Thanksgiving Meal Plan

So this year we are making a non traditional Thanksgiving feast, in part because one of the golden rules of holiday cooking is "don't make anything new" so, we will be having chili and all the trimmings.
 Shopping soy free has been quite the adventure, and I have yet to master bread making, although I have had some good luck, I am by no means a pro, which takes stuffing out of the picture. Honestly, the  down in the dumps of cooking allergy free got to me, and I didn't even want to set foot in the grocery store until I found renewed energy today, so I am unprepared for the traditional Turkey Day Feast. There are so many things that have to be scratch made in the traditional dinner, it is daunting. Next year, my aim, is to have tried and true traditional Turkey Day feast on the menu. Until then, this is what we will be serving.


Main Course, 


Turkey Chili
Blue Ribbon Chili
to be served on or with
Home Made Bread Bowls
Angel Hair Pasta 
Home Made Mashed Potatoes




Desert
Pumpkin Pie (with home made whipped cream)
Pumpkin Roll (similar to a yule log)


Recipe's will follow this week, with pictures!!!!

Bread Sticks

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons canola or EVOO
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
Italian Seasoning
egg wash (for browning)
parmisean or regiano cheese (topping)

Preheat oven to 375 F

Proof yeast for 10 minutes by placing the water in a ceramic or plastic cup along with the yeast, oil, and sugar.

While yeast is proofing, combine dry ingredients, flour, salt, Italian seasoning  by lightly mixing.

Once yeast has proofed, mix liquid with dry ingredients by hand until dough ball forms (for best results lightly oil your hands before mixing)

roll dough into a ball and set aside in a bowl loosely covered by plastic wrap for 10 minutes or until doubled in size then pound out, seperate into 8 equal sections of dough, like playdough, create long dough sticks out of each of the sections, place on counter, allow to rise 10 minutes, before brushing egg wash on top of breadsticks. Bake for 15-18 minutes, then sprinkle cheese over top.

Pie Crust

2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
2/3 c. lard
1/4 c. water





Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in lard with pastry blender until small pea size particles are obtained. Sprinkle with water a little at a time. Mix with fork until flour is moist. Press into a ball and turn out onto a floured board. If making a two crust pie divide in half.Roll out with rolling pin. Try not to use too much extra flour because it makes the crust tough. Roll out to desired size. Usually about 1 inch bigger around than the tin. Fold pastry in half and move up to pan. Unfold and put pastry into pan. Try not to stretch the pastry because this causes shrinking in baking. Sprinkle the top crust with a little sugar to evenly brown.




Makes 2 9 inch pie crusts.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/2 cup butter

1 cup creamy peanut butter

4 cups confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup cream

In a large bowl, beat butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in 1/2 of the confectioner's sugar. Mix in 1/4 cup of the cream. Beat in the remaining confectioners' sugar. If necessary, add a little more cream or milk until the frosting reaches a good spreading consistency. Makes enough to frost one 2 layer 9 inch cake or one 9x13 inch cake.

Salsa Verde Braised Pork

1 pork tenderloin, any size
1 bottle salsa verde (i.e. green)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
Salt

In dutch oven, combine pork, salsa, onion, broth and spices. Boil over high heat for a few minutes. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until meat is very tender (2-3 hours) (Alternately, you can put the pork in a slow cooker on low for a while, then transfer it to a dutch oven and add the salsa, onion, broth and spices. We did this when we were gone for the afternoon.).

Easy-Ass Galette

pie crust
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine
2 small onions, sliced
1 to 2 Tablespoons balsalmic vinegar
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1/2 cup bleu cheese or gorgonzola
1/4 cup parmesan (optional)

Caramelize onions by melting butter or margarine in skillet, adding onions and cooking on medium heat until transparent. Reduce heat to low and let onions cook for a good half hour, stirring occasionally. When onions have turned golden (but not charred), add balsalmic vinegar and let cook another ten minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

While onions are caramelizing, lay a pie crust across a flat dish or cookie sheet and cover with shredded chicken, leaving a 1 to 2 inch border around edge of crust.

Scatter onions over shredded chicken. Top with bleu cheese or gorgonzola. Then sprinkle parmesan over the top.

Fold the edges up in pleats around the circumference of the galette.

Bake for about 20 minutes, or until pie crust and cheese start turning golden brown.

Spaghetti Carbonara

4 ounces uncooked pasta

(spaghetti, linguine, or whatever else your little heart desires)

1/2 cup milk, cream, or half-and-half

3 Tablespoons parmesan cheese


1 Tablespoon chopped, fresh Italian parsley


1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste


Ground, black pepper, to taste (we like to use lots)


4 to 5 strips crumbled bacon


1/4 cup onion, chopped


1 clove garlic, minced


1-2 eggs, lightly beaten






Remember to quadruple the sauce recipe if your using an entire lb of pasta!


Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente (just done, but not too mushy). Drain pasta and reserve 1/4 cup cooking liquid.






While pasta is boiling, combine milk, parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and set it aside.






In a skillet, fry bacon and remove from pan. Drain out most of bacon fat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until softened. Reduce heat to medium-low and add milk mixture and pasta to pan.






In a small bowl, beat egg with a whisk and add the 1/4 cup of reserved hot water. This will temper the egg so it won't immediately scramble upon hitting the hot skillet. Stir egg into pasta. Crumble bacon and add to pasta. Cook for about five minutes, stirring constantly until sauce is creamy.






Serve with buttery garlic bread and salad.