Shaker Gourmet: Thanksgiving 2011

Yes, yes it is: the annual (American) Thanksgiving post! Going to do something slightly different this year and I hope you all will help out. While I normally post a big recipe post, this year I think it would be great if everyone would be willing share their favorite recipe to make/take for this (or any other) holiday.

If you're stuck looking for something new to make or take this year (or really, for whenever), hopefully you'll find something great in comments here!

That said, here is one of my staples for Thanksgiving:

Ginger Apricot Cranberry Sauce

* 1 tbsp. unsalted butter
* 2 tbsp. finely grated ginger
* 16 oz. fresh cranberries
* 2/3 cup sugar
* 1 cup orange juice
* 1/2 cup apricot preserves

In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add ginger and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Add crans, sugar, oj and preserves. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crans burst and sauce thickens, about 20 mins. Transfer to bowl and serve warm.

I've made this for the past several years, after a friend gave it to me, and it's delicious.

And another yummy one:

Roasted Yam Casserole
* 3 medium jewel yams
* 1/4 cup orange juice
* 2 TB melted butter
* 1/2 tsp cinnamon
* 2 TB brown sugar
* 2 cups mini marshmallows

Heat oven to 350. Roast yams in oven for one hour. Let cool. Peel off skin.

Mash yams in 8x8 casserole dish or deep-dish pie plate. Put in all other ingredients and mash them all together (or mix, with spoon if you'd rather). Smooth out top. Bake (at 350) for 15 minutes. Take out of oven and put marshmallows on top. Put back in oven until marshmallows are puffed and slightly toasted (only takes a couple minutes). Serve warm!

You can dust the top of the marshmallows with cinnamon before putting in oven, too.

Pie tip: Crush up gingerbread cookies to use as a crumb crust with pumpkin pies or cheesecakes. If you have a food processor, this is soooo easy.

Ideas from previous years:

Thanksgiving 2010: Cocktail Weenies, Herb-Scented Roast Turkey, Apple-Onion Stuffin' Muffins, Sweet Potato Casserole, Toffee Apple Pie.

Thanksgiving 2009: Jellied Cranberry Sauce, Spinach Madeline, Pumpkin-Apple Streusel Cake.

Thanksgiving 2008: Good Eats Roast Turkey, Basic French Bread, Sweet Potato Balls.

Thanksgiving 2007: Bruschetta, Brie Mashed Potatoes, gravy & gravy tips, Old Fashioned Dinner Rolls, Herb Bread & Dipping Oil, Bavarian Apple Torte.

For a non-pumpkin, non-apple, super easy dessert: Peanut Butter Pie.