Carving The Turkey

Turkey is the main attraction of the Thanksgiving Table. While you may serve a whole roasted turkey as a centerpiece of the table, sliced meat and carved turkey are easier to serve. Here are some tips on how to carve your Harter House turkey for Thanksgiving:

Equipments You May Need:

Warm serving platter

Pair of kitchen scissors

Flexible and sharp 10-inch slicing knife

Carving fork for arranging and serving the meat

Method:

Let the turkey cool for about 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature.

Put the turkey on a carving board using paper towels.

Cut through the trussing with scissors and remove all the string.

Remove the drumsticks by placing the knife against the thigh and cut down to the leg's second joint, where you apply the pressure with the knifepoint and twist it to sever the drumstick.

Make an oval incision in the neck cavity and remove the stuffing, taking care to leave the skin intact.

Transfer the scooped out stuffing into a serving bowl using a long-handled spoon.

Slice the thigh meat from the bone.

Cut carefully while placing the knife horizontally at the bottom curve of the bird's breast and slice in towards the rib cage from the top down.

Cut vertically through the breast meat while carefully preserving some of the skin on each slice.

Severe the wings from the first wing joint.

Arrange the carved turkey on the serving platter by placing the breast-meat slices in rows along both sides of the platter, the slices of thigh meat in the center, the drumsticks crossed at one end and the wings on top, facing each other with the skin side up.

Thanksgiving Trivia

Here are some interesting facts about Thanksgiving that each of us should know about:

The first Thanksgiving celebration can be traced back to the Plymouth Pilgrims in the fall of 1621.

The first Thanksgiving feast was held to thank the Lord for sparing the lives of the survivors of the Mayflower, who landed at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. The survivors included four adult women and almost forty percent children.

The Wampanoag chief Massasoit and ninety of his tribesmen were also invited to the first thanksgiving feast. Governor William Bradford invited them for helping the Pilgrims surviving and teaching them the skills of cultivating the land.

The celebration in 1621 lasted for three days and included games and food.

The president to proclaim the first 'National Day of Thanksgiving' in 1789 was George Washington.

Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, campaigned to make Thanksgiving a National Holiday in 1827 and succeeded.

Abraham Lincoln announced Thanksgiving to be a national holiday in his proclamation on October 3, 1863.

The 'wishbone' of the turkey is used in a good luck ritual on Thanksgiving Day.

Puritans of Mayflower used to drink Beer. (My husband liked this fact!)

Classic Chicken Fried Steak with Country Gravy

Who better than Ree Drummond to give us a classic recipe, flavorful and easy.

This is a favorite in my family, for sure.   Enjoy!
~Shelly








Ingredients

Chicken Fried Steak:   6 servings

1 1/2 cups whole milk

2 large eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons seasoned salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 pounds Harter House Tenderized Cube Steak 

Kosher salt

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil

1 tablespoon butter

Gravy:

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 to 4 cups whole milk

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1. For the steak: Begin with setting up an assembly line of dishes. Mix the milk with the eggs in one; the flour mixed with the seasoned salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, paprika and cayenne in another; and the meat in a third. Then have one clean plate at the end to receive the breaded meat.
2. Work with one piece of meat at a time. Sprinkle both sides with kosher salt and black pepper, then place it in the flour mixture. Turn to coat. Place the meat into the milk/egg mixture, turning to coat. Finally, place it back in the flour and turn to coat (dry mixture/wet mixture/dry mixture). Place the breaded meat on the clean plate, then repeat with the remaining meat.
3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter. Drop in a few sprinkles of flour to make sure it's sufficiently hot. When the butter sizzles immediately, you know it's ready. (It should not brown right away, if it does, the fire is too hot.) Cook the meat, 3 pieces at a time, until the edges start to look golden brown, about 2 minutes each side. Remove the meat to a paper towel-lined plate and keep them warm by covering lightly with another plate or a sheet of foil. Repeat until all the meat is cooked.
4. After all the meat is fried, pour off the grease into a heatproof bowl. Without cleaning the skillet, return it to the stove over medium-low heat. Add 1/4 cup of the grease back to the skillet and allow it to heat up.
5. For the gravy: When the grease is hot, sprinkle the flour evenly over the grease. Using a whisk, mix the flour with the grease, creating a golden-brown paste. Add more flour if it looks overly greasy; add a little more grease if it becomes too pasty/clumpy. Keep cooking until the roux reaches a deep golden brown color.
6. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Add the seasoned salt and black pepper to taste and cook, whisking, until the gravy is smooth and thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Be prepared to add more milk if it becomes overly thick. Be sure to taste to make sure gravy is sufficiently seasoned.
7. Serve the meat next to a big side of mashed potatoes.
   Pour gravy over the whole shebang! 

Find this recipe and a video demonstration at

TheFoodNetwork.com

ORANGE CRUNCH CAKE

Did I mention that I recently visited Sanabel and Captiva Island in Florida?
This is the FAMOUS dessert we had from The Bubble Room on Captiva.
We were SO excited when we found this recipe and I made it last night!

Ingredients

1 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts (OR Slivered Almonds)
1.2 Cup Brown sugar Packed
1.2 Cup Butter, Melted

CAKE

1 Pillsbury Plus Yellow Cake Mix
1.2 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Orange Juice
2 Tablespoons Grated Orange Peel
3 Eggs
1/3 Cup Oil

FROSTING

Pillsbury Ready to Spread Vanilla Frosting (used a homemade Vanilla Frosting Recipe from online)
1 Cup Frozen Whipped Topping (Cool Whip)
3 Tablespoons Grated Orange Peel
1 Teaspoon Grated Lemon Peel

DIRECTIONS

1)  Combine Crunch Layer Ingredients
Press !/2 of mixture into each bottom of 2 greased and floured 8" or 9" pans.

2) In a large bowl, blend cake ingredients at low speed until moistened, 
Beat 2 Minutes on High Speed.  Pour into pans,  

3) Bake at 350 degrees for 30 -40 minutes.  Cool 10 Minutes.  
Remove from pans and cool completely.

4) In a small bowl mix frosting and cool whip.  Fold in Orange & Lemon Peel.  ( I added orange food coloring to the frosting)

5) Place one layer crunch side up, on a plate.  Spread 1/2 Cup frosting.  Top with remaining layer crunch side down.  Spread top and sides with remaining frosting.

Garnish as desired with orange slices.

Notes

My Kitchen Aide Mixer helped a lot for blending cake ingredients and then making the frosting.

THIS CAKE IS SPECIAL.  ENJOY

Submitted by:  Realtor by day, Chef by night.

Shelly's Spinach Salad

 This recipe is always requested at family gatherings.

I got this recipe from my Aunt Sally, but then I made it so often that it became known as Shelly's Spinach Salad.  Aunt Sally didn't appreciate the name change.

INGREDIENTS

Large head of lettuce, chopped  (or 2 small)
1 Large bag of spinach, chopped and stems cut off
1 package 16 oz. Frozen Peas, thawed
1 bunch green onions, chopped
8  hard boiled eggs
3/4 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbles

2 cups real mayonnaise - (Hellman'a is great)
1 cup sour cream
1 Pkg. Hidden Valley Dry Dressing Mix, 4 oz.

DIRECTIONS

Mix together lettuce and spinach in a large bowl.
Add layers in the order listed.

Mix together mayo, sour cream and Hidden Valley Ranch mix.  Spread on top of salad.
Cover and refrigerate.

Mix just before serving

NOTES 
Best made the night before.
Sometimes I add another small bag of spinach.

Sweet and Savory Green Beans

Another GREAT side dish.

You can  make this with fresh green beans also!  

 

INGREDIENTS

30 oz. Green beans, Drained  
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. butter melted
1/2 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 tsp garlic powder
1 TBL soy sauce
1/2 tsp Worcestershire 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Pour drained green beans in a 9 ×13 baking dish.

3. In skillet, fry bacon pieces until just done, but not crispy.

4. Drain grease from bacon and pour pieces over green beans.

5. In medium saucepan, melt butter.

6. Add brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and garlic to melted butter.

7. Pour butter mixture over green beans and bacon.

8. Lightly toss with spoon to coat beans.

9. Bake for 30 minutes, or until beans are bubbly and bacon is crisp.

 

NOTE

Be careful not to cook the bacon until crispy, because it will be too dry after baking in the oven. 

 

Jeanne's Potato Casserole

This has always been a favorite side dish for any large gathering

.

INGREDIENTS

1 30-oz bag of frozen shredded hash browns, about 10 cups (Use Mr. Dell's if you can)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
1 can Cheddar Cheese Soup  

1/2 cup chopped green onions  (I added these.  Jeanne doesn't eat anything green)
12 oz. sour cream
1/2 cup milk
2 Cups grated  cheese, your choice  (I like sharp, pre-shredded in a bag)
1 cup crushed corn flakes

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 340 degrees (weird temperature)
Mix soup, sour, cream, milk, green onions in a bowl and set aside.
Pour 1/4 cup melted butter into a 9 x 13 dish.
Add half the package of hash browns.
Pour half the soup/sour cream mixture over the potatoes.  Spread evenly. 
Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar on top of that.

Add remainder of the hash browns and then the rest of the soup mixture.
Sprinkle on remaining 1 cup of cheese.  Then cover with crushed corn flakes.
Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter and drizzle on top of the corn flakes.

Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour till hot and bubbly.

Goat Cheese stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon

 

Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese 

– a simple 3-ingredient appetizer that will blow you away! 

Enjoy with a crowd of friends!

Ingredients

• 8 slices bacon (I find that thin bacon works better)
• 16 dates
• 4 ounces goat cheese
• toothpicks

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Slice the dates lengthwise on one side to create an opening. Remove the pit.
3. Using a spoon, stuff a small amount of goat cheese into the cavity of each date and press the sides together to close.
4. Cut the bacon slices in half. Wrap each date with a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
5. Arrange evenly on a baking sheet with raised edges (otherwise grease will get everywhere) and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the dates and use the toothpick to turn each one so it’s laying on its side. Bake for another 5-8 minutes, until browned to your liking, and turn the dates to the other side and repeat. Remove from the oven, place on a paper towel lined plate, and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Take these to the next level by putting a little honey bourbon glaze on top. Just mix about 1/4 cup of honey with 1 tablespoon of bourbon and brush the mixture on the dates when they come right out of the oven. 

For crispier, browned bacon, set the oven temperature at 375. For crispier bacon, bake longer. Usually my bacon pieces wrap around the dates 1.5 times. If it’s wrapping more than twice around the date, trim your bacon slices so they’re a little shorter. If that bacon layer is too thick, it won’t cook. Keep leftovers in the fridge.

From:  Pinchofyum.com