Is making Thanksigiving dinner stressful for you? Save this blog! Here are some common thanksgiving food “crisis” and ways to fix them!
Crisis: Bone-dry turkey
Quick Fix: Heat 3 cups of turkey, chicken, or vegetable broth in the microwave. Carve the turkey and soak each piece in the warm broth for 3 seconds. Remove, shake off excess and serve with savory gravy.
Crisis: Gluey mashed potatoes
Quick Fix: Mixed potatoes into a sticky paste? Turn them into a casserole. Spread the mashed potatoes in an 8 by 8 baking dish, drizzle with 2 tbs melted butter, sprinkle with 1/3 cup grated cheese, and top generously with 2/3 cup bread crumbs. Bake at 400 for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Crisis: Scorched asparagus
Quick Fix: Fold in a few pieces of corn bread. Mix until you reach the desired dryness. If it becomes too dry, add 1 cup of chicken broth for every 4 cups of stuffing; allow to soak for 1 minutes before adding more.
Crisis: Limp salad
Quick Fix: If the salad is soggy, there could be too much dressing. Place only the leaves in a salad spinner or shake in a colander to draw out excess moisture. Mix back into the salad bowl with fresh, undressed greens for extra crunch.
Crisis: Salty ham
Quick Fix: If the first piece you slice is overbearingly salty, glaze the rest of the ham with sweet flavor. In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup honey with 3 to 4 tbs orange juice, apple juice, or pineapple juice. Vigorously whisk, then baste the ham with the glaze before serving (don’t return it to the oven – the heat will draw out moisture and make the meat saltier). Slice thinly to serve.
Crisis: Mushy Brussels sprouts
Quick Fix: For veggies that are more mush than masterpiece, puree in a food processor. Raid your fridge for spreadable cheese, and fold into the puree to taste for texture. Add a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness. Use as an appetizer dip or spread on leftover turkey sandwiches.
Crisis: Bitter cranberry sauce
Quick Fix: Resist adding granulated sugar – you won’t get the full effect unless you reheat the sauce and the sugar dissolves. Instead, start by stirring in 1 tbs maple syrup and 1 tsp of a sweet drink like apple juice or orange juice. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt (in small amounts it intensifies sweetness).
Crisis: Soupy apple pie
Quick Fix: Runny apple pie is a result of too little thickener or too-juicy apples. Make apple pie sundaes instead: Puree the filling in a blender. Lightly pour over vanilla ice cream, and top with whipped cream, cherries, nuts, and other tasty garnishes.