10 Tips for an Easier Thanksgiving Meal

November 16, 2012

First off, I would like to start out by wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. That being said, preparing and cooking for the Thanksgiving meal can, at times, be quite stressful on a person if they are doing it all alone. I would like to take this opportunity to give you some helpful tips and some shortcuts on how to make the cooking processes a little easier and a little less hectic.

• 1. TURKEY: use a cooking bag, which makes the turkey extremely moist and no basting.
• 2. MASHED POTATOES: nothing takes the place of real potatoes, but if you are short on time, one word comes to mind, "instant." If that doesn’t work for you, there is a frozen potato product where you microwave them and then just mash them with milk and butter. Way easier than peeling, boiling, and mashing and all in half the time.
• 3. DRESSING: I’m sure everyone has heard of Stove Top Stuffing…?
• 4. GRAVY: Gravy now comes in jars or cans; heat them, add a little turkey broth, and no lumps!
• 5. CRANBERRIES: The easiest way to make cranberries is to open up a can of either the jellied cranberry sauce or regular whole cranberry sauce.
• 6. ROLLS: No sense rolling out dough, kneading it, letting it rise, and getting the yeast just right. Bake some ready-made rolls you find in the frozen food section, or use a pop and fresh type item where you just open and bake.
• 7. VEGETABLES: Easiest route to take on vegetables is either canned veggies or frozen veggies. Also try the new steamed vegetables; they are the most like fresh.
• 8. PIES: When it comes to pie fillings, the easiest route is canned pie filling or canned fruit items.
• 9. PIE CRUST: The easiest way to make pie crusts, if you are running short on time, is the ready-made crusts that you just unroll, lay in your pie pan, and fill. Very good!
• And last, but not least…
• 10.  WINE: it makes everything easier!!

Enjoy!!

Donna B
Blue Springs North Branch