We kept the meal budget friendly by not purchasing enough food to feed an army. We prepared a variety of small dishes, so that everyone could enjoy, without having enough leftovers to feed 10 families, or worse, throw it all away!
This year's meal consisted of:
fresh turkey, 22lb. $16
tofurkey with stuffing, compliments of Trader Joe's (for my sister and her soon-to-be hubby)
stuffing, stovetop $3
(I always add an onion and a few apples to keep it moist and fresh!)
carrots and parsnips $3
mashed potatoes
sweet potato tartlets
baked apples
one bottle of red, and one bottle of white wine ($3 each, compliments of Trader Joe's)
I asked everyone to bring a dish, so my sister contributed stuffed mushrooms, vegetarian stuffing, and wine. My parents brought more wine, squash, and a pumpkin pie, my brother brought his world-famous banana cream pie, and our friend Ali brought her amazing-to-die-for brownies!
* borrowed tablecloths
* used Christmas "china" ;)
* centerpiece was compliments of our friend Ali and her mom!
* I bought the candles for $2 for a pack of 12. I re used old wine bottles and some raffia to make the candle holders
Budget Friendly NEW recipes:
Here are the recipes of some of the new items from this year. I found all the recipes via Google or Pinterest, using items I already had in my pantry and fridge:
Sweet Potato Tartlets (these came out AMAZING btw)
Ingredients:
oranges 1 tspn vanilla extract
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes 1 c softened butter
1 c sugar 1 tbspn orange zest
1/4 c orange juice 1 c brown sugar
2 eggs 1 c nuts (I used carmelized, flaxseed coated walnuts for $3/bag)
1/2 tspn whole wheat flour
To make:
* cut the oranges in half and "core" them so you just have the shells
* combine the sugar, OJ, sweet potatoes, eggs, vanilla, 1/2 c butter, and orange zest
* spoon into shells in deep casserole dish or as you'll see I used- a cupcake pan)
* in small saucepan, over MED heat combine remaining butter, brown sugar, flour and nuts
* cook until sugar dissolves in butter and spoon over oranges
* fill casserole dish with about 1/2 in of water
COOK AT 350 for 30 min.
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| BEFORE |
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| AFTER |
Pear and Goat Cheese Appetizer:
Ingredients;
cracker of your choice (I used raisin rosemary crackers from Trader Joes)
goat cheese
honey
bartlett pears
To make;
* spread crackers over serving dish
* top each with a slice of bartlett pear and crumbled goat cheese (I used honey infused goat cheese)
* drizzle honey over top and SERVE
DELISH!
Baked Apples:
Ingredients;
apples
1/4 c brown sugar
2 tbspn butter
1/4 c nuts (I used another bag of the carmelized, flaxseed coated walnuts)
1 tspn cinnamon
1/2 c apple juice
optional- 2 tbspns orange liquor
To make;
* core apples
* mix everything but the juice and fill the cored apples
* place in crockpot on HIGH for 3 hours
* cover with apple juice (and liquor) before covering
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| BEFORE |
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| AFTER. Apple pie without the guilt! |
* you can serve these by themselves, topped with whipped cream, or topped with Noosa Honey yogurt! YUM!
Enjoy!! How was YOUR Thanksgiving?? Did you try any NEW recipes??
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