Well, it’s just about Thanksgiving time, and maybe you’ve made the decision to be somewhere other than home right now—perhaps on a vacation and staying in a timeshare. We discovered a long time ago that we really don’t like to be far away from family and friends at holiday time—like the Thanksgiving we spent in Waikiki.
Or, maybe your family and friends have accompanied you on vacation, which makes for some special “togetherness” at holiday time—that is, until you think about having to feed them! And so, the rule then is “everyone pitches in.” One resort, Rams Horn in Estes Park, Colorado, has a unique way of handling this by staging a Thanksgiving Potluck. Check out this post for our timeshare holiday adventures: “Timeshare Travel on a Holiday-Yes or No?“.
So, if you are snugly tucked in your condo, with or without guests, here are some recipes to see you through. They may not be gourmet, or even full-scale holiday meals, but they are easy, taste good, and use few ingredients.
TURKEY AND SWEETIE TATERS
4 turkey breast tenderloins (about 8 oz. ea.)
2 T. margarine
2 cans (2.5 lb. ea.) sweet potatoes, drained
2/3 C. dried cranberries
2/3 C. maple syrup
½ C. orange juice
½ tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cornstarch
2 T. cold water
In large skillet or frying pan, brown turkey in margarine. Arrange sweet potatoes around turkey. Combine the cranberries, maple syrup, juice and cinnamon, pouring it over the turkey and sweet potatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Place turkey and sweet potatoes on serving platter. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth, then add to pan. Bring to boil, then cook and stir 1 minute until thickened. Serve with turkey and sweet potatoes. (Serves 8—can be halved). Modified, Nov. 2008, Simple & Delicious
Or, maybe you prefer pork? If so, here’s an easy one:
PORK CHOP/CRANBERRY COMFORT FOOD
6-8 pork chops
1 T. cooking oil
½-1 C. flour
2C. fresh or frozen cranberries
¾-1 C. sugar
1/2 tsp. grated orange peel
½ C. water
Dredge pork chops in flour, then brown in cooking oil. Place in a 7 x 11 or 9 x 13 pan.
Mix cranberries, sugar, water and orange peel. Pour over chops.
Cover pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover, and bake another 25-35 minutes. Makes 6-8 servings. (Modified, The New Cooking With 4 Ingredients)
And, for the ground meat enthusiasts--
NOODLE STROGANOFF
3 C. uncooked noodles
1 lb. ground beef
1/3 C. chopped onion
1 8-oz. can mushroom stems and pieces
1-1/4 C. water
2 envelopes brown gravy mix
2 C. sour cream
Cook noodles according to directions and set aside. In large frying pan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until beef is done. Drain. Stir in water and gravy mix and bring to a boil. Add mushrooms. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Serve over noodles. Makes 4 -5 servings. (Modified, Simple & Delicious, Jan./Feb. 2009)
And, let’s not forget dessert! This is a spinoff of the ever-popular Eagle Brand 7-layer bars:
CRANBERRY OR CHERRY COCONUT DREAMS
1-1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs (about 24)
½ C. melted margarine
1-1/2 C. vanilla chips
1-1/2 C. dried cranberries or cherries
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1 C. flaked coconut
1 C. pecans or walnuts
Combine graham cracker crumbs and margarine and press into a 9 x 13 pan for form a crust. In bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Spread this mixture over the crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until edges are golden. Cool and cut into bars. Makes 3 dozen, or 2 dozen, depending on how large you cut them! I like to leave out the nuts and just add more vanilla chips and cranberries.
Happy holiday cooking and baking from Timeshare Tidbits!