Thanksgiving Dinner 2018

Here is my Thanksgiving Dinner 2018 menu. I’ve included a bonus side just in case you are missing mashed potatoes (not pictured in the above image).

• Oil Poached Turkey Cutlets
  • I do not have a recipe for the sauce on my turkey pictured above. I combined white truffle oil, Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo, dried rosemary, cracked black pepper, and a touch of honey. I microwaved this for approximately 20 seconds and mixed well.
• Tart Cherry Jam
  • This is my cranberry sauce replacement because I cannot have them.
• Pickled Mushrooms
  • This can be served chilled or warmed.
• Lemon Garlic Stringbeans
  • This can be served chilled or warmed.
• Bread Stuffing
  • You can easily bake your own bread to use for this recipe, but I used bread from Liberated Specialty Foods.
• Bonus: Rutabaga Mash
  • A solid replacement for mashed potatoes. It reminds me of the white potato and turnip mash that my grandfather makes.

Oil Poached Turkey Cutlets

• Servings: 2
• Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients

• 2 turkey cutlets (breasts)
• 3-5 cups of oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 2-3 tbsp peppercorns
• 3 twigs of thyme, fresh
• 5 large sage leaves, fresh
• 1 tsp salt

Directions

1. Place the turkey cutlets and seasonings into a saucepan that is big enough to hold them, but small enough to allow for the oil to cover them. I used a 7 inch saucepan.
2. Use enough oil to cover the turkey and seasonings added. I used a combination of olive oil and sesame oil which came to approximately 5 cups.
3. Keep the heat on medium low and adjust as needed. The oil should bubble, but not boil. Keep it around 75C or 167F. I kept a thermometer hooked to the side of the pan for the duration of the cook time.
4. Cook for about 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature of the turkey cutlet is 165F.
5. Remove the turkey cutlets and place into a strainer over the sink. Allow them to cool at least 5 minutes.
6. Slice and enjoy with some Tart Cherry Jam or other sauce of your choosing.

Credit: MyUCandMe.com

Tart Cherry Jam

• Servings: ~6
• Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients

• 4 cups cherries (I used frozen sweet cherries)
• 1/4/ cup honey
• 4 tbsp tart cherry juice
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tsp gelatin

Directions

1. Mix the cherry and lemon juice in a small bowl. Add the gelatin and set aside to allow it to bloom.
2. Add the cherries and honey to a large pot. Cook over medium heat. When the cherries have defrosted enough, mash them with a potato masher.
3. Once the cherries and honey have come to a boil, simmer for 15 minutes on low.
4. Remove from heat and mix in the gelatin and juice mixture.
5. Store in mason jars in the fridge until the jam has set. This should take about 8 hours depending on the size of the mason jar. I used large mason jars.

Credit: MyUCandMe.com

Pickled Mushrooms

• Servings: 2
• Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients

• 8 oz mushrooms (I used portabello and shiitake)
• 1/2 cup vinegar (I used distilled)
• 1/4 cup honey

Directions

1. Mix honey and vinegar until well blended.
2. Add mushrooms, honey, and vinegar to a small saute pan.
3. Cook over medium to high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until the pickling liquid has reduced by over half and the mushrooms are cooked thoroughly.
4. Serve warm or store in the fridge to serve cold.

Credit: MyUCandMe.com

Lemon Garlic Stringbeans

• Servings: 3
• Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients

• 2 cups of french string beans
• 1 to 2 lemons, quartered
• 4 to 8 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed/smashed
• Olive oil to taste
• Salt to taste
• optional: fresh thyme

Directions

1. Cook the string beans to your desired texture. Cool and place into a mixing bowl.
2. Squeeze the lemon quarters over the stringbeans and toss them into the bowl.
3. Add the olive oil, crushed garlic cloves and thyme twigs (if using) into the bowl. Add desired amount of salt.
4. Mix well and store in the refridgerator overnight. Shake the container occasionally to mix things up.
5. To serve chilled, remove from the refridgerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the oil to liquify.

Credit: MyUCandMe.com

Bread Stuffing

• Servings: ~6
• Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients

• 1 loaf of bread (I used about half of coconut bread and cashew creme bread from Liberate Specialty Foods)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter (+ some for coating baking dish)
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup of broth or water
• 1.5 cup diced mushrooms
• 2 cups celery, diced
• 20 pecans, crushed or chopped
• 10 dates, chopped
• 3 tbsp raisins
• 2 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tbsp lemongrass, fresh
• 1 tsp coriander
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp thyme, dried
• Salt to taste.
• 1 egg + 2 egg whites, whisked
• 5 sage leaves, fresh and torn
• optional: 1/2 cup cheese (farmer’s or feta)

Directions

1. Cube the bread and bake at 325F for about 20-25 minutes or until bread is toasted and hardened. Set aside in a mixing bowl and allow to cool.
2. Coat the a baking dish (8×8 or larger) with butter and set aside. Preheat the oven to 325F.
3. In a medium to large saute pan, add the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the mushrooms and celery. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring.
4. Add the pecans, dates, and raisins. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring. Use the water to deglaze as needed.
5. Add all seasonings aside from the fresh sage. Cook for 5 minutes. Use the water to deglaze as needed.
6. Pour the sauteed ingredients over the stuffing. Mix well.
7. Add the whisked eggs and torn sage leaves. Mix well.
8. Pour the stuffing mixture into the buttered baking dish. Add cheese over the top. (You can also just mix cheese in during step 7).
9. Place the baking dish in the oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes while stirring occasionally to allow for the bread to crisp all throughout.
10. Remove and cool. This can be served immediately or stored in the fridge until ready to use.

**There is a new and improved version of this recipe available here.**

Credit: MyUCandMe.com

Rutabaga Mash

• Servings: ~4
• Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients

• 1 large rutabaga (around 2-2.5 pounds in weight)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salted butter, cut
• Salt and pepper to taste
• optional: coconut cream

Directions

1. Cube the rutabaga and steam until a knife slides through with ease.
2. Add the cooked rutabaga to a mixing bowl. Mash with a potato masher.
3. Add in the butter and seasonings of choice and mix well. You can add coconut cream here if desired. I did not.
4. Serve or store in the fridge until ready to serve.

Credit: MyUCandMe.com

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