussels Sprouts with Apples
2 1/4 pounds fresh brussels sprouts, halved
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons salt, divided
1/4 cup butter or margarine, divided
1 medium onion, diced
1/4 cup apple juice
1 large Red Delicious apple, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon sugar
1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1/2 cup golden raisins
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
Bring brussels sprouts, lemon juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and water to cover to a boil in a saucepan. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 to 10 minutes or until tender. Drain and keep warm.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add onion, and sauté 15 to 20 minutes or until caramel-colored. Add apple juice, and cook 2 minutes, stirring to loosen browned particles.
Add apple, garlic, and sugar; cook, stirring constantly, 5 to 6 minutes or until apple is tender. Add water chestnuts, next 4 ingredients, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter; cook, stirring constantly, 3 to 4 minutes. Gently toss in brussels sprouts.
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Sweet Potato Casserole
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping:
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup brown sugar
Mix together main ingredients. Pour into butter 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle on topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Topping:
Melt butter and stir in brown sugar. Add flour and nuts
Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
1 1/4 cups milk (10 oz.)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs
Pastry for a single-crust 9-inch pie,
Preparation
1. In a large bowl, mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Add pumpkin, milk, and eggs and vanilla ; whisk until well blended. Pour mixture into unbaked pastry in pan.
2. Set pie on bottom rack of a 425° regular or convection oven. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350°; continue baking until center of pie is set and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 45 minutes longer.
3. Set pie on a rack until cool, at least 2 hours. After serving, chill pie airtight.
Time: 30 minutes.
2 bags (12 oz. each) fresh or frozen cranberries, any soft or decayed berries discarded
2 1/2 cups sugar
Finely shredded zest and juice of 1 orange
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
Combine all ingredients in a large pot and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until berries have popped, about 20 minutes.
Make ahead: Let cool, then chill airtight up to 3 days; sauce will thicken as it cools.
Yield: Serves 10
Sunset 2009
Roast Turkey
"Simple, perfect roast turkey just like grandma used to make. Seasoned with salt and pepper, and basted with turkey stock, the flavors of the turkey really stand out. Stuff with your favorite dressing."
Ingredients:
1 (18 pound) whole turkey
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 1/2 quarts turkey stock
8 cups prepared stuffing (your own preference)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Place rack in the lowest position of the oven.
2. Remove the turkey neck and giblets, rinse the turkey, and pat dry with paper towels. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Loosely fill the body cavity with stuffing. Rub the skin with the softened butter, and season with salt and pepper. Position an aluminum foil tent over the turkey.
3. Place turkey in the oven, and pour 2 cups turkey stock into the bottom of the roasting pan. Baste all over every 30 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 to 2 cups at a time. Remove aluminum foil after 2 1/2 hours. Roast until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh reads 180 degrees F (80 degrees C), about 4 hours.
4. Transfer the turkey to a large serving platter, and let it stand for at least 20 to 30 minutes before carving.
Makes about 36 
