Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

Thanksgiving Menu

I have been preparing for our yummy Thanksgiving feast for over three weeks. Usually mama, my nana, and me do all of the Thanksgiving sides, pies, and apps while my dad smokes the Turkey. We compile a list of ideas and then share with each other. I am usually in charge of the sweet potatoes, one dessert, and the breakfast. Here are a few yummy ideas that are great to bring to a Thanksgiving Diner!!!!

Whipped Brown Butter Bourbon Bacon Sweet Potatos

..Whew! That is a mouthful!!! Promise its very good:)

Ingredients:

4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
15 to 20 sage leaves
1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/3 cup milk
4 tablespoons brown butter
2 tablespoons bourbon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

directions:

Add the potato chunks to a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring the potatoes to a boil and cook until they are fork tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. While the potatoes are boiling, heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add the chopped bacon. You have 2 options here: you can cook the bacon until it is totally crispy or you can cook it about 3/4 of the way, so the fat has rendered, and then pop the dish in the oven and let the bacon finish crisping up there. Either way, you want all of the fat to be cooked out.

Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel to drain. Remove about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the skillet and set it aside in a bowl. To the same skillet, add the butter and heat it over medium heat. Add the sage leaves and cook until they are crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to drain.

At this point, the potatoes are most likely finished, so drain the thoroughly and add them back to the pot. Mash them with a fork or potato masher, then use a whisk or electric hand mixer to whip them. Once whipped, add in the reserved bacon fat, the milk, the bourbon and the brown butter. Whip the potatoes again until everything is combined. Taste the potatoes and add the salt and pepper, seasoning more or less if desired.

If serving the potatoes immediately, spread them in a dish and top them with the crispy bacon. Crumble the sage on top. If you're waiting a bit to serve them, heat the oven to 325 degrees F and top the potatoes with the bacon. Bake them for 25 to 30 minutes, then remove them from the oven and crumble the sage over top.

** I make this recipe every year at Thanksgiving it is a HUGE hit.

Gorilla Bread

This recipe is such a crowd pleaser. The ooey gooey sticky bread melts in your mouth and tastes excellent with a cup of hot coffee! An easy and quick simple breakfast that will feed lots of hungry people!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

1 T cinnamon

1 c butter

2 c brown sugar

2 (12 oz tubes) refrigerated biscuits

8 oz pkg. cream cheese cut into 20 cubes

1 1/2 cup walnuts, coarsley chopped and divided

Mix sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring well; set aside. Flatten biscuits; sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon sugar mixture. Place cheese cube in the center of each biscuit, wrapping and sealing dough around cheese. Set aside. Spray a 12 cup bundt pan with non stick veggie spray and sprinkle 1/2 cup nuts in the bottom of pan. Arrange half the biscuits in the pan. Sprinkle with half the sugar mixture; pour half the butter mixture over top and sprinkle with 1/2 cup nuts. Repeat layers with remaining biscuits, sugar mixture, butter mixture and nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool 5. Place on a plate on top and invert.

Spicy Sweet Pumpkin Pie Dip

2 8 oz pkg cream cheese softened

4 c powdered sugar

15 oz can pumpkin

2 t cinnamon

1 t ground ginger

gingersnaps

Mix together cream cheese and powdered sugar in a large bowl until well blended. Add remaining ingredients except cookies; mix well. Cover and refrigerate. Serve with gingersnaps. 

**Taken from my Autumn Harvest Gooseberry Patch Cook Book

These are just a few of my favorite dishes, I could list so many but that would take years to read :) I will be posting many more Fall and upcoming Holiday dishes, sides, and treats!!!!