2017 Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

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CTcutie
CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I usually do traditional foods (roast turkey, mashed potatoes, homemade “stuffing”, green beans sautéed in garlic/roasted Brussels sprouts/carrot soufflé, homemade cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie (bakery or frozen), homemade baked apples or brownies...) Guests bring paper towels, drinks, salad or bread!

BUT I also like to try a new recipe each year- anyone want to share a tried & true recipe that might be “new” and sort of healthy??

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  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
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    Carrot Soufflé:
    I like maple syrup, real butter, & might try almond flour instead of wheat flour this year-

    http://healthnutfoodie.com/2010/09/maple-carrot-souffle-cups.html
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,426 Member
    edited November 2017
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    Pumpkin maple pie- http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/pumpkin-maple-pie
    Deviled eggs
    Apple cranberry salad http://www.thecreativebite.com/spiralized-apple-cranberry-salad/

  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,224 Member
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    If by “healthy” you mean low calorie, then I assure you this is not what you’re looking for. But I made this a few weeks ago and it was delicious.

    http://www.thanksgiving.com/recipes/side-dish-recipes/pumpkin-stuffing-gruyere-pancetta

    Mine looked a little like a pumpkin Willy Wonka wearing a top hat, and next time I make it I’ll skip all the fussing with the pumpkin altogether (mine was a 5 lb pumpkin and the stuff didn’t fit at all).


    25587wj.jpg
  • olive1968
    olive1968 Posts: 148 Member
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    I just noticed Skinnytaste has a brussels sprouts gratin I think I will add in this year. When making your mashed potatoes you can use the cooking water and less milk/cream. I also made them recently and omitted all butter and just let people butter them themselves. They were bland but fluffy!

    I'm making my first stab at gluten free dressing (dd is celiac) so THAT should be interesting.

    Other than this, I'm considering that day and the following a refeed. All those carbs have to be helpful, no?
  • hisamazinggirl
    hisamazinggirl Posts: 38 Member
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    Smashed cauliflower ! Omg yummy
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,464 Member
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    Cinnamon mashed sweet potatoes
  • Cbean08
    Cbean08 Posts: 1,092 Member
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    What about doing soup? Homemade butternut squash/apple/ginger. Or something with pumpkin? I feel like chicken noodle with roasted pumpkin subbed for noodles would be good.

    Instead of a full pie, you could make little tartlets or mini pies. Then the portion is already controlled.

    If you're into mixed drinks, you could mix up something fun for people. Cranberry juice, vodka and apple schnapps? Or offer a selection of pumpkin beers.
  • wefts
    wefts Posts: 183 Member
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    Roasted Butternut Squash with Baby Spinach & Cranberries making it to take to a friends have made it 3 out of 4 years and it is always popularhttps://pinterest.com/pin/161355599132789246/
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,627 Member
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    we're heading out of town for the weekend the following day, so i probably wont do a huge dinner.

    turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, some sort of veg, fruit salad, maybe sweet potato casserole. pumpkin or pecan pie.

    i dont do low cal or count calories on the holidays, dammit. LOLOLOL
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
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    Not sure if this is your idea of healthy, but this pear and blue cheese salad is a favorite. My friends always ask me to bring it when we have dinner get-togethers. I have even taken a short cut at times and not candied the pecans. Still very good either way.

    http://allrecipes.com/recipe/34613/roquefort-pear-salad/
  • Sunshine_And_Sand
    Sunshine_And_Sand Posts: 1,320 Member
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    Roasted butternut squash

    -peel one butternut squash and remove seeds and guts
    - slice squash into about 1/2" thick slices and arrange onto a pan
    -sauté 3-4 cloves of fresh pressed garlic in 1tbsp of oil (I like safflower oil but any will do)
    - mix juice fresh squeezed from one line into the garlic/oil mixture
    - Brush the oil mix over the butternut squash and roast in the oven until tender.

    Between the citrus flavor of the line and the sweetness of the butternut squash it tastes like candy
  • laur357
    laur357 Posts: 896 Member
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    Roasted Brussels sprouts with gorgonzola, walnuts, and cranberries.
  • Beka3695
    Beka3695 Posts: 4,126 Member
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    I plan on roasting butternut squash and omitting the sweet potato soufflé. I will likely add cranberries and pecans sparingly for color and texture. I will also serve southern style green beans (you know, boiled to the color of an army jeep) but will substitute lemon pepper seasoning for the large amounts of pork fat usually used. I am only roasting a turkey breast as there will only be 4 maybe 5 of us this year - so all white meat.

    My mom will make dressing. She will insist on bringing mayo heavy coleslaw, but I can totally skip that!! We will have regular creamed potatoes and probably creamed corn. Luckily, starches don't bother me.

    We have all agreed to skip dessert!!!!
  • athena61
    athena61 Posts: 54 Member
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    lporter229 wrote: »
    Not sure if this is your idea of healthy, but this pear and blue cheese salad is a favorite. My friends always ask me to bring it when we have dinner get-togethers. I have even taken a short cut at times and not candied the pecans. Still very good either way.

    http://allrecipes.com/recipe/34613/roquefort-pear-salad/

    Thanks for this recipe. I’m making it this Thursday!
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
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    Chicken.png

    http://www.savvyinthekitchen.com/2016/02/chicken-and-dumplings.html
  • perriwinklejones
    perriwinklejones Posts: 11 Member
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    Honestly, just roasted broccoli, its so friggen good.
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
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    perriwinklejones wrote: »
    Honestly, just roasted broccoli, its so friggen good.

    o:)<3<3<3<3o:) LOVE roasted broccoli AND roasted brussel sprouts too--just about all veggies roasted are fab!

  • Rhumax67
    Rhumax67 Posts: 162 Member
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    wefts wrote: »
    Roasted Butternut Squash with Baby Spinach & Cranberries making it to take to a friends have made it 3 out of 4 years and it is always popularhttps://pinterest.com/pin/161355599132789246/

    I don't have a Wegmans near me--can you tell me what the basting oil tastes like or what do you think is in it? Many thanks.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
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    Rhumax67 wrote: »
    wefts wrote: »
    Roasted Butternut Squash with Baby Spinach & Cranberries making it to take to a friends have made it 3 out of 4 years and it is always popularhttps://pinterest.com/pin/161355599132789246/

    I don't have a Wegmans near me--can you tell me what the basting oil tastes like or what do you think is in it? Many thanks.

    Looks like it is sunflower oil, garlic, and herbs: https://www.wegmans.com/products/grocery-food/oil-and-shortening/specialty-oil/basting-oil.html

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