Holiday Recipes to Share

[Motiv8You]

No-Lump Gravy

We had a Thanksgiving potluck at work today, and once again I was called upon to make the gravy. Third year running, actually. Having suffered through years of lumpy, bad-tasting gravy (especially early on in my marriage!) I thought I would post up the recipe, in hopes of helping others who have suffered through "lumpy gravy syndrome" in the past.


No Lump Gravy

4 T. Butter
(must be real butter, NO margarine!)

3 Cups HOT liquid
(Drippings from Turkey/Pan drippings from roast... you can make this gravy for any type of meat. Ham, Roast Beef, etc. If you fall short of 3 Cups, add water or broth or bouillon & water to equal three cups total. The liquid must be HOT, so either microwave it or keep it on the back burner until used.)

1/4 C. Flour

Salt & Pepper to taste. Season after you thicken the gravy. Especially if it is Ham gravy.

Directions:
Have hot liquid/broth/pan drippings on stand-by. In saucepan or skillet, melt butter over medium heat. When melted, add flour and turn up heat slightly. Using a wire whisk, whisk the butter and flour. It should become "bubbly" looking in the pan as an indicator of being ready.
IF it seems too dry, add a bit more butter - or too moist, add a bit more flour. This recipe is very forgiving, not an exact science! <Note: this butter-flour mixture is called a "Roux" (Roo) in culinary circles.>

When the butter & flour mixture is of medium consistency and "bubbly", turn up the heat to Medium-High. Slowly pour in the HOT liquid, whisking at the same time. The gravy should immediately thicken: reduce heat to low and if it should happen to be slightly thicker than desired, add more of the HOT broth/drippings (if you have any left) or simply add some hot water to thin.

Makes 3 Cups.


Large-Batch gravy

6 C. HOT liquid (I used 3 C. Turkey drippings, 1 Can chicken broth, 1+ C. hot water and microwaved all to make sure they were very hot.)
1/2 C. + Flour
3/4 Stick Butter

And I followed the directions above.

Note: don't ever try it with margarine. It is worth hopping in the car for a quick trip to the store because if you use margarine, you will just have a runny mess.

I have purposely not included nutrition information for this recipe. It's a holiday. Have a cheat meal!
ANYONE ELSE have a great recipe to share?

[Odin1970]

My recipe is for male success on the hollidays.

1. Be willing to clean up dishes and run the dishwasher.

2. Be willing to put the dishes away when they are done.

3. Say thank you to the person doing the cooking.

4. If traveling, bring flowers.

5. If hosting, take everyone to a nice restaraunt !

6. if you dont know how to do something, dont offer advice.

7. Tell your wife/signifigant other that you love them.

8. Stay out of the kitchen, unless asked.

9. Try a little of everything, cooks hate seeing dishes not touched.

10. Dont get loaded. Sure have a few drinks, but no one likes a drunk who hasnt cooked or cleaned !

My recipe is for those of us out there who really arent proficient cooks, but appreciate holliday meals and all the hardwork that goes into them. I appologize if this isnt the recipe type you were looking for, and Im not trying to hijack the thread either.

I truly believe in this 10 point holliday recipe for males like me who are sitting around waiting to be stuffed.

[jwdjrs]

This is great for the holidays
HIGH PROTEIN LOW FAT CHEESECAKE

5 - scoops of Optimum Nutrition Vanilla Ice Cream Whey Protein
2 - 8 ounce package's Fat Free Philadelphia Cream cheese
2- Keebler 25 % less fat Graham Cracker crust
1 - Package of Sugar free Lemon Jello

1) Put 1 cup of water in a pan, bring to a boil, add jello, stir for 2 minutes as directions suggest. Remove from heat Then add 1 cup of COLD water to this.

2) Pour the 2 cups of water and jello into a blender. Now with blender on low slowly add the 5 scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream whey into it, After it mixes then slowly put the Philadelphia Cream Cheese into the blender. It mixes really well.

3) All that is left, is to pour equal amounts into each pie shell, Let thicken in frige for at least 3 hours
NO BAKING, NO MICROWAVE, TAKES ABOUT 10 MINUTES !!

It has around 100 grams of protein, and around 30 grams of fat per pie.
IT REALLY CURVES YOUR TASTE FOR SWEETS

I put some Cherry pie topping on mine, just adds some calories but NO fat, I have made 4 of these in the last 3 weeks.

HOPE THIS HELPS EVERYBODY

[jacktheblack]

Just started this last year but my wife went way out of her way to get me to make them again this year

Take 4 or 5 medium Yams

a cup of oj

half pint of maple syrup.

Cut the yams into quarters, and put into a baking bag, add oj and drizle on the syrup, shake until coated then bake in the bag with the turkey until they are soft and sweet. Trust me fellas this will get you in your wifes good graces

[jwdjrs]

Originally Posted by jacktheblack

Trust me fellas this will get you in your wifes good graces

That is what it's all about my friend

[SR800]

Well you will need to get a turkey with your shotgun or bow. Luckily the fall archery season is open here in Illinois, or take a left over breast saved from the spring hunt. No factory or "free range" allowed. Cut into kabob sized cubes, perforate with a fork, marinate in a mixture of country bobs, maple valley sugar free syrup, pinapple juice, and liquid smoke overnight in the frig. Wrap in bacon, and add whatever other kabob fixin's you prefer, set oven to 350, leave door adjar, cook just until the bacon is done (not crisp). Melt in your mouth perfection, Enjoy. Note: if you do not have any turkey left use some of your early season goose, it makes a fine substitute!

[ChocoChick]

Originally Posted by Odin1970

My recipe is for male success on the hollidays.

1. Be willing to clean up dishes and run the dishwasher.

2. Be willing to put the dishes away when they are done.

3. Say thank you to the person doing the cooking.

4. If traveling, bring flowers.

5. If hosting, take everyone to a nice restaraunt !

6. if you dont know how to do something, dont offer advice.

7. Tell your wife/signifigant other that you love them.

8. Stay out of the kitchen, unless asked.

9. Try a little of everything, cooks hate seeing dishes not touched.

10. Dont get loaded. Sure have a few drinks, but no one likes a drunk who hasnt cooked or cleaned !

My recipe is for those of us out there who really arent proficient cooks, but appreciate holliday meals and all the hardwork that goes into them. I appologize if this isnt the recipe type you were looking for, and Im not trying to hijack the thread either.

I truly believe in this 10 point holliday recipe for males like me who are sitting around waiting to be stuffed.

Want to come to my house for Thanksgiving dinner?

[greggamma]

I gladly stay out of the kitchen unless called for. As I do the majority of the cooking the rest of the year I am truly thankful for getting the day off. My best recipe-for Thanksgiving and Christmas? Single Malt scotch 1 double shot sipped every 2 hours throughout the day!

[jacktheblack]

my wife cannot put cherrios in a bowl without my help but she is my sugar mama so I am happy to cook all the bacon she bring home (metaphorical bacon of course I am still in my cut phase)

[Storm442]

Thanks guys and gals !!
Keep postin' 'em.... Thanksgiving is almost on us.


~Storm

[empresscat]

* 2 lbs sweet potatoes, cooked, peeled and mashed
* 1/3 cup orange juice
* 1 egg plus 2 whites -- beaten
* 1 to 2 tablespoons grated orange peel
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts (or pecans)

Mix it all together, and then lightly oil a deep baking dish (we use a souffle dish, but a casserole dish would work, too) - and spoon it in. Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes - then top with a few whole hazelnuts for presentation

[empresscat]

Clean, and trim 5 whole beets.
Place in a baking dish, and roast at 375 'till fork-tender (about 40 min)

After taking them out of the oven, let them cool 'till you can touch them, and then peel off the skin/outer layer.

Dice the beets and place in a bowl.
Add raspberry vinegar (I guess about a cup), a tablespoon or so of thyme, and a little salt and pepper.

Heat up a skillet (preferably cast iron) to medium heat - and toss in about 2/3 cup of walnuts. Toast them for a couple of minutes, stirring occaisionally. Take off heat, and top with sea salt.

Stir the nuts into the beets, and place in a salad bowl. (Also good over spinach.) Take one log of goat cheese, and break up over the top of the beets. (The cheese will turn a frightening shade of hot pink, but it's so yummy, it's OK)

[Maui Guns]

Ehhh...I can microwave a pretty mean plain frozen chicken breast!

[Odin1970]

Originally Posted by dbflgirl

Want to come to my house for Thanksgiving dinner?

I dont think my wife would like that too much, but I'd love to come !

[jacktheblack]

The KFC up the street from me deep frys turkeys to order I know nutritional it is the same as holding a gun up to my head and pulling the trigger, but how can I resist the call of a KFC turkey Please someone tell me that deep frying is not that bad, that some school somewhere has done research to show that trans fats are now good for you.

[Motiv8You]

Originally Posted by jacktheblack

The KFC up the street from me deep frys turkeys to order I know nutritional it is the same as holding a gun up to my head and pulling the trigger, but how can I resist the call of a KFC turkey Please someone tell me that deep frying is not that bad, that some school somewhere has done research to show that trans fats are now good for you.

It's not bad for you if you're doing a CKD (keto) LOLOL
You could go low-carb/high fat, I suppose!

[scienceteacher]

This is undoubtly the easiest way to cook your turkey and it comes out perfect everytime. This is done about 10:00pm the night before.

Salt and pepper your turkey inside and out, rub a little butter on it, sprinkle it with a little flour, and place in a browning bag. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Put the turkey in the oven for 30 minutes and then turn the oven off. DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR! Go to bed and the next morning your turkey will be perfect, I promise. I've even got my Grandma cooking hers this way now.