Mostly Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes
life is hard; food doesn't have to be #73 [vol2, 11.3]
The newsletter tagline, '‘life is hard, food doesn’t have to be” is true — yet we still have to plan. Maybe planning IS the hard part for some of us.
This week, I’ve been in Thanksgiving prep mode and soaked fresh local pecans in salt water then dehydrated them. (Pecans were from Foshee Family Farm in Blackwell, just west of Conway. Farmers’ Markets are another great place to find fresh pecans.)
Soaking initiates the germination process, making them more nutrient dense and easier to digest. That’s not the only reason I do it. The taste cannot be compared to raw or roasted. When soaked and dehydrated they are so buttery and delicious. Highly recommended. More details in my Instagram post and Stories.
Mostly Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes
Some recipes I follow exactly. Others offer guidance. It’s how I roll.
Half Baked Harvest uses a butter soaked cheese cloth to make the perfect turkey.
Sweet potato casserole will forever be nostalgic. My grandfather always had a giant garden which included sweet potatoes. 2 tips for amazing: roast, don’t boil the sweet potatoes. Let the maillard (pronounced MY-yard) reaction caramelize the potatoes - get a little brown on the bottom. Instead of mashing, run potatoes through a blender or food processor with the rest of the ingredients to eliminate lump and produce a silkier, pudding-like consistency. Bonus: use maple syrup instead of brown sugar.
Did you know you can make ahead mashed potatoes? Reheat Thanksgiving day in a crock pot with a bit of extra butter, sour cream or milk (moisture will escape as it reheats). Alternatively, I present to you Alice Waters’s Potato Gratin.
Make ahead this yummy green bean salad.
If you need broth, make some this week. Complete details here.
Super easy bread dough up to 9 days in advance. Bake just before your meal. This brioche dough can be made a couple days in advance, too - perfect rolls and what I served last week at the Open House.
What’s Thanksgiving without macaroni and cheese? Another PW recipe that does not disappoint. Keep your noodles al dente and it freezes perfectly. Can be made in advance, too.
This roasted beet and carrots with tahini is seriously delish. Roast the roots in advance and sprinkle with pistachios just before serving.
Brussels with bacon, pecans, and a generous dose of blue cheese? Um, yes. Here’s one for brussels with balsamic.
If cinnamon rolls are remotely on your radar, The Pioneer Woman’s recipe is my all time favorite. You won’t fight with the dough.
Here’s a homemade Bisquick recipe.
Here’s a recipe round up for all things fermented. Find one that floats your boat and surprise your family!
After Thanksgiving my fav way to use up turkey: Kentucky Hot Brown.
Life is hard, food doesn’t have to be. Enjoy the extra holiday time with your people.
Julie