Is it Time to Reinvent Your Thanksgiving Meal?

Thanksgiving is next week. I think maybe we didn’t have August, September and October this year. With all of the changes that we’ve been through, it's trendy to change up the tried and true recipes for Thanksgiving, too! If you’re someone that needs the comfort of the traditional menus now more than ever, then by all means, don’t change a thing. But, if you’re feeling a little adventurous, consider ways to reinvent some dishes that you might love even more than the old ones.

In talking to people, many don’t even really like turkey, or stuffing, or pumpkin, for instance, but love the memories inherent in them. Please cherish the memories but also make new ones. For instance, if you always make your dressing/stuffing in a casserole dish, why not make it in muffin tins like Rachel Ray’s stuffin’ muffins? Turkeys (especially organic ones) are really pricey this year so maybe roast a chicken. Instead of the standard sweet potato casserole, the Food Network show, The Kitchen, suggests making baked or sweet potatoes stuffed with spinach and artichokes. That sounds pretty yummy!

In place of a pumpkin pie, make a chocolate pumpkin Bundt cake! (I’ve gotten rave reviews.) If you typically just open the can of jellied cranberry sauce, why not try making the real deal?

CRANBERRY SAUCE

-1/2 cup of orange juice or squeeze the juice of an orange -1/4 cup of raspberry vinegar (I use white vinegar and soak a raspberry teabag in it) -1 cup of sugar (I’m going to try it with monk fruit “sugar” to sweeten this year) -1/4 tsp. of salt -12 oz bag of fresh cranberries -Zest the skin of 1/2 an orange while whole -I cinnamon stick In a medium saucepan combine the juice, vinegar, sugar and salt and bring to a boil. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the cranberries, zest, and stir with the cinnamon stick and add it in. Reduce to simmer until the cranberries begin to burst and the sauce gets thick, about 10 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and cool for 1/2 hour or refrigerate. It will continue to thicken. Cover and refrigerate.

Team Enchantment would love to hear how you changed it up this year! Take a family walk after the meal and before dessert, use a new platter or stencil an image on cloth napkins. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and remember to stay enchanted!

Hugs. Dr. Segal

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