Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving this year was quieter than normal. Josh and Anne, Istvan and Jessica and Jason could not make it this year. So, we had my Dad and his girlfriend, my brother, Joy and Tim and baby James for dinner. My husband and I spent all day on Thanksgiving making the dinner. The addition of baby James this year was wonderful. I love that baby and can't get enough of him.

Menu

• Green Beans
• Carrots
• Mashed potatoes and gravy
• My mom's stuffing
• Turkey
• Turnips au gratin
• Rolls
• Cranberry sauce
• Pickles and olives
• Pecan pie
• Pumpkin pie
• Apple pie

Following are some of the recipes that I use. The dressing is my mom's and I have had it ever since I was a little girl. The turnip au gratin is something I make for my husband cause he loves turnips. And everyone loves my husbands mashed potatoes. He has perfected this recipe so that everyone who tries them wants the recipe. My husband roasted the turkey in our huge roaster.  He injected the turkey with a marinade.

Memere's cornbread dressing

• 1 pk sweet Italian turkey sausage ( her recipe calls for jimmy dean's sage sausage)
• 5 saltines crushed
• 1 can chicken broth
• 2 boxes jiffy cornbread
• 1 celery diced  finely
• 1 onion finely diced
• Poultry seasoning

1. Bake cornbread according to package. 
2. Cool and crumble. Brown sausage until no longer pink.
3.  Add celery and onion until softened. 
4. Remove from heat and place in baking dish….add crumbled   cornbread, crackers, poultry seasoning and ½ can of chicken broth. 
5. Cover and place in oven at 350 for 45 minutes.

Turnip and Potato Au Gratin

• 1 garlic clove
• 1 large Spanish onion peeled and quartered
• 3 T butter
• 1 lag baking potato
• 2 small turnips
• ¾ c plus 1 T heavy cream
• 12 cup plus 2 T milk
• 1 t salt
• Nutmeg

Pepper

1. 325 degrees
2. Butter a 9 inch gratin dish.  Insert metal blade, turn on processor tand drop garlic in the bowl, remove the metal blade and  insert the slicing disc. Process the onion, using moderate pressure.
3. In a heavy 2 quart saucepan, melt the butter over moderate heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook 5  minutes, until soft but not brown.
4. While the garlic and onions are cooking, use the slicing disc to process the potatoes and turnips. Plac in pan with garlic and onions. Add 1/2 cup  plus 2 T of th cream , the milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cook over medium low  heat, stirring frequently for 25 mintues, until the vegetables are almost tender and the mixture is thick.
5. Transfer the contents of the saucepan to the gratin dish. Smooth the surface with a spatula.spoon the remaining 3 T of cream over the top. Bake for 20 minutes. Place the gratin dish under the broiler, 6 inches from the heat, and broil for 5 min or until the top is lightly browned

Ernies Mashed Potatoes

• 5 lb bag of potatoes
• salt
• pepper
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 8 oz sour cream
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 stick butter
• finely chopped onion (1/2 small)
• 1 pt milk
• 1 pt potato water
• 1 can of durkees

1. Scrub,wash and peel potatoes.
2. Chop potatoes into cubes 
3. Fill 4 qt pot 2/3 with water. 
4. Add 1 tsp salt. Bring to a boil. 
5. Place potatoes in boiling water. Boil for 20 minutes or until tender. 
6. Drain potatoes saving  1 pint of potato water. 
7. Mash  potatoes with masher. 
8. Begin to add 8oz sour cream, 8oz of softened cream cheese, 1 stick of butter, the finely chopped onion, mixing (hand held mixer) and mashing each ingredient at a time. 
9. Add ½ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp pepper. 
10. Heat  1pt of milk in microwave till warm. 
11. Begin to add equal amounts of potato water and warm milk.
12.  Mix with mixer. You may not use all the milk or potato water, but add till the consistency is a bit soupy.
13.  Add additional salt and pepper to taste. 
14. Put mashed potatoes in casserole dish and place durkee fried onions on top.
15. Cover with tin foil and place in oven for 45 min @ 350 degrees. 
16. Serve piping hot. Enjoy!