If you're in the US and got stuck cooking Thanksgiving dinner - or are in the UK and, like BitchBuzz's own Laura Silver, are being a glorious angel and making Thanksgiving dinner for your American ex-pat friends - it's easy to get overwhelmed with all you have to do.
Thankfully, because our house Nigella Lawson is all kinds of awesome, we have put together a fair bit of recipes for Thanksgiving. So, don't panic! Here's all you're really going to need to know to put together a kick-ass Thanksgiving:
The Main Event: The Turkey
Cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving is pretty much my worst nightmare - however, Laura makes it sound both simple, and doable!
"Place turkey on top breast side down. Add star anise, cinnamon and bay
leaves to stock and pour into the cavity of the turkey. Slather the
upper side with butter and put in the oven. The cooking time of the
turkey will depend on its size."
Laura recommends using cinnamon, vegetable stock, garlic, and (omg nom) maple syrup!
The Quirky Favorite: Sweet Potato & Marshmallow Mash
Trust me, this may sound a bit weird, but it is absolutely amazing. Laura knows that, hey, it may sound over the top but..
"I don’t care if roasting confectionery is the ultimate excess when it is this tasty, and hey, it’s the holiday season, why not"
It's Thanks-fucking-giving and there's no better way to show that you're grateful than by eating bits of marshmallow in mashed sweet potatoes.
The Nomilicious Pre-Feast Snack: Cranberry and Swiss Cheese Crustini
It may sound fancy, but they're simple and easy to make - plus your hungry guests will much appreciate having something to snack on whilst you slave away in the kitchen.
"Sharp cranberry and sweet, nutty Swiss cheese are a yummy combination
and work really well on a bite sized crostini, which can be made in
advance and simply grilled when your guests arrive."
Just make sure you don't eat too much before dinner!
The Hot Opening Act: Carrot & Coriander Soup
This soup is the perfect starter for your hungry guests -especially those who are trying desperately to have a "healthy" Thanksgiving feast. Now, if you're in the US, coriander is cilantro, so please don't think you have to rush to your nearest freaky-deaky health shop and purchase some wiccan healing herb.Laura explains that:
"If you are holding a smaller gathering, it can be nice to serve
a soup which can easily be made in advance and will leave your guests
plenty of room for turkey."
Satisfying but not too heavy? Perfection.
The Healthy Bit on the Side: Honey & Cumin Roasted Parsnips and Carrots
Another win for your health conscious guests! You cannot go wrong with raosted vegetables, especially parsnips. Roasted parsnips are amazing anyway, but the thought of having them smothered in honey and cumin is almost too much to handle!
"The sweetness of the honey with warmth of the cumin adds festive spice
to the winter vegetables making them perfect for a special dinner. They
are also great for making in quantities large enough to feed the whole
family."
These veggies are so good even your overly-picky Sister will want to dig in.
The Classic: Green Bean Casserole
Even if you don't like green beans, there is no denying that this is one of the best parts of Thanksgiving.
"I asked my Californian friend what her ultimate thanksgiving dish was,
she told me you couldn’t get any better than Green Bean Casserole. As
soon as she told me it contained both cheese and Ritz Crackers I was
sold, and have been making it with roast dinners ever since."
Ritz crackers? Cheese? HELLO LOVER!
What about dessert I hear you ask? The answer is simple: if you've had to make all of these dishes on your own, your guests can take care of dessert. (Or you can hop over to Safeway and pick up a pumpkin pie and Cool Whip. They'll never know the difference.)