Durham Flowers - Thanksgiving Food

The One Hour Thanksgiving Dinner Recipe

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 04:47:04

A One-Hour Thanksgiving Dinner is the practice of preparing a complete Thanksgiving dinner in one hour, assuming the turkey breast is thawed. In contrast, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for a small family or group of 4-8 people takes many hours to prepare and may involve some preparation the day before. Convenience foods are typically used to simplify the preparation. The use of off the shelf items commonly found in U.S. supermarkets allows for the meal to be prepared in a short time and at a minimal cost, by someone who is not familiar with cooking. The ideal of a one-hour Thanksgiving can also be achieved by modifying or replacing scratch recipes for time efficiency, though the result will often be less than traditional.

This recipe is for an entire Thanksgiving Dinner that takes one hour to cook. The recipe uses various pre-cooked ingredients and instant foods, and is designed for those cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time, such as college students.

Read more about the One Hour Thanksgiving Dinner Recipe.

Cranberry Fruit

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The cranberry is a small sour fruit. It is so sour that most people can't stand to eat fresh cranberries alone. Cranberries contain edible seeds and plenty of air. Cranberry juice has been shown to reduce bladder infections in a nursing home environment. Cranberries are popular as juice, dried fruit, and a jam or jelly called cranberry sauce - all with added sugar of course. One single grower's cooperative, Ocean Spray, controls 70% of the cranberry crop.

Cranberry

The Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

Established in 1888 to standardize the measure with which cranberries are sold, the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association (CCCGA) is one of the country's oldest farmers' organizations. Today, the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association represents approximately 250 growers throughout Massachusetts. This unity has given growers both a single voice and collective strength in promoting the cranberry industry.

Read more about the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association.

Turducken for Thanksgiving Dinner

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

Turducken

A turducken is a de-boned turkey stuffed with a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed with a small de-boned chicken. The cavity of the chicken and the rest of the gaps are filled with, at the very least, a highly seasoned breadcrumb mixture or sausage meat, although some versions have a different stuffing for each bird. Some recipes call for the turkey to be stuffed with a chicken which is then stuffed with a duckling. It is also called a chuckey.

a bacon covered Turducken

Thanksgiving Turkey Basics

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

Because turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, Thanksgiving is sometimes colloquially called Turkey Day (USA). The USDA estimated that 269 million turkeys were raised in the country in 2003, about one-sixth of which were destined for a Thanksgiving dinner plate.

Most Thanksgiving turkeys are stuffed with bread crumbs and roasted. Sage is the traditional herb added to the stuffing (also called dressing), along with chopped celery and onions. Turducken, a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken, is becoming more popular, from its Cajun base in Louisiana. Deep-fried turkey is rising in popularity as well, requiring special fryers to hold the large bird, and reportedly leading to fires and bad burns for those who aren't careful. In more recent years it is also true that as the wild population of turkeys has rebounded in most of the U.S., some will also hunt and dress their turkey in the woods and then freeze it until it is time to eat.

The Cranberry

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccus, or in some treatments, in the distinct genus Oxycoccus. They are found in acidic bogs throughout the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

cranberry fruit on a cranberry bush

Cranberries are low, creeping shrubs or vines up to 10 cm tall (often less), with slender, wiry stems, not thickly woody, and small evergreen leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with very distinct reflexed petals, leaving the style and stamens fully exposed and pointing forward. The fruit is a true berry that is larger than the leaves of the plant; it is initially white, but turns a deep red when fully ripe. It is edible, with an acidic taste that can overwhelm its sweetness.

Cranberries are a traditional Thanksgiving food in the United States.

The Cranberry Institute

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The Cranberry Institute is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1951 to further the success of United States and Canadian cranberry growers through health, agricultural and environmental stewardship research as well as cranberry promotion and education.

Read more about the Cranberry Institute.

The Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The mission of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association is to enable the cranberry industry in Wisconsin to prosper through the provision of grower information, responsible environmental stewardship, sound governmental policies and effective public communications.

The Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association was founded in 1887 to serve the needs of the state's cranberry growers. Over the course of its history the association has proved time and again that it is the best organization to represent growers' interests. As a result, Wisconsin is a leader in cranberry production. During the past decade the WSCGA has become much more active in its programs.

A New England Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

This is a New England Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Menu as typically served before 1865.

Roast Turkey with Gravy
New England Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Turnips
Creamed Onions
Cranberry Sauce
Buttered Rolls
Fresh Celery Sticks
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Bread

Cranberry Preparation Basics

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

No matter what preparation method you choose, cook cranberries only until they pop because overcooking gives them a bitter taste. Since cranberries are almost 90% water, do not thaw frozen cranberries before cooking them. Thawing will cause the fruit to break down, resulting in soft cranberries. Cranberries may be baked with a sweetener to make a topping or sauce. They are also good chopped with oranges to make a relish.

Read more about Cranberry Preparation Basics.

Cranberry Storage

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

Store fresh cranberries in a tightly-sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator. As with all berries, if one starts getting soft and decaying, the others will quickly soften and decay also. Be sure to sort out the soft ones if you plan to store them for more than a few days. Fresh cranberries may last up to 2 months in the refrigerator. Cooked cranberries can last up to a month in a covered container in the refrigerator. Washed cranberries may be frozen for up to 1 year in airtight bags.

Cranberry

Cranberry Selection

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

Ripe cranberries will bounce if they are in good condition. They should be shiny and plump and range in color from bright light red to dark red. Shriveled berries or those with brown spots should be avoided. Cranberries do not ripen after harvest.

Cranberry

Simple Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

This is a recipe for a great tasting cranberry sauce that anyone can make. The key is to start with good cranberries.

Cranberry Sauce Ingredients

12 oz. package of fresh cranberries, rinsed, sorted and trimmed
1 c. cranberry juice (cocktail, a mix like cranapple or cran-raspberry, or any other fruit juice you have on hand)
1/2 c. sugar (or a little more if you don't like your cranberries tart)
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

You will also need a large non-alumninum saucepan. Alumninum will react with the acid in the cranberries and make the sauce taste metalic. :-p

Click here for the preperation instructions for Cranberry Sauce Recipe.

A Balsamic Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

This balsamic cranberry sauce recipe is recommended for duck, goose or Turducken.

Balsamic Cranberry Sauce Ingredients

1/2 lb fresh cranberries
7 tbsps sugar
2 tbsps orange liqueur
1/4 c balsamic vinegar
1/2 c chicken broth
1/2 c beef broth
1 tsp fresh ginger -- minced
1 dash cayenne pepper

Make sure not to use any alumninum bowls or pans. Alumninum will react with the acid in the cranberries and make the sauce taste metalic. :-p

Click here for preperation instructions for Balsamic Cranberry Sauce Recipe.

The American Cranberry

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:47:04

This site provides access to the full scope of information about the American cranberry that will serve the informational needs of cranberry growers, researchers, and the general public.

Basic Information on Cranberries
Cranberry Marketing
Cranberry Cultivation and Cultivars
Cranberry Nutrition and Recipes
Cranberry Harvest and Production
Cranberry Resources
Cranberry Environmental Issues
Directory of Cranberry Handlers and Cranberry Trade Associations

Visit The American Cranberry Web Site.

More about Cranberries