Dinner’s On The Table – Healthy Specialty Foods & Recipes

Gobble gobble gobble

First we stuffed the bird, then we stuffed ourselves.  It’s inevitable that we’ll be eating turkey sandwiches for the next week.  I don’t know about you, but I actually like a nice fresh turkey sandwich the day after Thanksgiving.  

If that sounds like a fate worse than death, here are a few ideas.  If you aren’t feeling creative, or you just don’t like to cook, the easiest option is to package meal-sized servings of turkey, stuffing or potatoes and gravy in Tupperware, then stick it in the freezer.  Pull it out the day before you’re planning on eating it, and just nuke it.  Instant easy meal after a long day of holiday shopping.  I like some of the other options a little better.  Turkey Pot Pie, Turkey Chili, Turkey Soup, Turkey Salad, Turkey Stir Fry, Turkey Tacos, Turkey Fajitas, Turkey Croquettes, Turkey Hash, or just have the old stand by…Hot Turkey Sandwiches.  You could even use it for breakfast by adding it to the filling for you Sunday morning omlet. 

Keep in mind that the turkey isn’t the only thing you can get creative with.  You can use the potatoes or the stuffing as a topping for your pot pie.  The veggies can go into a pot of soup.  Even the cranberries can be transformed.  Mix them into a container of cool whip, spoon them into a dessert dish and top with crushed graham crackers or chopped walnuts.  Top some non-fat vanilla yogurt with a spoonful of cranberries and sprinkle with granola for a healthy breakfast or snack. 

(If you have any pie left, your best bet is to eat it or freeze it.)

If you like some of these ideas, but don’t want to spend another day cooking until next Thanksgiving, give me a call.  We can schedule a cook date and whip up something delicious with your leftovers. 

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Metal racks come in all shapes and sizes; oval, concave, square, rectangular – you name it, they have it to fit any roasting pan. But they are a pain in the tush to clean. Why not add some flavor and skip washing the "dish?"

I’m all for skipping the need to wash another dish, believe me – I’m the chief bottle washer.

Grab some carrots, onions, celery, and bell peppers. You can be adventurous and add some parsnips, turnips, or radishes. Take it another step and you can add some of the same herbs and spices that are flavoring the meat right to the veggie rack too. Your liquid can be water, stock or your favorite wine. Quantity varies, but I usually add 1/2 to 1 cup, enough to get everything wet. If you’re roasting a dryer meat, add more so the vegetables don’t dry out. Then follow your usual roasting method or follow the recipe.

Adding vegetables not only adds flavor to the meat, they add flavor and body to the drippings so you can make some really delicious gravy.  You can either strain the vegetables out or emulsify them with a hand or counter top blender.

This is also a great way to use up those vegetables that have been sitting in the fridge one day too long to use in a recipe, yet still have a little life to give (Don’t use any rotten ones please!). They may have some wrinkles or a few bad spots to cut away, but they can still provide you with flavor.

Keep this in mind when it comes time to roast that turkey this Thanksgiving Day!

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Oh, how we love Thanksgiving Dinner – delicious oven-baked turkey smothered in fresh giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, home-made stuffing, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top, crisp and savory green bean casserole, home-made apple and pumpkin pies – the list goes on. Everyone has their favorite foods for the Thanksgiving Day holiday, but do you have the time to prepare them?

One way to do it is to start now. Yes, this weekend. Spend a few hours on Saturday and Sunday creating the favorites your friends and family have grown to expect every year. And make sure there’s enough room in the freezer to hold everything until Turkey Day arrives. It’s a challenge but it can be done.

Another option is to let Dinner’s On The Table prepare your Thanksgiving Dinner a few days before Turkey Day. We’ll make your family favorites according to your recipes - exactly as you would prepare them –  or help you add some new favorites – so you can enjoy Thanksgiving without all the fuss and mess. And you can spend more time with your friends and family instead of toiling in the kitchen.

And if you don’t have the time to personal chef yourself, you don’t need to settle for a mass produced Thanksgiving Day Dinner with who-knows-what side dishes coming from who-knows-where by ordering out or eating at a restaurant. You can enjoy fresh prepared foods to order in the comfort of your home surrounded by your friends and family on that special day.

We don’t have any pre-made menus – We customize a menu to your exact specifications. Typical pricing for meals serving 8-10 people starts @ $300 including groceries.

Call Chef Jill or Ira at 845-773-9013 to book your Thanksgiving Day Dinner cook date – bookings are limited!

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