Cooking a big meal with someone really solidifies a relationship. Even if you’re cooking simultaneously but in all different kitchens (like this online seasonal holiday potluck)some how we all feel a little closer. Last year I cooked the big feast with my dear friend Anne. She taught me how to perfectly tie knots with dough for beautiful rolls and together we mastered several pies, side dishes, and took on the challenge of the most massive turkey I’ve ever bought, all for the cause of feeding our friends. We started a week or so ahead, prepping by making pie dough and freezing it, making cranberry sauce, and splitting up our grocery lists. Then on the day before we prepped veggies and make a schedule for the day of. On Thanksgiving day we cooked, sipped and sampled our way through creating a special meal. We talked all about our families Thanksgiving traditions, what we liked and what we didn’t and what we hope to change.
I think I’m going to make a habit of pre-Thanksgiving testing meals with friends! Aside from our online holiday potluck, this year a group of bloggers who all partner with our local grocery Harmons Grocery, got together for a in-person Thanksgiving feast. Our recipes we’re perfected, we shared a meal, and many photos were taken! All in the name of making this year’s Thanksgiving easy for our readers. And we’re not only giving you lots of recipe ideas today, we’re also giving away grocery money for the big feast.
For this Harmons Thanksgiving Feast, most of the actual cooking was done in advance but Si from A Bountiful Kitchen, Caroline from Armelle Blog, and I helped put the finishing touches on the meal for a complete spread. After whisking gravy, cutting herbs, and setting the table together, we all felt a more tightly knit as new friends. Food has a special way of doing that and cooking, even more so.
Here are all of the dishes that filled our table for our early Thanksgiving meal.
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Chocolate Mousse Pie
Honey Whole Grain Rolls
Savory Sweet Potatoes with Bacon, Thyme and Cream
Easy Cranberry Orange Relish
Sausage Herb Stuffing
Sesame Green Beans with Bacon and Chestnuts
Si gave me an extra boost of confidence in my gravy making as she whisked up her gravy the exact way I do. She and I both like to place our turkey roasting pans, drippings and all, right over two burners on the stove. Then, add some stock and flour, maybe some extra seasonings, and you’re good to go. Here’s my full recipe for Turkey Gravywith one flavor boosting secret ingredient!
We are giving away 5 gift cards to Harmons Grocery, each valuing $100. The giveaway is until this Sunday at night. There’s a huge chance to win so definitely don’t miss out! Here’s how to enter:
For this super easy cranberry sauce recipe, just pulse a whole orange (rind and all) in a food processor with a full bag of cranberries (they are available and on sale right now at Harmons) and 1 cup of sugar. Store the relish in the refrigerator for up to a week prior to the big meal. I like to put the relish in several jars so everyone has easy access along the table.
I hope you all get to cook something delicious with new and old friends around the holidays this year. You may get to know someone a little deeper or make a old relationship a little sweeter as you stir gravy, prep a turkey or mash up the pot of potatoes! Cooking just has a way of doing that!
This simple recipe for Cranberry and Orange Relish is great alongside Thanksgiving spread or for turkey sandwiches.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Condiment
Cuisine American, Holiday
Ingredients
- 1 bag of cranberries, 12 ounces
- 1 orange, seedless
- 1 cup of sugar, you may use less
Instructions
Cut the oranges into quarters. In a food processor chop the raw cranberries and orange slices. Add in the sugar gradually and pulse a few more times. Taste as you add the sugar in because you may not want to use all of the sugar.
Transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate. This will keep for 2 weeks. Leftovers can be combined with mayonnaise and used as a dressing for leftover turkey sandwiches.
Posted in
, Fall, Gluten Free, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian, Winter
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FAQs
Ingredients. Cranberries, Sugar, Orange Juice Concentrate, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Citric Acid, Sodium Ascorbate (to Maintain Color).
What is the difference between cranberry sauce and cranberry relish? ›
There is an important difference between cranberry sauce and cranberry relish and that is that cranberry relish is made from raw ingredients blended in a food processor (it's more fresh and tart tasting) and cranberry sauce is cooked and often much sweeter than relish.
How do you thicken cranberry relish? ›
Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.
How much sugar is in cranberry orange relish? ›
Nutrition Facts
| Serves about 6 | amount | %dv |
|---|
| Total Sugars | 25 g | |
| Includes | 22 g Added Sugars | 44% |
| Protein | 0 g | |
| Vitamin D | | 0% |
10 more rowsNutrition Spotlight
The flavors of oranges and cranberries sing joyfully together! Their health benefits also complement each other as well! This relish provides an excellent source of fiber and vitamin C that will leave your belly full and body happy!
How do you cut the tartness out of cranberry sauce? ›
"Resist adding granulated sugar—you won't get the full effect unless you reheat the sauce and the sugar dissolves," writes Kelsey Kloss. "Instead, start by stirring in one tablespoon maple syrup and one teaspoon of a sweet drink like apple juice, orange juice, or fruity white or red wine. Add more to taste.
Is canned cranberry sauce better than homemade? ›
While there are some editors who prefer homemade cranberry sauce, the canned variety also has quite a following. "There's something so beautifully perfect about the texture of canned cranberry sauce, and none of those homemade mess will ever compete," says Senior Digital Food Editor Kimberly Holland.
What to eat with cranberry relish? ›
It's great to serve with meat like turkey or pork chops, to spread onto turkey sandwiches, or even over ice cream with some granola. To serve cranberry relish as an appetizer, serve it over baked brie or even over a block of cream cheese with crackers.
Does orange and cranberry go well together? ›
The classic Thanksgiving flavor pairing — orange and cranberry — come together in a new and elevated spin on the Cape Cod (aka vodka cranberry). Orange flavored vodka, orange liqueur and cranberry juice are shaken together and strained into a pretty glass rimmed with orange-cinnamon sugar.
Can Trader Joe's cranberry-orange relish be frozen? ›
It's a seasonal item that only comes out around Thanksgiving, but people stock up on this uncooked cranberry-orange relish and freeze it to eat year-round.
It's perfectly fine to serve up cranberry sauce — whole berry or jelled — straight out of the can. But in my experience, heating the canned sauce up takes its flavor to the next level. Plus, it becomes a little more aesthetically pleasing.
What takes the bitterness out of cranberry sauce? ›
If you don't have maple syrup (pancake syrup WILL NOT do, y'all), try honey or a more neutral sweetener like agave syrup, brown rice syrup, or even simple syrup. All of these syrupy ingredients are a perfect quick fix for bitter cranberry sauce.
What happens if you cook cranberry sauce too long? ›
If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.
Do cranberries need pectin? ›
Cranberries are high in pectin, which helps them set naturally into a jelly without the need for any other thickeners. Orange zest and cinnamon are natural flavor pairings for cranberries, enhancing and complementing their tartness.
What is cranberry relish made of? ›
There's no cooking involved, just using a grinder or a food processor to grind up and mix together raw cranberries, tart green apples, a large seedless orange, and sugar. It's amazing how good it is! Great with roast turkey, or for leftovers on turkey sandwiches.
What are the ingredients in Publix orange juice? ›
Ingredients. Water, Orange Juice Concentrate.
Does cranberry relish need to be refrigerated? ›
Store the cranberry orange relish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. It's served cold, so there's no need to reheat.
