Ten Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

 Here's some food ideas for your Thanksgiving table. The only turkey recipe I have on the blog so far is Ina's Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast. It's the best turkey breast I've ever eaten. Or there's yummy Cranberry-Apple Relish.

 Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole is amazing and a real crowd pleaser.
This Corn Casserole is an easy, old recipe if you need a last minute dish.

 Sage Stuffing is delicious! So is Sausage and Cornbread Dressing. In fact dressing/stuffing is my favorite part of the meal, I think.

 Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar  and Homemade Cranberry Sauce with a touch of orange. So good!

 Delicious and easy Honey Glazed Baby Carrots and
Sautéed Kale with Roasted Butternut Squash and Mushrooms give you a couple of tasty, healthy options.
For some more ideas for side dishes for your Thanksgiving table, click here.
Hope that gives you all some ideas. Happy eating!

Quick Potato Rolls

Thanksgiving is almost here, and in my opinion you have to have homemade rolls for the feast. At least in our family you do that is. I've got several delicious roll recipes, but I thought I'd share this Easy Potato Roll recipe today. I love Potato Rolls because of their tender, soft interiors, which come from the addition of mashed potatoes to the dough. This recipe is so easy because it uses the convenience of instant mashed potatoes! Plus, this recipe is a quick rise roll, in which you set the pan of rolls over hot water and they are then ready to bake in just 15 minutes! And they smell heavenly, and fill your home with the aroma of fresh baked bread. Mmmm, Thanksgiving isn't the same without this fragrance.

This quick roll is stirred together, lightly kneaded, then formed into 12 rolls and placed in a greased pan. After they are covered, the pan is placed over a pan of very hot water. The rolls rise for about 15 minutes.

When the rise is over, just pop them into the oven and bake Voila! You have tender, melt in your mouth homemade Potato Rolls. I like to brush them with melted butter right out of the oven, then I just can't wait to eat one. Hope you'll give them a try.

Quick Potato Rolls
Adapted from Taste of Home

Ingredients:
3 1/2 - 4 cups of all-purpose unbleached flour, divided
1 tablespoon sugar
1 package (1/4 ounce), quick-rise yeast
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
3/4 cup warm water (about 120 degrees F.)
1/2 cup warm whole milk (about 120 degrees)
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup dry instant mashed potatoes
1 egg
melted butter to brush over the rolls,(about 1 tablespoon)

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of flour, sugar, yeast, sugar and salt. In another bowl, mix the water milk, and the 1/4 cup melted butter. Stir in the potato flakes and let stand 1 minute. Add the egg and beat until smooth. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and mix well. Add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 4-6 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover dough and let rise 10 minutes. Uncover dough and cut into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and place in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Place a large baking pan on the counter and fill half full with boiling water. Place the baking pan of rolls over the hot water. Cover the rolls and let rise for 15 minutes. ( I place a baking rack or cookie sheet over the boiling water if needed to hold the pan. Then I cover the rolls with plastic wrap to rise). Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. while the rolls are rising. After 15 minutes of rising, place the rolls in the oven and bake for20-25 minutes until golden. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Brush with melted butter and enjoy!!

Pumkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

 I just had to start off my fall baking with something pumpkin since it is one of my favorite fall and winter flavors! Apple is right up there too, so there will be an apple recipe coming real soon also. I have tried a couple of different Pumpkin Bundt Cake recipes and this is the best one so far so I'm sharing it with you.

 This Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is dense and moist, much like pumpkin bread or pound cake. I topped this luscious cake with cream cheese frosting that contains some brown sugar, which gives the frosting a hint of caramel flavor! This is a perfect fall dessert which would be a delicious addition even your Thanksgiving table. And I confess that it was so good with my morning coffee also! Try taking it to any family gathering or even to work and I think people will be singing your praises. Here's the recipe.

Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted from My Baking Addition

Ingredients:
Bundt Cake
If you don't have all the spices, you can sub pumpkin pie spice if desired.
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup canola oil, or vegetable oil
3 large eggs
3 cups un-bleached flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 can (15 ounces) pure pumpkin puree

Cream Cheese Frosting
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons softened, unsalted butter
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 14 cup confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-3 tablespoons milk, half and half or cream, if needed to thin the frosting
3/4 cup toasted, chopped pecans, if desired

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray a 10 inch Bundt cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl combine the oil and sugar and mix thoroughly with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then beat in the pumpkin. In a medium bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, spices and salt. Add flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture a little at a time, and mix until batter is just blended well.

3. Pour batter into the prepared Bundt pan and smooth the batter evenly around the pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 60-65 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center if cake comes out clean. Cool the cake for 10-15 minutes. Then invert cake onto a wire rack to finish cooling. Place cake onto a cake plate to frost.

4. To make the frosting: In a large bowl add the softened cream cheese, butter and the brown sugar and beat until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Then gradually add in the powdered sugar and beat well. Stir in the vanilla and milk if needed. If frosting is too thick add a bit more milk if needed to get the desired consistency. Spoon frosting over the cooled cake. Using a spoon or rubber spatula, push the frosting where you want it. (This is not a glaze that will pour). Top with the toasted pecans , if desired. Now enjoy!