Ideal Thanksgiving Feast
Classic Thanksgiving Feast the turkey is the main attraction as the number one Entree selection across the U.S. as celebrated in the United States the Thanksgiving holiday usually revolves around a bountiful meal consisting of roasted turkey, 4 side dishes including mashed potatoes, string bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, gravy, a wide variety of desserts and beverages that is sure to please. Traditional dishes include bread or corn bread stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, turkey and pumpkin pie for dessert. The Thanksgiving menu originated in an event commonly referred to as the first Thanksgiving, a meal shared between pilgrim settlers at Plymouth colony now known as Massachusetts and Wampanoag people in 1621. For the Pilgrims giving thanks for the autumn harvest wasn’t a new concept to the settlers.
As a tradition in European harvest festivals and Christians religious observations “days of thanksgiving” were daily common among colonists of New England. Domestication of the common turkey most likely began by the Indians of pre-Columbian Mexico where the birds were taken to Spain in about 1519 then from Spain, they spread throughout Europe reaching England in 1541. English colonists introduced European bred strains of the turkey to North America in the 17th century. Turkeys were bred for their beautiful colored plumage feathered covering until about 1935 after which breeding emphasis changed focusing on their meat qualities. In European countries roast turkey became a customary dish served during the Christmas holidays season. In the United States the bird especially associated with the traditional Thanksgiving feast served with a bounty of delicious savory side dishes and desserts.
Turkey production tended to be seasonal through the United States and some other countries for a ready to cook lean protein option available in rolls any time of year. In 2022 approximately 244 million were consumed in the United States. So whether smoked on a grilled, deep fried or roasted turkey plays a central role in our Thanksgiving feast. Roasting a turkey can be a culinary adventure for some combining seasonal meats roasted to perfection to ensure your turkey turns out perfectly golden brown. When roasting your turkey choose your seasonings of choice like dried salt, pepper, onion, thyme, rosemary, and sage create a dry rub of traditional Thanksgiving flavors. The classic combo of butter or olive oil combined with dry rub seasoning can be applied to a thawed, clean, dried turkey before it is roasted. Flavor is key! Allow the turkey to sit at room temperature for one hour before roasting. This helps it cook more evenly.
Don’t worry, the oven’s temperatures will take care of any surface bacteria. Stuffing the bird before roasting is traditional at thanksgiving. Stuffing the bird with peeled onions, sliced lemons, chopped carrots and stalks of celery and dry dub seasoning will permeate the meat with flavor. Add the stuffing right before the turkey goes into the oven. Check the stuffing with a meat thermometer- it should read 165 degrees F for safety reasons after roasting. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Roast the prepared turkey in a large roasting pan on top of a rack of carrots, celery and cut onions then cover the turkey with foil to prevent the meat from dying out. Place the turkey in the oven to roast. Roasting time instructions are available on each turkey package to ensure proper cooking time. Turkey weights vary from 7 to 25 pounds each leading to differential cooking times.
On your meat thermometer a whole cooked turkey should reach a temperature of 165-degree F in the breast and 175 degrees F in the thigh. If you are not willing to take on the bird, smaller thanksgiving dinners are an option. Grocery store delis offer sliced meats like roast, turkey, chicken, hams and beef. The counter clerk at your local deli can slice meats at various thickness for sandwiches, dinner plates and salads. Dinner cut turkey slices can be an option for a small dinner party paired with all the fixings of a traditional thanksgiving meal for quick and easy meal. A traditional Thanksgiving feast usually consists of Roast or turkey entree paired with a variety of 3 or 4 side dishes of mashed potatoes, low calorie string bean casserole, long grain rice, roasted mixed vegetables of asparagus, beets, potatoes, carrots, low fat gravy, desserts options including sugar free pumpkin pie, sugar free apple pie sugar free ice cream, and beverages like unsweetened teas, gourmet coffees sweetened with sugar free Coffee Mate creamers in flavors, vanilla, hazelnut, pumpkin spice served as low calorie options.
Cheers!
Patricia Lynn
Images Courtesy of Oleksandr at AdobeStock
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