Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and its time to start planning your menus. No matter if you are cooking for a family of 3 or if you are cooking for 63, a Thanksgiving menu is a great way to prepare for the holiday. I'm going to share some great Thanksgiving dinner ideas with you and hope that you will share yours too. I'll list some staples and then include some recipes too!


1. Turkey
2. Ham
3. Oyster Dressing

1/4 cup butter
1 large onion -- chopped
2 stalks celery -- chopped
3 cups crumbled cornbread (NOT SWEET)
3 cups soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper -- to taste
2 large eggs -- lightly beaten
1 pint shucked oysters -- drained (or you can use the prepacked oysters in the store)
1/2 cup oyster liquid -- from drained oysters

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute onions and celery in 2 tablespoons of the butter until wilted, not browned. Combine cornbread and bread crumbs in a large bowl; mix in sauteed onions, salt and pepper, and parsley. Add beaten eggs and toss more; moisten with the oyster liquid until moist but not soggy. Add the oysters. Pat the mixture into a lightly buttered rectangular cake pan (it should make a 1-inch layer in the pan). Dot with remaining butter and bake about 45 minutes, until golden brown and set in the center.

4. Mashed Sweet Potato Bake

3 c. cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs, well beaten
1 c. white sugar
1 1/2 c. milk
1/3 stick butter
1 tbsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients and pour into casserole.

TOPPING:

1 c. light brown sugar packed
1 c. chopped pecans
2/3 c. melted butter

Mix together and drop onto casserole. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.


Be sure to check back tomorrow for some more menu ideas and recipes.

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