Roasted Brussels Sprouts

I've tried a new stuffing recipe every year until this year when I hit the jack pot with the best stuffing we've ever had - all of us - including all 4 of my under 10 kiddos.

I have a go to turkey recipe, favorite mashed potato recipe, best roll recipe ever - always buy my pies bc I just can't bake! But as I said - I've been in search of a stuffing recipe until this year and am always wanting a lighter side to cut through all that heavy, starchy, delicious food. I've made several different things. This year I couldn't decide what to make for that "other side" so I let my husband decide. He decided on roasted brussels sprouts. 

I used my tried and true Ina Garten recipe and totally killed it. My kids were going back for seconds!! 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
3 tablespoons good olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
*1 cup Balsamic Vinegar
*1/2 c orange juice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly. Sprinkle with more kosher salt ( I like these salty like French fries), and serve immediately.

I served them with a side of a Balsamic Vinegar Reduction to drizzle over them (if desired).

*Balsamic Vinegar Reduction
1 cup good balsamic vinegar (I love the Kirkland brand)
1/2 cup orange juice

Put both in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Then simmer until reduced to about 1/2 the volume. Drizzle over Brussels Sprouts for a little kick.

Thanksgiving Prep List

I do this every year - try to write down what needs to be done when the week of Thanksgiving so I won't be overwhelmed on Turkey Day so I can make a super fantastic dinner - but still enjoy myself too. 

Check out this bird. It's so beautiful and so incredibly delicious and juicy. We let it sit for 30 - 45 minutes after we pulled it out of the oven, tented with foil as Bobby Flay suggests HERE - you will se the recipe for Alton Brown's turkey we've made for the last few years and if you scroll down a bit, you'll see Bobby Flay's carving tips. I'm telling you, the turkey was so juicy I didn't even use chicken stock to warm it up and provide the juicy factor. 

Plus here's a funny picture of my wild child...

THANKSGIVING PREP WEEK:
MONDAY: Pick up fresh 14-16 lb turkey and put in refrigerator. Decadent Mashed Potatoes - done.
TUESDAY: Stuffing. I've tried a new stuffing every year and having hit a favorite. We hit the jackpot this year with Bobby Flay's Wild Mushroom - Bacon Sourdough Dressing. Boom baby.
Make brine, let cool to room temperature and refrigerate.
WEDNESDAY: Clean turkey, but in brine + 1 gallon of heavily iced water. Cut brussels sprouts.
TURKEY DAY: Take potatoes and stuffing out of the refrigerator to come up to room temperature. Take turkey out of brine, wash, stuff with aromatics and give yourself 3 hours to cook the bird and 30-45 minutes to sit after being cooked.
Brussels Sprouts, potatoes and stuffing to cook. Consider 3 hours for your rolls - make these almost as you are sitting down to eat - you want, hot fresh rolls. Make your gravy while the turkey is being carved.

Then sit down, pour yourself a glass of sparkling cider, milk (my son!) or wine and eat with your family. Not stressed, not pushed to the brink - happy that you have make an incredible meal from scratch for your family and that you didn't fall asleep at dinner from sheer exhaustion.
Then watch as your children and husband ooh and ahh and make yummy noises all throughout dinner. See them smile and hear them talk about how delicious the different components of the meal are and about how thankful they are for the wonderful food they have on their plates. Then smile and count your blessings. Then write those blessings on your table cloth with a sharpie. Bring that table cloth out every year to see everything your family has been and is grateful for.

Then kiss your husband for doing the dishes - because he will - after you serve him the best dinner of his life - you bet your bottom dollar he will.

Festive Turkey Appetizer

My girls really wanted to be involved in making our Thanksgiving meal this year - which was fun and a bit challenging to find work for a 9 year old and a nearly 6 year old to do. I make everything from scratch - so...

I saw this cute idea on Pinterest and set the girls at it.

Our local grocery store was out of Granny Smith apples - so we used pears instead. I bought a few Gala apples and a few Fuji apples. I also couldn't find caramel sauce - so I bought a bag of caramels - had the girls unwrap them, but them in a microwave safe bowl with 2 T water and melted it 30 seconds at a time. We used candy corns to (sort of) make a turkey face.

It kept the girls happy and they felt like they had accomplished something and contributed to dinner.

*And of course, I let them help out where ever else they could - I love to see the satisfaction on their faces after helping/making something themselves.

Candied Spaghetti Squash

My husband and I went to a cool "speak easy" a few months ago. The front door has a little opening (like the one at the castle in the Wizard of Oz) where they ask for a password - after you give them the password, you are greeted by a big 20's mafia type guy and he walks you to your seat in a dimly lit room with a live piano player quietly playing in the corner. It is easily the most expensive restaurant we've ever eaten at - and the food was delicious. We both ordered the steak and one of the sides was candied spaghetti squash. It. Was. Delicious. I've been want to recreate it ever since.

Candied Spaghetti Squash

• 1 spaghetti squash
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Salt and pepper
• Cooking spray
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Slice the acorn squash in half and use a spoon to remove the seeds and all the pulp. Rub a tablespoon of butter on both cut sides, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Bake the squash for 40 minutes cut side down on a cooking sheet you have greased with just a little cooking spray.
Once the squash is finished, use a fork to remove the flesh from the rind and immediately put into a skillet over medium heat with the butter. Once the butter is melted, add the brown sugar and stir until it starts to thicken. Continue stirring until the sauce is very thick.

Artichoke Dip

I thought I've posted this - but I couldn't find it?? We have this for almost every family get together on my husbands side of the family. We even snack on it while we are making Thanksgiving dinner - yum.

For each of our birthdays - the kids get to pick all the menus for the day. This year, for dinner, she requested pizza and artichoke dip.

Artichoke Dip
2 c mayonnaise
2 c shredded parmesan
2 cans artichoke hearts, chopped
7 oz can hot green chilis
7 oz can mild green chilis
10 oz can diced jalapeños

Add all ingredients together and stir to combine thoroughly. Bake at 450 for 20-30 minutes in a 9x13 casserole dish.

Perfect Chicken

Perfect Chicken

2-4 boneless chicken breasts with or without rib meat

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

1/2 t. garlic powder

1/2 t. onion powder

1/2 t. paprika

2-3 T. olive oil

Mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika in a small bowl (I use my old 1/4 cup). Coat the chicken breasts in the seasoning, rubbing in to coat. Pour olive oil in the bottom of a Dutch oven, and heat to med-high. When nice and hot, add chicken to the pan (in batches if necessary). Cook 2-3 min per side. If any chicken has been removed, add it back to the Dutch oven. Place uncovered Dutch oven in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes or until juices run clear. Let sit on a plate 5-10 minutes before cutting, shredding, or eating.

Sundried Tomato Fettuccine

Sundried Tomato Fettuccine

16 oz Fettuccine

1 c reserved pasta water

4 T olive oil

5 cloves minced garlic

½ c sundried tomatoes, diced

1 can petite diced tomatoes, drained

3 T tomato paste

½ T granulated sugar

¾ c sour cream

1 ½ c baby spinach

Pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

In a large stockpot, bring water to a boil, add 1 tbsp. of olive oil then add your fettuccine. Cook according to direction on the box then drain (reserving 1 cup of the pasta water) and set aside.

While the pasta is cooking, in a large skillet, add the remaining 3 tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet over medium high heat. Once the oil is heated up, add garlic and sundried tomato halves. Sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Turn the heat down to medium low and gently add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and granulated sugar. Stir until well-incorporated.

Swiftly whisk in the sour cream. You’ll want to slowly add it in but whisk fast to get it all incorporated well. After all of it has been added and combined, bring the heat up to medium high and let it simmer and thicken for about 5-7 minutes.

Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to taste, then add in the baby spinach. Once the spinach has wilted, you may add in the cooked pasta and turn off the heat.

Toss to coat the pasta. If the mixture seems too thick, this is where you can slowly add the reserved pasta water a little at a time.

Top with parmesan romano. 

Frito Corn Salad

Frito Corn Salad
1 (12 oz.) bag frozen corn kernels, thawed
2 c grated cheddar cheese
2 c diced ham
1/2 red onion, finely diced (I used yellow bc thats what I had)
1 c mayonnaise
1 T Taco Seasoning
1 bag Fritos
Salt & pepper to taste

In a large bowl, combine thawed corn, cheese, diced ham and onions. Stir well. Then add in mayonnaise and taco seasoning. Stir until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.