Whether you are cooking your first Thanksgiving meal or you are a seasoned pro you may be looking for tips on Thanksgiving food preparation. Whether you make a traditional meal or put your own personal spin on it there are tips that can help you improve your Thanksgiving meal and perhaps even help you make it easier and with less stress. Here are some tips for Thanksgiving food preparation-
• Turkey-Studies show that eighty eight per cent of Americans reported eating turkey last Thanksgiving. While most Americans preparing Thanksgiving dinner roasted their turkeys (74%), interest and experimentation in non-traditional methods of turkey preparation, such as deep-frying, brining, smoking and grilling, are rapidly gaining in popularity. You may want to surprise your family and friends this Thanksgiving with a new spin on this old favorite. It really is simple to be creative when you cook with turkey because it’s easily seasoned and complements any dish on the table. Cooking experts say that you can easily change the flavor profile of turkey by altering the cooking method, preparation or both. You can also experiment with different rub and marinade seasonings, then try deep frying, brining or grilling for added flavor.
• Dressing or Stuffing?-The debate may rage on as to what each is but the bottom line is this-Dressing is baked outside of the turkey and stuffing is put inside the turkey to bake while the turkey roasts. While there are few restrictions on dressing the same cannot be said for stuffing. Stuffing needs to be cooled properly before being inserted into the turkey and then it must reach at least 160 degrees before being considered done. The problem with using stuffing is that often times by the time the stuffing is done the turkey is overdone. You can use your stuffing or dressing to reflect your taste and creativity and even have it reflect where you live. For example: New Englanders often make an oyster or cranberry stuffing while those living in the Southwest often add pine nuts or sausage to theirs.
• Side dishes-But don’t limit your creativity to only the turkey; you can be creative with other dishes on the table too. There are numerous side dishes that can take traditional ingredients and present them in a whole new way. And don’t be afraid to try something you haven’t before. Many times your family and friends will appreciate having a new taste at the table. Just keep in mind that you want side dishes that can sit while the turkey is finishing.
• Desserts-No one quibbles over the fact that pumpkin pie is the star of the Thanksgiving dessert buffet but have you ever thought about expanding on the pumpkin? Pumpkin mousse, cookies and even bundt cake still have that delicious pumpkin/Thanksgiving feel, are easier to do ahead and can give your guests a still familiar but new dessert to love during the holidays. Many desserts at Thanksgiving are not exactly kid-friendly so you may want something that can appeal to your younger diners. How about having Thanksgiving shaped sugar cookies for the kids to decorate? You can bake the cookies even weeks before the big day, freeze them and then you will be all ready to go on Thanksgiving. Simply give the kids some different colored frostings, sprinkles and other toppings and set them loose. As an added bonus this can be used to help entertain the kids in the hours before dinner is ready to go on to the table.
• Left-overs-You may be surprised to find that many people just do not know what to do with all of those delicious left-overs. Don’t forget to use these flavorful leftovers for quick-to-prepare meals. Cooked turkey can be an ideal base ingredient for stir-fry dishes, pizzas, frittatas, fajitas, casseroles, chilis, sandwiches, salads and soups. For more ideas on using turkey and your other left-overs consult online for some really great recipes.
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