So. This post is for all my procrastinators out there. For all my gorgeous readers who need to host Thanksgiving this year and it NOT be a headache. The readers who want to enjoy family and not live in the kitchen for three days. Hey, let's get back to what Thanksgiving is really all about.
I'll toast to that.
Cheers to Thanksgiving! Cheers to family time ACTUALLY being family time. Cheers to home-made and semi-home-made. Cheers to me scoring one of the turkey legs. Amen. Oh, and healthy. And happy. My sweet mother-in-law and my brother-in-law came to visit us this past week and we decided to have a little mock Thanksgiving celebration. We all pitched in and busted this meal out in 90 minutes. We ate til we were stuffed and had tons of leftovers. I was so inspired to share the recipes and menu with y'all so that everyone could have an easy Thanksgiving in 90 minutes OR LESS!
Happy happy Thanksgiving to y'all!
This dinner feeds 8 adults (boom!)
Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
Smoked Turkey
Red garlic potatoes
Sweet Potato pecan casserole
Great Grandma Mary's Cranberry relish
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with balsamic blueberries
Carrot celery stuffing
Smoked Turkey:
We bought a smoked turkey because they're already cooked. And if you haven't ever had the pleasure of sinking your teeth into one, they're to DIE for. You literally might die. This is your 90 minute cook time so this bad-boy goes into the oven first. We cooked the turkey on 350 for 70-90 minutes. We sliced 3 carrots and 3 celery sticks and an onion. We poured a half box of vegetable stock in the bottom of the pan and added a splash of red wine, some garlic powder and salt and pepper. Lay the turkey right down into the broth and vegetable mixture, cover with foil, and pop it in the oven.
While the turkey cooks for 60-90 minutes---or as packaging states per your turkey's weight, you will prepare the rest of the dishes.
Red garlic potatoes:
Wash then boil 10-15 red potatoes. Drain. Blend with 1/2 stick of butter, a little garlic powder, salt and pepper and milk. Set aside.
Sweet Potato Pecan Casserole:
Open 1 large can of sweet potatoes or yams. Use a pastry masher to mix the drained sweet potatoes from the can, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/4 cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and 1 egg. Pour into a making dish and sprinkle 1/2 cup pecans on top with another 2 tablespoons of maple syrup drizzled on top. Bake sweet potatoes 35 minutes at 350.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Blueberries:
Pour a bag of brussels sprouts onto a baking sheet. Pour 1 cup of dried blueberries on the sheet with the sprouts. On top of everything, drizzle balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of grape seed oil, a dash of salt and pepper. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Add extra oil if needed.
Great-Grandma Mary's Cranberry Relish:
See earlier post and read about my LOVE AFFAIR with this dish and my sweet great-grandmother. In the food processor, blend 1 entire orange (including peel), 1 apple, 1 cup pecans. Place in a large bowl. Process 1 bag of Ocean Spray Cranberries, add to the bowl. Dump 1 can crushed pineapple into the bowl. In a small bowl mix 1 box of raspberry jello powder with 1 cup of boiling water, then add directly to all of other ingredients. Mix everything and chill in the fridge.
Stuffing:
Okay here's the cheat, boys and girls. Prepare a box of stove-top stuffing according to the package instructions. Sorry kids. I know that this is not healthy or cute. But this is, after all, a 90 minute Thanksgiving. Thank you JESUS. Hashtag Dont-check-the-ingredients. Bake 30 minutes.
That's it on the food portion of my easy-peasy Thanksgiving. So easy my loves. Simple. Time saving.
So. Now you have tons of extra time. Time to enjoy your family. Time to pull out the Christmas bins early. Eeeek!!!! Time to watch "Arthur Christmas" for the first of many viewings this season. Time to plot your midnight shopping extravaganza and make some hot chocolate. Time to enjoy the grandkiddos.
Below are some fun ideas for Transitional Decor on your special Thanksgiving week.
So let's be honest, your front-porch pumpkins aren't rotten just yet. And we're going to eat pumpkin pie in just a few hours. So those can't get chucked!
Okay and then there is the whole big controversy on Christmas decorating for Thanksgiving...
Behold, sweet reader, there is a little thing I like to call NoveMas. Or Christember. Actually. All of these portmanteaus sound really creepy. Never mind. Forget those.
What I'm TRYING to say, is you can transition fall decor into Christmas decor without getting into too much trouble on Thanksgiving Week! Thanksgiving is a perfect time to use some of those pretty pumpkins from October, and start blending in the cozys that say Christmas!
"Wow" your guests and straddle both of the world's BESTEST holiday seasons with these fun blends!
But first, one more picture of the flippin' smoked turkey. Oh Lawd. So yummo.
Y'all. Just put up your tree already! But enjoy your Thanksgiving Chalk board art! Guests will feel festive but remember it's still November.
Enjoy your neutral white pumpkins and some plaid fabrics. If you don't have one, buy or build yourself a hook rack for your foyer this season! Drew made me this puppy with a scrap piece of 1x8x12 and a scrap piece of molding.
Hooks are perfect for guest's blanket scarves and wool hats. Pudgy pumpkins still say it's November, but fabrics show it's cozy and snuggly inside. Hey. I'm still cuddling that smoked turkey, remember!?
Sneak up a pretty Christmas door wreath but leave those soft gourds on the table. Texture up the middle of the table with a tray and some comfy November flannel.
Pop some seasonal greens over your bookshelves. Simple swags or wreaths make even ordinary spaces feel 'Holiday-special' to guests.
Antlers scream "November buck season". Grab someone's old scarf out of the coat closet and throw it down as a table runner. Put up your tree on Thanksgiving morning and let it illuminate your dining table backdrop. Long needle pines and pine cones are perfect for tucking candlesticks down in. The glow from the tree will make things feel downright romantic.
Well that's all my tips LOVES. Hope all of these fun foods and decor ideas make your Thanksgiving special and AMAZING.
And remember how blessed we are. Blessed by our families, blessed by a Loving Savior, blessed to be free in this country.
Happy Thanksgiving my LOVES! I am certainly thankful for all of YOU!
Love Y'all!
Ashley