Thanksgiving...what's cookin?

(photo by: Tim Morris)

I adore Thanksgiving, and we are so excited to have our first Thanksgiving here in our new home. Of course I love to cook, so this may be a boring post to some, but it's one of the highlights of my week (just after seeing my family)!

So here's what's on our menu....what's on yours? It's never to early for me to get ideas for next year...

Salted Roast Turkey with Herbs and Shallot-Dijon Gravy*

Oyster Stuffing (in recent years I've tried various stuffings, but am sticking to our family tradition this year)

Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Citrus Glazed Carrots (a new recipe I'm trying out)

My Grandma's Butterflake Rolls

Pink Jello Salad (to keep my Dad and Brian happy)

Spiced Pumpkin Pie (another new version I'm trying out)

Banana Cream Pie (my Dad's favorite)

Sparkling Apple Cider

*I'm going to cook the turkey using the method in this recipe (with the addition of starting the turkey breast down for one hour and then flipping it over) as I have done in the past. It's great and FAST! In past years I've combined that technique with this recipe (brining the turkey prior to following the recipe) with delicious results. But this year I'm trying salting instead of brining. It intrigues me, and I will avoid the nightmares I would dream the night before Thanksgiving of opening my fridge in the morning to a broken bag and bloody, salty water leaking everywhere. (Because I didn't have a big enough container that would fit in my fridge, I had to use a bag to ensure the turkey was completely submerged in the solution.)

So here's to a wonderful Thanksgiving for all with no nightmares (imaginary or culinary)!