Thanksgiving Fun

Thanksgiving Food And Fun Article Body: Thanksgiving is coming soon and it will be time for every one to gather and eat a delicious feast. Alot of preparation and fun goes into preparing a great holiday meal and it is always fun to add in some recipes and try different things. The turkey is the central element of any good Thanksgiving meal. An otherwise perfect meal can be ruined by a dry, overcooked turkey. Since this isn’t something we cook on a weekly basis, it’s not easy to pull off the perfect turkey…unless you follow these tips and the recipe below. Start with a quality turkey. Yes, you can find off brand turkeys for quite a bit less, but keep in mind that a lot of the pounds you will be paying for will be saltwater that was injected in the turkey. Go ahead and buy the good stuff – You’ll be glad you did when you get all the praises for that delicious bird you fixed. Thaw the turkey slowly in the fridge. Keep in mind during your planning stage that this will take several days. Doing this instead of submerging the bird in water is much gentler on the meat, resulting in a more tender finished product and is also much safer. When you are ready to cook your turkey, remove the neck, giblets and anything else that may be stuffed in the chest cavity of your bird. Take some paper towels and pat your turkey dry. Set it in a large roasting pan. If you prefer the breast meat on the dry end, place the turkey on its back. For moister breast meat, turn the turkey breast down. Cut up a peeled onion, 3 stalks of celery and a few carrots. Big chunks are fine, since these vegetables are just for flavor. Stick them in the body cavity. They will infuse the bird with flavor as it cooks. Melt a cup of butter in the microwave. Use a turkey baster to baste the turkey with butter. Don’t use all of it, just enough to get your turkey covered. Sprinkle the turkey with salt, pepper and any other seasonings you like. Cook the turkey in a 325 degree oven. Baste it every 30 – 45 minutes with the juices that collect in the bottom of the roasting pan. Here are some general guidelines for how long your bird should cook: 8 to 12 lbs. 2 ¾ to 3 hrs. 12 to 14 lbs. 3 to 3 ¾ hrs. 14 to 18 lbs. 3 ¾ to 4 ¼ hrs. 18 to 20 lbs. 4 ¼ to 4 ½ hrs. 20 to 24 lbs. 4 ½ to 5 hrs. Or cook until temperature on meat thermometer reaches 180 degrees (check in the thickest part, and in a couple different places) Don't overcook or it will be dry, but do make sure it is done. Now that the holiday season is here, it's time to get out the crock pot slow cooker and whip up some easy and delicious party food. For pot luck or your family gatherings, nothing is easier than recipes made using a crock pot. Crock pot cooking is not only stress-free, but easy to take along as well. What kind of recipes can be created that are perfect for holiday meals and parties? There are always the standard meat balls or dips, but why settle for boring goodies when now days there is a large variety of interesting appetizers, beverages and desserts that will be the hit of any holiday get-together. Party Artichoke Dip Crock Pot Recipe 6 ounces Artichoke hearts, marinated 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon Pimento, diced 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated 1/3 cup sour cream 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder Drain and chop artichoke hearts. Combine all ingredients in crock pot. Cover and heat 1 hour until hot. Holiday Apple Brandy Punch 1 quart bottle apple brandy 1 cup peach brandy 2 cups apple cider 1 cinnamon stick Combine all ingredients in crock pot. Cover and heat on low for 3 hours. Serve hot at your next holiday party! Family Favorite Pumpkin Pie Pudding 1 - 15 oz. can solid pack pumpkin 1 - 12 oz. can evaporated milk 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup Bisquick baking mix 2 eggs, beaten 2 Tbl. butter or margarine, melted 2-1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 2 tsp. vanilla whipped topping In a large bowl mix first eight ingredients. Place in crock pot coated with non-stick spray. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours. Serve in bowls with whipped cream - Delicious! Author Resource Box: Joey Wheel