TGIF: The Perfect Turkey Giveaway
![Sfa_cookbook[1]](http://myrecipesyouvegottotastethis.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/6a00e54ff5bf9388340133f5c428f5970b-120wi.jpg?w=640 "Sfa_cookbook[1]")
We're bringing Thanksgiving to our home this year, and with hosting the big day comes a lot of prep work! Shopping, cooking, and of course, picking the perfect recipes. Since I am a Southern girl, born and raised, it was only natural to offer you some down-home prizes this week to help with your Thanksgiving spread.![300[1]](http://myrecipesyouvegottotastethis.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/6a00e54ff5bf938834013488e47c14970c-200wi.jpg?w=640 "300[1]")
For the perfect turkey: Fire & Flavor's Turkey Perfect Herb Brining Kit
For the perfect Southern recipes: Southern My Way by Gena Knox
![Southern-my-way-cover-large[1]](http://myrecipesyouvegottotastethis.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/6a00e54ff5bf938834013488e4725b970c-200wi.jpg?w=640 "Southern-my-way-cover-large[1]")
And for even more down-home dishes: The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook
Here's all you need to do to enter to win $75 worth of prizes:
1. “Like” us on Facebook.
2. Describe for us here in 50 words or less your favorite Thanksgiving dish and how you make it special. Entries should be typed into the comments field of this blog post. Entries are due by Monday, November 15, at 11:59 p.m. EST. See a full list of contest rules here.
And congrats to Kimgphoto, winner of the Sweet and Spicy Giveaway! Here's her favorite honey or herb, and how she uses it in a MyRecipes.com recipe:
"I am a honey connoisseur! We love Honey-Ginger Glazed Salmon with Arugula Salad. The honey makes a superb glaze while the lemon and ginger give it a kick! This recipe is so light, fresh, and really good for you."
Can you buy this one in the stores?
http://swedish-recipes.net
I love to make pumpkin cheesecake. I have a special pan that makes 12 individual cakes in the shape of mini pumpkins. Its creamy and delicious! Pumpkin is almost its own separate food group in my family. Everyone goes crazy for this special holiday cheesecake!
Looking forward to winning
looking forward to winning
It is a sweet potato casserole. I use fresh squeezed OJ,Watkins Pumpkin Pie spice, Vanilla and Brown Sugar & if I am feeling really frisky I put in Gran Marinier
i love greenbean casserole. greenbeans, cream of mushroom soup, and french fried onions. easy and delicious.
I make a sweet potato dish that is simple. Canned sweet potatoes (drained) and top with oatmeal, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg mixture. Bake and serve. The kids love this better than the marshmellow (less sugar too!)
My grandmother’s fried dressing. It’s your standard dressing with the pre-seasoned mix and we add onions, celery, chopped up gizzards and chicken stock. Instead of baking it in the over we make patties out of it and fry them in bacon fat. Soooo gooood!!
I love green bean casserole. Instead of cream of mushroom soup, I use cream of shrimp and cream of potatoe. My girls can’t eat enough of it.
I love making Honey Crunch Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving, using fresh, local honey. The secret is to add a topping of pecans, brown sugar, butter and honey mid-way through baking. Little touches like this spell T-H-A-N-K-S to those we love.
I do a traditional meal. I prefer to hand baste my turkey rather than cook in a cooking bag.
But my very favorite dish is my mom’s corn souffle’ – a simple recipe but delish. It is even good if someone jumps and makes it fall, LOL.
My favorite Thanksgiving dish is my Holiday Turkey recipe. My mom and Grandma even asked me for the recipe!!! Here it is…
Brine
16 c Water
2 c Sugar
2 c Coarse Salt
5 Cloves Garlic, crushed or 7 heaping tbsp of minced garlic
1 tbsp Pickling Spices
Turkey
1 Fresh 9-11 lb turkey breast or turkey whole
1 ½ cups Unsalted butter
Black Pepper
2 Cups chicken Broth
1. Combine the brine ingredients in a large pot. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until sugar and salt dissolve. Cool to room temp.
2. Rinse the turkey breast, discarding excess fat. Place in deep bowl or pot, breast side down.
3. Pour brine over the turkey and refrigerate, loosely covered overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 350d. Remove turkey breast from the brine 30 minutes before roasting. Line shallow roasting pan with long heavy-duty foil and add the butter.
5. Place turkey in the pan. Brush with 4 tbsp of melted butter; season with pepper. Gather foil loosely on top and bake for 1 ½ hrs.
6. Open foil and remove it and bake for 2 ¼ hrs or until done ( a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165d and juices run clear.) Basting with broth and remaining butter every 30 minutes.
7. Transfer the turkey to cutting board and let rest for 15 minutes before carving. Reserve pan juices for gravy
*The water and pickling spices make the meat very moist.
My favorite Thanksgiving dish would be my mother’s cornbread dressing & giblet gravy. Although she is no longer with us, the recipe has been passed down to her grandchildren who now make it.
Favorite dish is yams, peeled, sliced, baked with brown sugar & butter sprinkled over it. Bake for an hour – yummy!!!!
My favorite dish (not just at Thanksgiving) is simple, delicious mashed potatoes. I put boiled russet potatoes through a ricer, add warm milk, melted butter, some cream cheese, salt and pepper. A crock pot keeps the mashed potatoes warm until it’s time to eat.
I love making my sausage, apple & cranberry stuffing. It is different than traditional stuffing because of the fruit and sausage, but everyone loves it. It has just the right combination of sweet and spicy, yet it’s also comforting. It tastes a little better when cooked in the bird, but it looks more appetizing when baked in a casserole dish…so that is how I usually make it.