Thanksgiving Menu

What we ate and how you can do it at home!
Thanksgiving Menu with Recipes-

Turkey- open and remove bag, Brine - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Citrus-Turkey-Brine/Detail.aspx . Put butter and thyme under the skin, crisp in the last 15 minutes of cooking.

Stuffing- Get stovetop or other preseasoned boxed stuffing, add cooked Italian sausage and toasted pine nuts.

Mashed Potatoes- peal 1 potato per person, peel if desired, cube, boil till soft, drain. Mash add whole milk, butter till smooth, garlic to taste.

Sweet Potato Casserole-http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Rum-and-Sweet-Potato-Casserole/Detail.aspx

White Rolls-http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-Dinner-Rolls/Detail.aspx

Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese filling-
2 cups pumpkin purée (canned)
1½ cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
¾ cup canola oil
1½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ tsp. salt
1½ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. cinnamon
¾ tsp. ground cloves
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
½ cup raisins




Preheat oven to 325ºF.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together pumpkin, sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla until well blended.
Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg over the pumpkin mixture and whisk until just blended. Over mixing may result in less tender muffins.
Fold in the raisins until consistently distributed.
Portion mixture into muffin pans and bake at 325ºF for 25 minutes.
Insert a toothpick into center of muffin and remove. If toothpick is clean, the muffins are ready. If not, allow muffins to cook an additional 1-2 minutes or until toothpick is clean.
Allow muffins to cool for 30–60 minutes.

Cream Cheese Icing:

1 cup unsalted butter
1½ cups cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
½ tsp. cinnamon




Allow cream cheese and butter to soften at room temperature for about an hour.
Mix cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
Add vanilla extract, powdered sugar and cinnamon, and mix until well blended.
Remove from mixer, and cover and refrigerate until needed.
Fill a pastry bag fitted with a star tip with icing.
Poke a hole into the center of each cooled muffin and squeeze icing directly into the middle of the muffin, finishing with a rosette on the top.

Special Tip: This recipe makes a generous amount. (like double the amount needed for the muffins.
Extras-
Cranberry Sauce, Olives