Thanksgiving is just around the corner for us Canadians and this year I am looking to refresh my Thanksgiving day menu.
While Thanksgiving recipes can be really traditional, I am modernizing my recipes this year while keeping all of the delicious Thanksgiving flavours I love.
Read on down below to see my full Thanksgiving day menu for 2021 and to check out my YouTube video where I make all these recipes from scratch!
Turkey Breast Roast with Honey-Thyme Butter
For my main dish, I am still going to be serving turkey but I am not making an entire roast turkey this year. Instead I am going to be cooking up a Turkey Breast Roast with Honey-Thyme Butter.
The secret to this turkey breast roast is to brine the turkey overnight which will keep it nice and juicy. I make a simple brine with sugar, salt, black peppercorns, fennel seeds, and mustard seeds. Aromatic herbs such as bay leaves, rosemary, and sage really helps to round out this recipe and give the turkey breast amazing flavour.
Another secret to this juicy turkey breast is to just smother it in butter. Yes I know, butter might not be the healthiest, but it is the holidays after all!
Not only do I like to stuff the butter in the centre of the turkey breast, I also like to stuff it underneath the skin of the turkey so that all the butter can sleep into the turkey breast and make the skin nice and crispy once it’s cooked!
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Easy Cornbread Stuffing
Instead of traditional bread stuffing, I am updating the recipe by making my Easy Cornbread Stuffing. Cornbread stuffing is a great alternative to traditional bread stuffing especially for Thanksgiving because cornmeal is super flavourful and adds great texture.
Onions, celery, and my favourite Thanksgiving herbs (sage and thyme) are also added into this recipe along with some parsley and chives. These fresh herbs add a lot of brightness and fresh flavour to this Easy Cornbread Stuffing. To hold it all together, I add some chicken stock and four large eggs to help bind and hold everything together.
Overall, this recipe comes together in a flash and you will be enticed by the delicious corn bread stuffing aromas coming out of your oven! This Easy Cornbread Stuffing is guaranteed to be a hit at your Thanksgiving dinner this year… especially when topped with lots of gravy!
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Sautéed Kale with Apple & Bacon
When you think of Thanksgiving vegetables, kale might not be the one that comes to mind. However I think it is totally perfect to use kale in your Thanksgiving dinner menu because it is in season and there are so many great recipes you can make with it!
This year I decided to make a simple Sautéed Kale with Apple and Bacon. This recipe is sweet, smoky, and tangy thanks to a delicious maple dressing that I make to go along with it. The dressing is made with a combination of maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil. It’s super simple but when added to this dish it makes it taste so gourmet!
To cook this recipe, I simply fry off the bacon until crisp and then add in some sliced apples. Toss in some fresh kale and the maple dressing, and you are on your way to a delicious Thanksgiving side dish!!
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Cranberry-Orange Sauce
Last but not least, Thanksgiving is not complete without some cranberry sauce. To add a nice modern twist I am adding in some orange zest and orange juice to create my Cranberry-Orange sauce. It may not be a surprising ingredient to add to a cranberry sauce but you can definitely taste the citrus in the recipe.
I also like to add a little splash of Triple Sec (orange liqueur) to my Cranberry-Orange sauce. This is totally optional but it adds another layer of flavour and it will really help get the party started!
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I hope that you enjoy this Modern Thanksgiving Dinner Menu with your family and friends this year! Don’t forget, if you make any of these recipes, be sure to tag me on Instagram @seasonserveblog!
Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 🍁
Watch the Video!
