Potato Pancakes

My favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner may actually be these potato pancakes made with the leftover mashed potatoes!

Ingredients:

3 C leftover mashed potatoes (cold)

2/3 C shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 C french fried onions

1 egg, lightly beaten

3 Tbsp flour

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1/2 C flour

4 Tbsp butter (for frying)

Directions:

1.) Combine all ingredients.

2.) Warm skillet on medium-high heat and melt 2 Tbsp butter in pan.

3.) Meanwhile, form mixture into approximately 12 portions and roll into balls.

4.) Press each ball to be about 3/4" thick and dredge in the 1/2 C flour.

5.) Fry the pancakes, in batches, until they're golden brown and crispy on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Add more butter to the pan as needed between batches. (Do not overcrowd the pan and do not flip the pancakes too soon or they won't develop a crisp crust.)

Enjoy!

Pot Pie

 

Ingredients:

4 pie crusts

5 C vegetables of choice, diced in bite-sized pieces

2/3 C butter

1 C chopped onion

2/3 C flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp rosemary

1 3/4 C chicken broth

1 1/3 C milk

4 C diced turkey or chicken

Directions:

1.) Prepare pie dough

2.) Slowly sautee onion in butter while dicing vegetables.

3.) Boil vegetables until slightly tender. Drain and set aside.

4.) Stir flour into sauteed onions until thickened.

5.) Add chicken broth & milk, stirring constantly until thickened.

6.) Add spices and meat to the broth mixture.

7.) Mix in tender vegetables and stir until combined.

8.) Pour half of the mixture (heaping, if necessary) into each pie crust.

9.) Cover with lattice pie dough or prepared stuffing.

Makes 2 pies. Serves 10-12.

Apple Pie

 Best apple pie recipe ever!! The lattice crust is perfectly caramelized and crisp.

Ingredients:
Pie crust
8 apples (peeled, cored and sliced)
1/2 C butter
3 Tbps flour
1/4 C water
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar

Directions:

1.) Prepare apples and place (mounding) in pie crust.

2.) Complete lattice crust on top of the apples.

2.) Melt butter in a saucepan.

3.) Add flour and continuously stir as it thickens.

4.) Mix water, sugar and brown sugar into mixture and heat til boiling.

5.) Allow to simmer 2 minutes.

6.) Immediately pour butter/sugar mixture on top of lattice. Pour slowly so mixture does not run off.

7.) Bake at 425 for 15 minutes. Then reduce to 350 for 35 minutes.

Serves 8-10.

Thanksgiving Turkey Rub

Every year I go scrounging around looking for this delicious rub recipe, so I'm finally getting it on here to make my life easier! I've been using this turkey method (this rub + oven baking in a turkey bag) for over 10 years, and I'll never make one any other way. It's easy, moist for days, and... did I say delicious?

Ingredients:
3/4 C olive oil
3 Tbsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp fresh rosemary

1 Tbsp fresh basil

1 Tbsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp black pepper

salt to taste

Directions:

1.) Mix above ingredients in a liquid measuring cup.

2.) Prepare the turkey bag according to the directions on the box.

3.) Place the turkey in the bag, and place the bag in the roasting pan.

4.) With the turkey lying on it's back, use your hand to separate the turkey's skin from the meat throughout the entire turkey (yep, up to your elbows).

5.) Stand the turkey on it's neck and pour about half of the mixed rub into one side (left vs right) of the turkey, between the skin & meat. With your hand, massage the oil and herbs into the meat. Be sure to get the legs and wings.

6.) Repeat with the other side of the turkey.

7.) Tie up the bag & slide it in the oven. Be ready to enjoy the best turkey of your life in a couple of short hours!