The most important part of Thanksgiving is the food! There are three essential parts of the traditional Thanksgiving meal:
Stuffed Turkey, Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkin Pie
Of course, there are lots of things people eat at Thanksgiving, and not everybody eats Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Pumpkin Pie. But, when Americans think about Thanksgiving, they usually think about these three foods.
So, if you want to experience an American tradition you should learn how to make and enjoy all three of them!
Other common Thanksgiving foods include Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Biscuits, Wine, Vegetables and Squash.
Here are some easy Thanksgiving recipes:
Roast Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing Recipe
1 x 12 lb Turkey
1 x Chestnut filling recipe (as follows)
1/2 cup Butter
1/4 cup Flour
Salt
Dress and clean turkey and fill with Chestnut Stuffing.
Cream together the butter and flour and rub the legs,
wings, and breast of the turkey with the mixture.
Place in oven (400-F) for 15 minutes. Season with salt.
Reduce the heat to 350-F and finish roasting
for 3-1/2 hours or until tender.
Chestnut Dressing Recipe
Boiling water
1 1/2 lb Chestnuts
1/3 cup Butter Salt and pepper
1 cup Dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup hot Milk
Pour boiling water over chestnuts and let stand 5 minutes;Remove skin with fingers and a knife.
Cook nuts about 1/2 hour in boiling salted water.
Drain, mash and add butter and seasonings.
Pour milk over crumbs and add to nut mixture.
Mix well, then stuff it inside the turkey.
Garlic Mashed Sweet Potatoes
2 pounds sweet potatoes, cut into small pieces
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
6 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 to 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Cook unpeeled sweet potatoes, covered, in boiling salted water, 20 to 30 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, saute garlic in 1 tablespoon butter for 2 minutes. When potatoes are fully cooked, drain thoroughly. Peel and dice and return to pan. Add sauteed garlic, remaining butter, sour cream and salt. Mash thoroughly. Fold in cilantro. Transfer to serving bowl and garnish withadditional cilantro if desired.
Baked Carrots Recipe
18 Carrots, small
1/3 cup Butter1/2 cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Salt
1/3 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/3 cup Boiling water
Scrape or pare carrots and place in baking dish. Cream butter, sugar, salt and cinnamon together; add water and blend well. Pour over carrots, cover and bake in moderate 350F oven 1 1/2 hours.
Really Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe
1 1/3 cup Pumpkin; cooked & pureed
1 1/3 cup Condensed milk
1 Egg
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon, ground
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg, ground
1/2 teaspoon Ginger, ground
1/4 teaspoon Cloves, ground
1 cup Water, hot
Beat all ingredients together. Pour into a 9-inch pastry shell. Bake at 375F for 55 to 65 minutes.
