Thanksgiving Menu

Last year we tried something new with the turkey.  We embraced our Arkansas life and smoked it.  We now love smoked turkey, there is no turning back, it is amazing!  A couple months ago for a friend's birthday The BF brined and smoked a wild turkey he shot in the spring, it was even better!

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It is important to note that to brine anything, you must be prepared a couple days in advance as it takes that time for the meat to absorb the flavors.

This year we will of course have the smoked turkey, and I've decided to try to create a healthy Thanksgiving meal with decadent and delicious desserts.  I believe that one should enjoy what they eat, not only while they eat it, but afterwards.  I hate the feeling of looking to the next workout because I overindulged at dinner, or wasn't sure just how much of my spinach was sour cream and how much was actually spinach.

Plus, extra calories should be saved for sweets.


Our 2011 Thanksgiving Menu:

Smoked Turkey (brined for two days beforehand)

Turnip Greens

Sweet Potato Casserole

Mashed Potatoes

Cranberry Sauce


Desserts:

Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Sweet Potato Pie


Wines:

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc (my mother's favorite)

Les Jamelles Pinot Noir


Wines may be purchased at most local liquor Stores and from the Macadoodles new E-Commerce Site

UPDATE:  After conferring with The BF, several compromises were made.  It was pointed out to me that Thanksgiving is not Thanksgiving without regular mashed potatoes.  The Sweet Potato Casserole will be replaced with Mashed Potatoes and the Pumpkin Pie replaced with another Arkansas and Southern tradition: the Sweet Potato Pie