Easy Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is one of the most important occasions where families get together to silently express their gratitude for all the good things that they get enjoy in life. It is also gives them precious moments to spend time with the extended family and other loved ones. Food also plays a very important role in bringing the family together and is crucial in the thanksgiving spirit.

Here are some delectable and easy thanksgiving recipes to make your thanksgiving a special occasion starting with appetizers:

Roasted Pumpkin seeds

Ingredients

• 1  Pumpkin (freshly scooped out)
• Melted Butter (1 tablespoon)
• Garlic
• Salt to taste

Preparation

• After scooping out the pulp from the pumpkin separate the seeds from the pulp. Rinse the separated seeds so that all fibres are removed.
• Now let the seeds dry out for a period of around 24 hours by spreading them on a cookie sheet. This process will aid in roasting of the seeds and will allow the butter to adhere to the seeds.
• Pre heat the oven to around 300 degrees F. Now put the dried seeds in a bowl and add the melted butter. Mix this thoroughly and sprinkle some garlic salt and lay them on the cookie sheet again.
• Now roast the seeds turning them around in 45 minutes so that they are evenly cooked and crunchy and get a lovely golden brown colour. Remove from the heat and let them cool before serving.
• These pumpkin seeds can also be added to salads in a thanksgiving meal.

Cheddar Cheese Mushrooms

Ingredients

• Mushrooms (1 pound)
• Unsalted Butter (6 tablespoons)
• Walnuts (1/2 cup)
• Fresh parsley leaves (1/2 cup)
• Coarsely grated cheddar (1 cup)
• Fresh bread crumbs (1/2 cup)
• Salt to taste

Preparation

• Preheat the oven to around 350 degrees F. Cut the stems of the mushrooms and chop them up and set them aside.
• Melt the butter and gently butter the tops of the mushroom caps. Arrange the caps wherein the stemmed side is up on a baking sheet. Now lightly toast the walnuts in another pan and once they are cooled chop them up finely and also chop the parsley.
• In a skillet sauté the stems of the mushrooms that have been chopped up with the remaining butter till the stems soften up. Now stir in the other ingredients and arrange this mixture in small mounds in each of the mushroom caps.
• Before serving you can chill them in advance and then bake them in the oven for around 20 minutes and serve.

Here are some delicious recipes to make for main course meals:

Crockpot Stuffed Turkey Breast

Ingredients

• Melted butter (1/4 cup)
• Finely chopped onion (1 small)
• Finely chopped celery (1/2 cup)
• Bacon croutons (2 1/2 ounces)
• Chicken broth (1 cup)
• Fresh minced parsley (1 tablespoon)
• Poultry seasoning (1/2 teaspoon)
• Uncooked turkey breast (1 whole)
• salt and pepper
• Cheesecloth (24x36")
• Dry white wine

Preparation

• Put together the onion, celery, bouillon, butter, croutons, poultry seasoning and parsley. Now cut the turkey breast into thick slices in the area from the breastbone to the rib cage and let the slices remain attached to the bone.
• Sprinkle the turkey with some salt and pepper and soak the cheesecloth in the wine. Put the bread mixture in the turkey slits and put the turkey on the cheesecloth. Now fold one end of the cheesecloth so as to cover the meat. Place this on the metal rack in a cooking pot so as to allow it to cook slowly.
• Cover the pot and allow the meat to cook on a low heat for around 7 to 9 hours and check that the meat become s tender. While cooking pour additional wine over the turkey and once the cooking is done remove it from the pot and take off the cheesecloth. Serve hot slices of this delectable turkey with dressing.

Lamb Chops with Red Currants

Ingredients

• 4 Well-trimmed lamb chops (4 1/2 ounces each)
• Cumin seeds (2 teaspoons)
• Ground coriander (1 teaspoon)
• Ground cinnamon (1 teaspoon)
• Paprika (1 teaspoon)
• Black pepper
• Red wine (3/4 cup)
• Sugar (3 tablespoons)
• 7 ounces Fresh red currants
• 1 bunch watercress

Preparation

• Preheat the grill to a high temperature. For the sauce mix together all the spices and grind it with some black pepper. Put half of this mixture in a small saucepan and add some wine and sugar to this and set the remaining aside.
• Now rinse the red currants and remove the red currants from the springs and add them to some wine. Put it in a pan over moderate heat and bring this to a boil and then lower the heat and allow this to simmer for around 12 to 15 minutes. Let the liquid attain the consistency of a syrup.
• Take the spices mixture that was kept aside and apply it to both sides of the lamb chops and grill this for a period of around 6 to 8 minutes. Turn the lamb chops to ensure that they are evenly cooked. Rinse and dry the watercress and trim them to discard the stems.
• While serving pour the sauce in each plate and place a chop and garnish with the red currants and the watercress.

Following are some Deserts you can make for thanksgiving:

Cream Cheese Fruit Salad

Ingredients

• 1 Package cream cheese (8 ounce)
• White sugar (1/4 cup)
• 1 container of frozen whipped topping (12 ounces)
• 3 Bananas (Peeled and sliced)
• 1 Can crushed pineapple, drained (15.25 ounce)
• 1Can fruit cocktail, drained  (15.25 ounce)
• 1 Large Jonagold apple (peeled and chopped)
• Sweetened flaked coconut (1/2 cup)
• 1 jar maraschino cherries, drained and halved (4 ounce)
• Chopped pecans (1/2 cup)
• Golden raisins (1/2 cup)

Preparation

• In a large bowl beat together the cream cheese and sugar. Then on high speed beat in the whipped topping and fold in the pineapple, bananas, fruit cocktail, coconut and apple.
• Now mix in the cherries, raisins and pecans. Pour in a serving bowl and serve chilled.  

Cranberry Pecan Bars Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 C. flour
• Sugar (2 teaspoon)
• 1/4 C. butter, (cut into pieces)
• Water (2 Tablespoons)
• Vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon)
• 1/3 C. whipping cream
• 1/2 C. light brown sugar
• Honey (2 tablespoon)
• 3/4 C. dried cranberries
• 1 C. finely chopped pecans

Preparation

• Preheat the oven at around 350°F. Now grease a baking pan that is around 8-inch square and set it aside. Now combine the flour, butter and sugar in a food processor and process till the mixture looks like coarse cornmeal. Now add the water and vanilla.
• Mix and press the dough in a prepared pan. Freeze this for around 15 minutes. Bake the dough for 15 minutes till it is golden.
• In a saucepan combine the whipping cream, honey and brown sugar. Bring this to a boil and continue boiling for another minute. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the cranberries and pecans stirring continuously. Spoon this mixture over the crust and bake for another 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cut it into squares and then serve.