All about Thanksgiving

I wanted to write an article that included as many topics about Thanksgiving that I could.  I've included a short history and how to cook various Thanksgiving dishes.  I am unable to spend Thanksgiving with my family this year.  Iv'e decided that I am going to take a few new friends that are unable to share this day with their families out to eat and a movie.  Send me a tweet with what you are thankful for this year!

From wikipedia,
Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day, currently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November by federal legislation in 1941, has been an annual tradition in the United States by presidential proclamation since 1863 and by state legislation since the Founding Fathers of the United States. Historically, Thanksgiving began as a tradition of celebrating the harvest of the year.  There are claims that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by Spanish explorers in Texas at San Elizario in 1598.

Amazing Green Bean Casserole with a twist!

4 big servings or 6 smaller servings

1 lb green beans blanched
1 lb asparagus blanched
1 sm potato blanched
5 baby portabella mushrooms sliced
1 sm onion caramelised
2 cloves pickled garlic chopped
1 cup milk
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
Seasonings:
Onion Powder
Cayenne Pepper
Parsley Flakes
S&P
Topping:
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup parmesean cheese
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp chopped hazelnuts

In a shallow casserole dish, whisk your milk, soup, and seasonings until smooth, add all ingredients except for toppings, mix together topping ingredients and add to the top.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

Here are a couple videos on cooking a turkey, making stuffing, cornbread, buttermilk pie and pumpkin pie! yum!


Hope you have a Wonderful Holiday!

Turkey Day is almost here...

Thanksgiving is almost here so I know everyone is somewhat interested in new recipes and techniques. Below is a link to a few videos that span, stuffing, roasting a turkey, and brining a turkey.

www.youtube.com/user/teejaytoday75

How to Brine a Turkey/Chicken

What a Brine is:

This is where you piggy back great flavors and seasonings with SALT to penetrate and flavor food, usually vegatables and meats.

Brining works on a cellular level by way of salt molecules wanting to create an equilibrium on either side of a membrane, in this case...poultry skin. As the salt moves in and out of the membrane, seasonings that you add are carried with the salt into the flesh of the meat.

This also creates a more savory and moist piece of meat, (Those Chemistry classes in college finally paid off!)

I recently brined a Chicken and made a video of it...here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCAUb8E6E04&feature=colike

Turkey Salad

I made this the Day after Thanksgiving and took it to work...

2 cups chopped turkey (chicken)
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green olives
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup Miracle Whip
1/3 cup Helmans Mayo
S&P
Cayenne to taste

Mix everything in bowl and serve with crackers

My turkey was a honey brined turkey, so it had a sweet note to it that played well with the almonds.