Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Brined Turkey

This Thanksgiving is the first time me and my girlfriend Lisa have had people over for Thanksgiving.  While not a huge get together (we are having 11 people here), it will be the first time our parents meet…  We have been cooking fools last night and this morning.  I wanted to share a couple of the recipes that we are using.

Mashed Apple Spiced Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 5-6 sweet potatoes (boiled & mashed)
• 1/8 cup brown sugar
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 shallot (chopped fine)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 1 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp nutmeg
• salt to taste

Preparation:
Add all ingredients in large bowl and mix well by hand using potato masher.

Turkey Brine

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup salt (3/4 cups Kosher or coarse salt) (double salt if using an all natural bird with nothing added)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• peppercorns
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• bunch of scallions
• one hot pepper

Preparation:
Add enough water (about 1 1/2 gallons) to cover the bird. Place water and ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Add poultry, cover and brine for 1 hour per pound in refrigerator. I did not have room in my fridge so I used an igloo drinking water cooler to keep it cold…

Sweet Potato Pie

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces butter, softened
• 2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 small can (5 ounces, about 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons) evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 prepared pie shells, unbaked

Preparation:
Mix butter, potatoes, sugar and evaporated milk until well blended. Add vanilla, eggs, and cinnamon; mix well. Pour into the prepared pie shells. Bake in a 350° oven for about 1 hour, until set.
Makes 2 pies.

Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups cranberries (one 12-ounce bag)
3/4 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
zest and juice of 1 orange (about 1/2 cup)
2 teaspoons grated ginger, peeled
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar

Preparation:
Combine cranberries, cherries, shallots, vinegar, orange zest and juice, ginger, and brown sugar in a medium saucepan, and cook over medium heat until cranberries pop.Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries release their juices, about 15 minutes. If the cranberry sauce becomes too thick, add water until the desired consistency is reached. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

I love cooking and cooking all this tasty food is so much fun.  Thanksgiving for me is a diet cheat day if you think for a second that I am going to cook all this food and not enjoy every bit of it you are nuts…  I have Friday, Saterday, and Sunday to make up for it.  The weather looks nice and I will enjoy it outside…

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