Thanksgiving 2023 - Cabin
To make or do ahead:
- 6 - 7 weeks before Thanksgiving - order Turkey from Borderland Specialty Meats, Foods & Smokehouse. NOTE: tell them you want the gizzards to use to make a stock for the gravy. They will also brine and season the turkey!!!!! Fabulous!
- 1 week prior. This year I purchased white bread for the stuffing and 3 different apple varieties from Pleasant View Orchard & Bakery
- Turkey or chicken stock. You will need this for the dressing and the gravy. I plan to try this recipe. Roasted Turkey Stock. This recipe is fantastic!!!
- The Cranberry Salsa and Cranberry Compote can also be made ahead. While you are at it, make this as well. Cranberry Barbeque Sauce. The link will take you to 2 fun things to do with left over turkey.
- NOTE: the dressing is VERY time consuming.
- 2 days prior, make the pie crusts.
- One day before: make the pies. This year I made the pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving morning, not a good idea.
The Menu
Wine: I love to start with Champagne. I served a Pinot Noir with dinner.
Appetizers:
- Veggies and Irresistible Veggie Dip
- Lorraine made Deviled Eggs. They were a big hit!
- Assorted cheese, deer sausage and crackers. John
Dressing - Cranberry, Sausage and Apple Stuffing. This year I purchased chestnuts from Golden Harvest in Rhinelander. I followed this recipe for roasting the chestnuts and then ground them. This was by far THE best dressing I have EVER made!!!! My mom always added chestnuts to her dressing, now I know why!
Cranberries (Yes, 3 kinds of cranberries)
- Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce (for Mike)
Potatoes
- Mashed potatoes, use Yukon gold. Don't peel before boiling. The peels just about fall off after cooking.
Make-Ahead Gravy NOTE: John added sliced fresh mushrooms, sliced onion and the can of cream of mushroom soup to the bottom of the roasting pan 1 hour into cooking. I also added about 2 cups of red wine. We used 4 cups of the turkey stock thickened with cornstarch which was then added to the pan drippings plus. John's gravy was to die for.
Rolls/Biscuits - I discovered that many people like rolls or biscuits with dinner. I thought I would try this recipe. Sweet Potato Biscuits. Lorraine brought the rolls this year. We need to rethink rolls for next year.
Vegetable - I struggle with this one. 
- I made this one. It was good and great as a left over. Tangy Green Bean Salad.
- I want to make this next year, Gulliver's Corn. Ann Hughson use to make this when we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Hughson and Moran families
- Raw Corn and Radish Salad with Spicy Lime Dressing. This is one of my favorites but not everyone likes this. I did not make it this year.
- I am thinking about trying this. BUTTERNUT SQUASH SALAD or PEAR POMEGRANATE SALAD. (NOTE: Claire made the pear pomegranate salad for the McGlynn's and it was a big hit).
Dessert
- Pumpkin pie with whipped cream. I am going to try this recipe. The Ultimate Pumpkin Pie from New York Cooking. I actually used my regular recipe but adjusted the spices and added 1 Tablespoon rum.
- Apple pie
- I have also served this Wine-Sherbet Finale Refreshing after a big meal.
The Next Day/Weekend
- I make a turkey stock and use that for soup. Roasted Turkey Stock
- I tried this Chicken Wild Rice Soup recipe this year. Yum! You need a lot of heavy cream and milk which I happened to have on hand.
- Cranberry Barbeque Turkey Pizza. I make the pizza crust in my bread machine but you can use premade pizza crust.
We had out first snow fall on Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Very Thankful
and the leftovers were incredible!
