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My Thanksgiving Secrets
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items I don't share my Thanksgiving secrets with anyone... except y'all! Here's my line-up of dishes that will have your friends and family begging for a seat at your Turkey Day table.
Okay…I’m about to disclose my secret for the turkey my guests have repeatedly told me year after year is the reason they always leave room at their family dinner. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard, “Don’t tell my mom/grandma/etc., but yours...
Giada's Delicious Turkey with Herbs and Citrus | Food Network
The other reason people rave…this recipe will majorly wow your guests. Taste every layer before combining to make sure you’re happy with the flavors—keep in mind it all meshes when you combine to bake. Go nuts with the basil in the bechamel.
Giada's Butternut Squash Lasagna
I buy cornbread already made and skip that step, Thanksgiving is hectic enough and I promise the recipe does not suffer for it. I also skip the buttermilk—totally unnecessary. I make one tray just like this. I make a second tray with par baked bacon ...
Paula Deen's Cornbread Dressing
Skip the milk, use as much cream to get your desired consistency as needed. Salt liberally (to taste). White pepper instead of black pepper (use less, it’s very distinct). Perfection.
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
I make a "regular" green bean casserole and a scratch one. This is my base, then I just play around with my mushroom cream sauce until I'm happy with it. Start with the bechamel base from Giada's butternut squash lasagna, add in some roasted or sauté...
garlic green beans with mushrooms and crispy shallots
The classic.
Campbells Green Bean Casserole (Thanksgiving Classic)
Like with the cornbread, it doesn’t all have to be from scratch. I make a mean turkey gravy from drippings, but I have to have brown gravy for my potatoes…and Pioneer is the best.
BROWN GRAVY MIX - Pioneer brand
My family would probably revolt if we didn’t have these rolls.
Panned Dinner Rolls - Sister Schubert's
Instead of water, do a mix of orange and pomegranate juices. A splash of honeycrisp cider doesn't hurt, either! Definitely use Maker's Mark for the liquor in your cranberry sauce. Accept no substitutes.
Drunken Cranberry Sauce
A fun parade-watching tradition. Everyone can have as many as they want, because after breakfast, no one can even think about eating anything until dinner is served 😜
Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
I mix this with any combination of honeycrisp cider, orange juice, sparkling water in your desired flavor, or sprite. I call it “Pomegrama-Slamma” and the kids cannot wait for it every year. (Pom + Taittinger for the chef 😉)
POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice, 16 Fl Oz
My absolute favorite champagne. Their rosé is a delight. Dry as the desert sand, just like I like it. Better than Veuve and a lower price point. One of the few remaining legacy champagne houses…can’t perfect perfection!
Taittinger La Francaise Brut Champagne
The “Greatest Concert Film Ever Made” taped on Thanksgiving Day and is our annual tradition between the parade and dinner. Usually after a lil nap.
The Last Waltz - Apple TV
And we watch this classic the night before. When the kids were little, we had their playgroup over every year and had the "meal" from the special spread out on blankets on the floor. Okay, gonna go have a little cry now...
How to Watch and Stream 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' This Turkey Day
I love a good creamy mac and cheese. I could do without the parm, personally, but a classic cheddar-gruyere combo goes into this decadent dish.
The BEST Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese