Hi Guys,

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I wanted to share with you some of my FAVORITE recipes. It is, hands down, my favorite holiday... so I take it very seriously! I am anti-Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. I believe it needs a good whole month at Target of Thanksgiving related serveware and decorations that are not Halloween related before the Christmas decorations come out, and I am also so disappointed that there is no Thanksgiving music! I've been trying to enlist my husband, who is a musician, to this task for years.

My first recipe that I will share is the all important TURKEY recipe. This is the shining glory to the whole day and it should be moist and golden IMHO. To ensure that this happens, I rely only upon the greatest, Martha Stewart. Many years ago my dearest friend gifted me a trio of Martha Stewart Holiday videos and my kids and I watch them every. year. This is where I discovered the perfect turkey recipe. She utilizes cheese cloth soaked in a butter and wine mixture to keep it moist and guarantee the golden brown skin. I've been making it this way for years and it never disappoints.

Turkey 101 - http://www.marthastewart.com/353184/perfect-roast-turkey

The side dish recipes are ones I've been collecting over the years that I tried and never wanted to stray from ever again. My poor family. I'm such a creature of habit and once I fall in love with something I will overuse it until I hate it. At one point of my life I ate Cream of Wheat for breakfast for 3 years straight. (Probably where my gut issues came from!) But since Thanksgiving only comes once a year, it will take a while for these to die out!

Herbed Butter Roasted Long Beans - http://www.sunset.com/food-wine/kitchen-assistant/roasted-vegetables/roasted-vegetables_18

Sweet potato casserole with honey marshmallows - to make the sweet potato casserole I boil peeled and sliced sweet potatoes (like you would regular potatoes for mashed potatoes) until fork tender. Drain them and mash them with a little maple syrup, cinnamon, butter, and pecans. Then top with THESE amazing marshmallows - http://theurbanposer.com/rustic-homemade-marshmallows-whoney/

Traditional Mashed Potatoes - http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/mashed-potatoes-recipe.html

Sausage and Apple Grain Free Stuffing - I usually use the one in Danielle Walker of Against All Grain's Thankful ebook, but here is a similar one (also, I've done the blender bread version and I've also bought Canyon Bake House gluten free bread and both turn out great): http://againstallgrain.com/2011/11/21/grain-free-thanksgiving-stuffing/

Parker House Rolls from Every Last Crumb

Pumpkin Pie: I usually make my own pie crust but use this recipe for the filling - http://againstallgrain.com/2011/11/22/grain-free-and-dairy-free-pumpkin-pie/

Pecan Pie from the Thankful ebook from Danielle Walker of Against All Grain

That about does it for the day of, what are your favorite recipes? Do you guys play any special games or have any traditions? We like to go on a walk in the morning and collect foliage and cattails to make an arrangement for the table, cook together, and share what we are thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Tara

Thanksgiving Recipe Round Up