What to Do Instead of Turkey

The center piece of almost any Thanskgiving meal is the turkey which, for obvious reasons, is off the table. Instead, you can consider a turkey substitute like the Gardein Holiday Roast or the Tofurky Roast With Wild Rice Stuffing. If you’d rather not do a meat substitute, you can aim for a hearty dish like a whole roasted cauliflower or a lentil loaf.

Appetizers and Sides

Who needs dairy-laden green bean casserole when you can make one of these great options?

• Roasted brussels sprouts
• Vegan gravy
• Vegan mac and cheese
• Vegan cranberry sauce
• Vegan green bean casserole
• Easy vegan stuffing
• Vegan sweet potato casserole

Desserts

Who’s to say vegans can’t enjoy traditional Thanksgiving favorites like pumpkin pie? Here are some plant-based recipes even your non-vegan guests are sure to love.

• Vegan pumpkin pie
• Vegan whipped cream
• Carrot cake with vegan cream cheese frosting

The post No Turkey, No Problem: Planning a Vegan Thanksgiving appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Brine Your Turkey

Maximize the flavor of your turkey and get juicier meat and crispier skin by brining it with herbs and two tablespoons of salt and putting it into a plastic bag before putting it in the fridge. You can season your turkey the night before or up to two days in advance.

Switch Up the Spices

In addition to salt, you can amp up the flavor of the turkey with Cajun-style turkey rub, which has smoked paprika, celery salt, and onion powder, or a red rub, which has paprika, ground coriander, and garlic powder.

Put Seasoning Everywhere

The seasoning needs to be on all parts of the turkey, not just on the surface. Stir your favorite spices and fresh herbs into softened butter and rub it all over the turkey and under the skin.

Add Glazes

Glazes give the bird a subtle sweetness and shine. Go for a combination of maple syrup, orange juice, and fresh sage. Brush most of the turkey with the glaze and save a bit for when it comes out of the oven.

The post The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey Starts with the Seasoning appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Pumpkin

Nothing screams fall like pumpkins, so of course they have to be part of the Thanksgiving meal. The combination of squash, sweetened milk, and spices make for a show-stopping pie.

Pecan

Down south, pecan pie is on every Thanksgiving table, and we just love the way the brown sugar and crunchy pecans pair together to make a mouth-watering pie.

Apple

They say there’s nothing more American than apple pie, which may be why this pie’s a star at the table this holiday. The apples, cinnamon, sugar, and flaky crust combine to make the perfect dessert.

Sweet Potato

If you love pumpkin pie, you have to try sweet potato pie, which tastes quite similar. Sweet potato pie is a staple in the south—and sometimes there’s even bourbon mixed in.

Chocolate

When we think of Thanksgiving, chocolate isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but every dessert table should have some sort of chocolate baked good, and chocolate pie doesn’t last long in any family. It’s a favorite of adults and kids alike.

The post What are the Most Popular Thanksgiving Pies? appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Not only is Thanksgiving celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada, a month and a half earlier than in the United States, but you’ll also find some unique food items on Canadians’ tables. Here are some of the more surprising ones!

Canadian Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie is a dessert served in both the United States and Canada on Thanksgiving, but the north-of-the-border version is quite a bit different. While American pumpkin pie is mostly sugar and pumpkin baked into a crust, the Canadian version is toned-down, focusing much more on spice flavors such as ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.

Rice Dressing

Dressing (or stuffing) is served as a traditional accompaniment to turkey both in the US and in Canada, with the American version typically being made with a base of bread crumbs. However, finding rice-based dressing containing similar ingredients like vegetables is quite popular in Canada.

Potato Gratin

Both Americans and Canadians love to eat potatoes on Thanksgiving, but the Canadian version differs from the typical US dish of mashed potatoes. You’re more likely to find a potato gratin—a baked dish containing sliced potatoes and loads of cheese melted on top—on a Canadian table.

The post Unique Food Items You’ll Find at Canadian Thanksgiving appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Brach’s, an American candy company, is taking their holiday hype to a whole new level this year after introducing a candy that will leave no one indifferent.

Brach’s newest product, their “Turkey Dinner Candy”, is a candy that attempts to join all of the top Thanksgiving flavors into a medley of candies which have some good-sounding and some…questionable-sounding members.

For instance, cranberry sauce and sweet potato pie could be really delicious in candy form. These two sweet Thanksgiving treats seem like normal and logical choices to make candy.

Would you feel the same way, however, about roasted turkey, green bean, and stuffing-flavored candies?

All of these choices are included in this bizarre Thanksgiving medley which is being sold at Walgreen’s drug stores all over the United States.

So, what do you think? Would you be brave enough to give this strange new candy a try?

The post Would You Try This Crazy Thanksgiving-Themed Candy Corn? appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Stock

Most people have a whole turkey at their Thanksgiving, and by the end of the night, you might have some left, or you might just have the bones. If you do have bones, you can easily make a stock. All you have to do is boil all the bones in water with any other vegetables and herbs you have left over until the flavor infuses, and you have homemade stock that is super healthy and delicious! You can also add in the meat if you are tired of turkey for a rich broth.

Mashed Potatoes

If you have leftover mashed potatoes but you’re growing tired of them, instead of just reheating them, turn them into mashed potato balls! Combine the potatoes in a bowl with bacon, cheese, onion, and eggs. Mix everything together and shape it into balls. Roll the balls in breadcrumbs and pan-fry them until golden brown. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

The post Take Thanksgiving Scraps And Create Something New appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Use Your Fingers

When you mix the butter into your flour, only use your fingers and not your palms! This is because your palms are much warmer than your fingers, and will change the temperature of the butter too much. The whole idea is to keep the butter as cold as possible, so when it hits the hot oven, the steam makes the pastry expand and get nice and flakey.

Water

You will, of course, have to add ice water to your dough to bring it together, but try to limit it! A good trick is to remove the top part of the dough so you can hydrate the bottom, and then put them back together to kneed.

Cracks

When you get to the point of rolling out your dough, cracks might start to form. Do your best to push them back together as soon as possible because the cracks will continue to appear and eventually ruin your precious pastry.

The post These Tricks Will Save Your Thanksgiving Pie appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

What to Do Instead of Turkey

The center piece of almost any Thanskgiving meal is the turkey which, for obvious reasons, is off the table. Instead, you can consider a turkey substitute like the Gardein Holiday Roast or the Tofurky Roast With Wild Rice Stuffing. If you’d rather not do a meat substitute, you can aim for a hearty dish like a whole roasted cauliflower or a lentil loaf.

Appetizers and Sides

Who needs dairy-laden green bean casserole when you can make one of these great options?

• Roasted brussels sprouts
• Vegan gravy
• Vegan mac and cheese
• Vegan cranberry sauce
• Vegan green bean casserole
• Easy vegan stuffing
• Vegan sweet potato casserole

Desserts

Who’s to say vegans can’t enjoy traditional Thanksgiving favorites like pumpkin pie? Here are some plant-based recipes even your non-vegan guests are sure to love.

• Vegan pumpkin pie
• Vegan whipped cream
• Carrot cake with vegan cream cheese frosting

The post No Turkey, No Problem: Planning a Vegan Thanksgiving appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Brine Your Turkey

Maximize the flavor of your turkey and get juicier meat and crispier skin by brining it with herbs and two tablespoons of salt and putting it into a plastic bag before putting it in the fridge. You can season your turkey the night before or up to two days in advance.

Switch Up the Spices

In addition to salt, you can amp up the flavor of the turkey with Cajun-style turkey rub, which has smoked paprika, celery salt, and onion powder, or a red rub, which has paprika, ground coriander, and garlic powder.

Put Seasoning Everywhere

The seasoning needs to be on all parts of the turkey, not just on the surface. Stir your favorite spices and fresh herbs into softened butter and rub it all over the turkey and under the skin.

Add Glazes

Glazes give the bird a subtle sweetness and shine. Go for a combination of maple syrup, orange juice, and fresh sage. Brush most of the turkey with the glaze and save a bit for when it comes out of the oven.

The post The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey Starts with the Seasoning appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Pumpkin

Nothing screams fall like pumpkins, so of course they have to be part of the Thanksgiving meal. The combination of squash, sweetened milk, and spices make for a show-stopping pie.

Pecan

Down south, pecan pie is on every Thanksgiving table, and we just love the way the brown sugar and crunchy pecans pair together to make a mouth-watering pie.

Apple

They say there’s nothing more American than apple pie, which may be why this pie’s a star at the table this holiday. The apples, cinnamon, sugar, and flaky crust combine to make the perfect dessert.

Sweet Potato

If you love pumpkin pie, you have to try sweet potato pie, which tastes quite similar. Sweet potato pie is a staple in the south—and sometimes there’s even bourbon mixed in.

Chocolate

When we think of Thanksgiving, chocolate isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but every dessert table should have some sort of chocolate baked good, and chocolate pie doesn’t last long in any family. It’s a favorite of adults and kids alike.

The post What are the Most Popular Thanksgiving Pies? appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Not only is Thanksgiving celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada, a month and a half earlier than in the United States, but you’ll also find some unique food items on Canadians’ tables. Here are some of the more surprising ones!

Canadian Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie is a dessert served in both the United States and Canada on Thanksgiving, but the north-of-the-border version is quite a bit different. While American pumpkin pie is mostly sugar and pumpkin baked into a crust, the Canadian version is toned-down, focusing much more on spice flavors such as ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.

Rice Dressing

Dressing (or stuffing) is served as a traditional accompaniment to turkey both in the US and in Canada, with the American version typically being made with a base of bread crumbs. However, finding rice-based dressing containing similar ingredients like vegetables is quite popular in Canada.

Potato Gratin

Both Americans and Canadians love to eat potatoes on Thanksgiving, but the Canadian version differs from the typical US dish of mashed potatoes. You’re more likely to find a potato gratin—a baked dish containing sliced potatoes and loads of cheese melted on top—on a Canadian table.

The post Unique Food Items You’ll Find at Canadian Thanksgiving appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Brach’s, an American candy company, is taking their holiday hype to a whole new level this year after introducing a candy that will leave no one indifferent.

Brach’s newest product, their “Turkey Dinner Candy”, is a candy that attempts to join all of the top Thanksgiving flavors into a medley of candies which have some good-sounding and some…questionable-sounding members.

For instance, cranberry sauce and sweet potato pie could be really delicious in candy form. These two sweet Thanksgiving treats seem like normal and logical choices to make candy.

Would you feel the same way, however, about roasted turkey, green bean, and stuffing-flavored candies?

All of these choices are included in this bizarre Thanksgiving medley which is being sold at Walgreen’s drug stores all over the United States.

So, what do you think? Would you be brave enough to give this strange new candy a try?

The post Would You Try This Crazy Thanksgiving-Themed Candy Corn? appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Stock

Most people have a whole turkey at their Thanksgiving, and by the end of the night, you might have some left, or you might just have the bones. If you do have bones, you can easily make a stock. All you have to do is boil all the bones in water with any other vegetables and herbs you have left over until the flavor infuses, and you have homemade stock that is super healthy and delicious! You can also add in the meat if you are tired of turkey for a rich broth.

Mashed Potatoes

If you have leftover mashed potatoes but you’re growing tired of them, instead of just reheating them, turn them into mashed potato balls! Combine the potatoes in a bowl with bacon, cheese, onion, and eggs. Mix everything together and shape it into balls. Roll the balls in breadcrumbs and pan-fry them until golden brown. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

The post Take Thanksgiving Scraps And Create Something New appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Use Your Fingers

When you mix the butter into your flour, only use your fingers and not your palms! This is because your palms are much warmer than your fingers, and will change the temperature of the butter too much. The whole idea is to keep the butter as cold as possible, so when it hits the hot oven, the steam makes the pastry expand and get nice and flakey.

Water

You will, of course, have to add ice water to your dough to bring it together, but try to limit it! A good trick is to remove the top part of the dough so you can hydrate the bottom, and then put them back together to kneed.

Cracks

When you get to the point of rolling out your dough, cracks might start to form. Do your best to push them back together as soon as possible because the cracks will continue to appear and eventually ruin your precious pastry.

The post These Tricks Will Save Your Thanksgiving Pie appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.