Ingredients

1-1.25 lbs ground turkey (or beef)
1 egg (or 1 tsp apple sauce*)
1 cup bread crumbs (plain or Italian)
1/4 cup spicy brown mustard
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup diced onion
1/2 tsp Worchestershire
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
basil
pepper

Combine all ingredients by hand in large bowl.  Fill muffin cups 1/2 full with mixture.  Bake at 375 for about 40 minutes or until top is crisp and brown.

*I use apple sauce to replace the egg due to my daughter’s egg allergy.  It is still delicious with this substitute!

• Cheese and whole grain crackers
• Whole grain bagel or pita with cream cheese or peanut butter
• Yogurt with frozen fruit
• Cereal
• Baked pita chips and hummus
• Veggies and hummus
• Mixed nuts
• Air popped popcorn
• Edamame
• Whole wheat tortilla wrap with cream cheese & turkey
• Whole wheat tortilla quesadilla
• Applesauce with cinnamon
• Homemade trail mix with nuts, pretzels, goldfish and raisins
• Brown rice cakes
• Multigrain waffles
• English muffin pizza
• Tuna on whole grain crackers

My list contains all egg-free options since my daughter is allergic to eggs!

Pasta Salad

• 12 oz bow tie pasta or tri-colored spirals, cooked according to package directions
• 1 can hearts of palm, sliced
• 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 1 cucumber, sliced and seeded
• grape tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced and seeded
• 1 container mozzarella balls

Dressing

• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp dijon or spicy brown mustard
• 2 gloves garlic, minced
• pepper, to taste

Combine all the items in a large serving bowl, toss with dressing, and chill for at least 3 hours before serving.  You can make this a main dish item by adding cooked chicken or shrimp!

Rice Krispy 4th of July Cut Outs – cute star shaped desserts
Summer Berry Trifle – with strawberries, blueberries, pudding, and ladyfingers
Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Pie – ice cream and sorbet in a graham cracker crust
Wave Your Flag Cake – jello, cool whip and fruit (personal favorite!)
Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad – red, white, and blue skinned potatoes
Red, White, and Blueberry Skewers – strawberries, blueberries, and marshmallows
Pretzel Sparklers – pretzels dipped in chocolate and rolled in red, white, and blue sprinklers
Fruited Cheesecake Flag – individual squares combine to make a flag
Red, White, and Blue Strawberry Appetizer Recipe - with blueberries and yogurt or cream
Chocolate Covered Strawberries – use white chocolate and add blue and red food coloring

Have a happy holiday!

TURKEY STUFFING – SAUSAGE & APPLE

6 cups freshly crumbled french bread
1 pound pork sausage meat (without casing)
2 medium onions diced
1 cup celery diced
2 cups apples diced
2 eggs slightly beaten
2 tbsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp thyme
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups turkey stock (or more)

Tear apart french bread into breadcrumbs.  Place on baking sheet and toast at 350 degrees in the oven.  Brown sausage meat and set aside.  Saute onions and celery in meat fat until soft, not brown.  In large mixing bowl combine bread, apples, sausage meat, onions, celery, slightly beaten eggs.  Add poultry seasoning.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Mix well.  Add melted butter and turkey stock to moisten as desired.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Add turkey juices as desired.  Or stuff in turkey and it can cook with the bird!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  It’s a time to get the family and perhaps some close friends together to enjoy a meal and good company.  No presents to stress about.  In our house it’s about the food, wine, people, and some football.

This time of year always sneaks up me though.  We are expecting 22 people this year for Thanksgiving (including ourselves), but thankfully it is our family tradition for everyone to bring a dish.  I have already started working out the menu:  deviled eggs, cheese tray, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, broccoli-cauliflower gratin, creamed corn, sweet potato, fruit salad, and pies.  The  guest list and grocery list are in Google docs.  I love having my lists web based!

Starting early really does save money.  I usually need to go to Costco, Smart and Final, and Ralphs (our local grocery store).  I bake a 20 lb bird and then deep fry a 12 pounder.  The grocery store usually has the best deals on turkeys with a minimum purchase, which is easily met with today’s grocery prices. I borrow extra tables and chairs to accommodate the large group.

On to the best part, choosing the drinks!  I like to have a nice selection of wine for each stage of the day.  A nice Prosecco champagne during the appetizers.   The main course will be accompanied by Ferrari Carrano Fume Blanc, Groth Sauvignon Blanc, Sterling Chardonnay, and Sanford Pinot Noir. Since my family like heavy reds we will also have some Liberty School Cabernet on hand.  I usually purchase the wine at Costco, but also check BevMo or Cost Plus World Market.  Beer drinkers will enjoy some Stella Artois and Fat Tire.  I will also make some fresh lemonade and coffee.  Sodas are a must as well so in addition to the basics we have Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer and Black Cherry soda.

I am starting to feel prepared.  Just need to start the shopping!