Thanksgiving Day Dinner Menu

Thanksgiving Day 2011 Menu

Spinach Salad with Soy Sesame Dressing

Harvest Squash and Mushroom Soup

Hawaiian Brined Turkey

Mashed Potatoes

Turkey Gravy

Green Bean Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Pillsbury Big & Buttery Crescent Rolls

Pumpkin Pie

Spinach Salad
Fresh Spinach
Bean Sprouts
Sliced Mushrooms
Chopped Hard-cooked Egg
Bacon, cooked and crumbled
Green onion, sliced

Soy Sesame Dressing
4 T olive oil
2 T lemon juice
2 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp toasted sesame seed
2 tsp honey
1 clove garlic
dash cayenne
salt & pepper to taste

Harvest Squash and Mushroom Soup
3 c cooked butternut squash
2 T butter melted
1/2 c diced onion
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp dry mustard
pinch cayenne
8 oz diced mushroom
2 1/2 c chicken stock
yogurt
toasted almonds

Heat squash in a saucepan. In separate pan saute onions, garlic, salt and spice in melted butter until very soft, adding water if it sticks. Add mushrooms and cook another 10 min. Puree together with squash adding chicken stock if too thick. Serve with a dollop of yogurt and toasted almonds sprinkled on top.

Hawaiian Brine
4 qt pineapple juice
2 c brown sugar
1 1/3 c soy sauce
1 c salt (1 1/2 c kosher or coarse)
6 cloves garlic cut into halves
4-6 whole bay leaves

Heat all to dissolve sugar and salt. Let completely cool. Soak turkey 1 hour per pound in refrigerator. Rinse and cook 30 min at 500 degrees, then turn down oven to 350, cover breast with aluminum foil,  and cook until breast is 161 degrees in temperature.

Sweet Potato Casserole
6 c mashed yams
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c melted butter
1 T vanilla
2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 c coconut and/or 1/2 c raisins (optional)

Combine above and pour into buttered dish. Top with topping below.

Topping
1/2 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1/3 c flour
1 c pecans (chopped)
marshmallows (optional)

Mix sugar and flour, cut in butter. Stir in pecans and crumble over top of potato mixutre. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min. Scatter marshmallows over top and brown the last minute.

Carolyn "Care Bear" King