A Menu to be Thankful For

Our Thanksgiving Menu:

Appetizers

Spinach balls (a family favorite)

Vegetable platter with homemade roasted red pepper dip

Puffed pastry pinwheels with pesto and sundried tomatoes

Dates stuffed with chorizo and wrapped in bacon
Fried pumpkin "french fries" served with cranberry salsa - made to order with a deep fryer ... oh America

Cocktails (because it's not a holiday without a drink)
Apple cider punch: with cranberry juice, champagne, apple liqueur and fresh lemon juice
Pear bubbly: brandy-infused pear nectar simple syrup topped with Prosecco and Pelligrino
"Dirty Shirley": Shirley Temples with vodka - my new guilty pleasure :)

Dinner
Bourbon-brined turkey (recipe follows)
Homemade gravy: secret ingredient - splash of Worchestershire sauce
Stuffing: My Mama's style with bread crumbs, celery and dried cranberries; both stuffed into turkey and served dry on the side
Cranberry sauce: authentic, no cans in my kitchen! - I made with spices, fresh grated ginger, orange juice and zest, and golden raisins

Mashed potatoes: whipped and without the skins, the way I like it, thank you

Southern green beans: tossed with caramelized red onion, crumbled bacon, walnuts, red wine vinegar and mushrooms
Butternut squash casserole: sweet, topped with brown sugar and pecans
Yellow squash casserole: savory, with salty cracker crumbs mixed in and topped with cheese
Rolls: made from the same classic dinner rolls recipe my mother has used for 20 years

Dessert
Pumpkin pie: classic. Naturally I made two.
Pumpkin chiffon pie: fluffy in gingerbread graham cracker crust, topped with whipped cream
Pear cranberry crisp: served warm with vanilla ice cream
Caramel pecan cake: surprisingly moist considering my aunt made it with rice crackers to be gluten-free
Flourless chocolate bars: because my sister believes there should be a chocolate dessert option at every holiday
Homemade cinnamon ice cream

Secret family recipes available upon request.