Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, mincemeat pie - the traditional Thanksgiving dinner is home sweet home. But why not try a gourmet version of the old Thanksgiving favorites this year? With some new ingredients, some creative new recipes and some touches of elegance, you can turn Thanksgiving dinner into a gourmet feast.
Here are 7 ways to gourmandize your Thanksgiving dinner:
1. Spice up the turkey
Turkey is turkey, right? Wrong. You can give your Thanksgiving turkey more flavor and the most wonderful aroma by simply roasting it with herb butter and citrus fruits.
Soften a stick of butter and mix in dried or fresh rosemary, thyme, salt pepper and crushed garlic. Before roasting the turkey, gently loosen the skin near the neck cavity and run your fingers between the meat and the skin to loosen it from the breast, legs and thighs. Place the herbed butter between the meat and skin and press with your fingers to distribute it evenly.
Fill the turkey cavities with oranges and lemons that have been quartered and fresh sprigs of thyme and rosemary. Roast as you normally would cook the turkey.
2. Get creative with stuffing
Everybody loves traditional stuffing, so they're sure to love an extra dish of something creative. Make Oyster Stuffing this year (see recipe below) or make a batch of chestnut stuffing. Or try Italian stuffing with parmesan, raisins and pine nuts.
3. Jazz up plain potatoes
Mashed potatoes don't have to take a back seat to all the other dishes at the Thanksgiving buffet. Add melted butter and smashed roasted garlic to mashed potatoes. Or buy red skinned potatoes and make Smashed Red Potatoes for a delicious rustic side dish ( see recipe below). Or try one of the many mashed potato recipes at epicurious.com like Horseradish Mashed Potatoes, Brown Butter and Scallion Mashed Potatoes, or Leek and Fennel Mashed Potatoes.
4. Set an elegant table
Start early and plan for a beautifully set table for Thanksgiving dinner. Make a creative centerpiece for the main dining table or buffet table. A cornucopia, pumpkin planter or miniature pumpkin candle holders are perfect autumn centerpieces.
Use dishes in fall colors and bring out everything brown, gold, yellow, orange and seasonal.
Use cloth napkins and try a new cloth napkin folding technique. Sprinkle pressed autumn leaves on the table, or set one at each place with names written in gold marker for place cards.
5. Serve an autumn beverage
Thanksgiving calls out for spiced wine, hot buttered rum, pumpkin flavored coffee, or Hot Buttered Cider (see recipe below).
6. Do Thanksgiving dinner party favors
Set a Thanksgiving theme party favor at each place setting. Make something homemade or buy a simple candle in a fall design.
7. Go all out for dessert
Pumpkin pie is a staple, but it's so easy, you may want to make something else for seconds. Try one of the recipes from Les Tout's Delicious Thanksgiving Desserts, or make a pumpkin cheesecake, warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream, chocolate pecan pie or carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Or for the kids, make this recipe from FamilyFun.com for a cake that looks just like a turkey.
Oyster Stuffing
- 2 loaves French bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- 1/2 pound bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups chopped onion
- 1 1/2 cups chopped celery
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage or 2 teaspoons dried sage
- 1 tablespoon crushed garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Pepper to taste
- 2/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
- 18 oysters, shucked, drained and chopped (3/4 cup)
- 2 1/4 cup chicken broth
Toast bread cubes by baking in a 325-degree oven in a shallow baking pan or pans until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool bread cubes and place in a large bowl. Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. In bacon fat in skillet, cook onions, celery, thyme, sage, garlic, salt and pepper over medium heat, stirring occasionally until vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes. Transfer onion celery mixture to bowl with bread cubes. Stir in bacon, parsley, melted butter and oysters. Gradually add chicken broth and toss until well mixed. Transfer stuffing to a buttered 3-4-quart shallow baking dish. Bake, covered with foil, in a 325-degree oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until brown, about 30 minutes more.
Smashed Red Potatoes
- 2 pounds red-skinned potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Cook potatoes and garlic in a medium saucepan filled with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain, reserving a little bit of cooking liquid. Return potatoes to the pan and mash coarsely with a potato masher. Add olive oil, salt and pepper and stir. Gradually add enough reserved liquid to make the potatoes fluffy.
Hot Buttered Cider
- 8 cups apple cider
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 4 sticks cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice
- Peel from 1 lemon, cut into thin strips
- 1 1/2 cups dark rum
- Butter
Combine cider and brown sugar in a large saucepan. Make a spice bag by placing cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice and lemon peel in a square of cotton cheesecloth and tying it into a pouch. Add spice bag to cider mixture in pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove spice bag and discard. Stir in rum. Pour cider into cups and float a pat of butter on the top of each cup. Serves about 6.
Related Articles:
Thanksgiving Day Gathering Crafts
Do-it-Yourself Autumn Centerpieces
Thanksgiving Dinner Party Favors
Delicious Thanksgiving Desserts
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