Thanksgiving

[richardf8]

A very low key Thanksgiving this year

Menu:

Crockpot Cranberry Turkey (mine)
Home-Fried Garnet Yams (mine)
Vegan Squash Pie (morgan1's)


The Crockpot Cranberry Turkey is a simple case where I adapted a recipe for Pork-Loin by substituting a boneless, skinless turkey breast. Here in a nutshell:

1/2 Lb Skinless Boneless Turkey Breast.
1 Can Cranberry sauce - the stuff with the cranberries intact, not the gel.
The zest of a clementine or tangerine or something.  It's juice while you're at it.
1 C. Orange Juice
8 dried Apricots, quartered.
A bunch of dried berries or cherries or raisins or something.
A grated nodule of ginger
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

Combine all but Turkey in 2 quart Crockpot.  When well combined, submerge turkey in it.  
8-10 hours on low - beyond that and the turkey becomes dry.

Yields two servings.  You can use this recipe for up to about a pound of turkey, 
figuring 1/4 lb per person.

Since that is a rather sweet turkey treatment, I went savory on the yams:

Two medium-large Garnet yams, sliced thinly (~1/8-1/4" thick)
Two smallish red onions, diced
1/4 tsp chili-sesame oil
1 tbsp Safflower oil
Salt and Pepper to taste (I don't measure this beyond "looks right")

Heat oils in 12" skillet over high flame.  Add onions to hot oil, along with salt and pepper.
Saute until onions are translucent.  Add yams.  Gently toss until yams are evenly coated with
onion/oil mixture.  Cover tightly and reduce flame to just slightly higher than the lowest it can
be without going out.  Let cook like that for 30-40 minutes

Yields 4 servings

The squash pie was thrown together on impulse from stuff we had around. Rice and Whole Wheat flours went into the crust, nothing really gluteny, so it wasn't flaky. The filling, made from fresh squash Morgan had roasted for another purpose, came out really good - she came down asking for my thoughts on its flavor. After a moments thought, I suggested it needed a touch of Cayenne. That was perfect.

Morgan also made a lentil porridge for tomorrow's lunch. We do something Lentilly eash year for Toldot.