Real-Life Testers: Adventurous Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
To make sure our Adventurous Thanksgiving menu was everything we promised, we asked real-life tester, Amanda Pressner, to whip it up and document it along the way. What was her verdict? The menu was a total slam dunk, full of spice and flavor!
Hostest with the Mostest
Real-life tester, Amanda Pressner, graciously accepted our offer to try out our Adventurous Thanksgiving Menu, with some friends.
Double Fisting
Amanda's pal is ready to help out! Here she is decked out in a silly apron, with glass of wine in one hand and a mixer in the other.
Tandoori Turkey Time
Amanda never cooked a turkey before this meal and was shocked by how easy it was! "When I read that I could cook a full-sized 12-pound turkey in 2 to 2.5 hours, I thought it was a mistake!"
Tester Tip: Make sure to use a fresh or defrosted turkey, to save yourself a ton of time!
The Finished Bird
What a beaut! Amanda says she would make this recipe again in a heartbeat.
Tester Tip: If you're going to slide the buttery mixture underneath the turkey skin to make the turkey juicy, make slits in the skin in inconspicuous spots. Amanda says she made the mistake of cutting through the skin right on top and it didn't look as pretty.
Bring on the Naan
The Naan & Cashew Stuffing was a big hit among Amanda's crew. Can't find naan bread in your local grocery story? Amanda recommends calling a local Indian food restaurant and see if you can order some from them!
All Hands on Deck
Sometimes big dinners with multiple menu items can be stressful. One easy fix: get everyone involved and cooking in the kitchen like Amanda and her friends did!
Hard-Working Oven
This oven was hard at work with multiple dishes being baked at one time. Make sure to plan ahead if you don't think you're oven is big enough to fit all of the dishes at once.
Cranberry-Mango Chutney
Amanda thought this dish was nice twist on the classic recipe and plans to add it to her Thanksgiving menu line-up!
Peas with Coconut
The Stir-Fried Peas with Coconut recipe boosts the flavor of frozen peas with global ingredients like cumin, coriander and shredded coconut.
A Huge Hit
The Stir-Fried Peas with Coconut was almost unanimously the group's favorite dish. People who swore they hated peas were taking second helpings and asking me for the recipe. They were that good!
Cute as Custard
The Cardamom-Vanilla Custards were so beautiful that Amanda and her friend had to take a moment to "ooh" and "aah" over them after they came out of then oven.
Savor the Sweetness
If you need an extra punch of sweetness in this custard, serve it with a sprinkling of brown sugar on top.
Turkey and Chutney
If you really want to be adventurous, pair the chutney with more than just the turkey. Try it on the stuffing or even the custards for a more savory dessert.
Table Setting
A simple table with pink flowers is all that's needed for such a conversation-starting meal. Amanda says the spices in the meal made her guests nostalgic for their past travels around the world, especially Southeast Asia and India. "The meal took us on a true adventure through our memories."
The Whole Spread
The table is super colorful once all the finished dishes find their places in the spotlight.
Cheers!
After working hard it's time to celebrate and talk about what you're thankful for! Great food? Check! Great friends? Check! Great memories? Check!
