Goal #70 Cook the perfect turkey for Thanksgiving dinner

I stitched together several recipes for this turkey recipe:

We started with the stuffing: Mrs Cubbison's traditional stuffing. We added diced apples and raisins to the recipe on the box.

Then we started following this recipe from one of my old student's moms. She made a Thanksgiving dinner for all of us elementary school teachers a few years ago that I've never forgotten. Absolutely the best. Unfortunately I didn't find her recipe until Thanksgiving morning, so I couldn't do the whole process (brining for 12 hours then slow roasting for 12 hours).

We made a few changes. We cooked the turkey breast side down, as per someone on the internet's recommendation. She said it makes all the flavor go into the breasts, which sounded good to me. Then since we didn't have enough time to do the slow roasting for 12 hours, we roasted it at 325 for 4 hours.

Stuffed, skin cooked in the oven, seasoned, now ready to roast!

I made TuRkEY!

And the Grinch, he himself, carved the roast beast

...and killed it!

So glad I was able to complete this goal on my last Thanksgiving of this 999 day journey! Thanks Mom of being supportive of me trying a new turkey recipe. My dollar for completing this goal goes to funding young innovators in Sierra Leone, Kenya, and South Africa.

Goal #72 Try 100 new recipes: Peanut Butter Cookie Larabars (55/100)

Recipe

These were...ok. I'd give them 2.5 stars.

Goal #72 Try 100 new recipes (56-57): Sweet Potato Casserole and Pear Pomegranate Spinach Salad

And my other contributions to Thanksgiving dinner:

Sweet Potato Casserole: 5/5 stars! Amazing!

Pear Pomegranate Spinach Salad: 4/5 stars

This salad wouldn't have been possible without this life hack:

The whole spread:

Goal #72 Try 100 new recipes: Minnesota Winter Chili and Apple and Pomegranate Kale Salad (53-54/100)

Last night I cooked dinner for my dinner group again. Earlier in the day I talked with one of my best friends, and she told me she decided a few weeks ago to be vegetarian! So, in honor of her, and since we'd just had chicken two nights in a row, I came up with the following vegetarian dinner. It was received with high acclaim from even the most enthusiastic carnivores in the group. :)

Minnesota Winter Chili was a success! The recipe called for hard wheat to be added to it, but I substituted millet (leftover from sometime when I was possessed by the idea of eating weird whole grains for breakfast), which worked out great. 5/5 stars

Apple and Pomegranate Quinoa and Kale Salad was also a success. I was worried when the dressing called for curry powder, but it was delicious! Of the three quinoa and kale salad recipes I've tried on this blog, I'd say this one was second best. 4/5 stars

Goal #72 Try 100 new recipes: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (52/100)

Sometimes you need to drop off cookies for the boy who helped you install a new battery in your car. And sometimes that happens right before Halloween. And when that happens, you make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! I got this recipe from my sister:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 c sugar
1 c pumpkin
1/2 c oil
1 egg

Mix together wet ingredients (above). Then sift together dry ingredients (below) and add to wet.

2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder

Dissolve next set of ingredients and add to rest.
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 c chocolate chips
1/2 c nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Be careful not to over bake.

I have made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies before that involved using a yellow or spice cake mix, and I think I'll stick to those in the future. But it was fun to try a new recipe! 3/5 stars

Goal #72 Try 100 new recipes: Heather's cinnamon rolls (51/100)

A few weeks ago when I visited my brother, his wife, and new baby, I made them all cinnamon rolls for...dinner (yeah, this recipe took a LOT longer than expected!) using my cousin Heather's recipe:

1 pkg active dry yeast (1 scant Tbsp)
1/2 c warm water
1/2 c lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c shortening
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
3 1/2 - 4 c flour

cinnamon mixture:
soft butter
1/2 c sugar
4 tsp cinnamon

Scald milk about 20 minutes before starting so that it has time to cool. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in milk, sugar, shortening, salt, eggs, and 2 c of the flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in enough remaining flour to make dough more solid. Place all remaining flour in a mound on the counter and place dough over it. Knead in all flour until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 2 hours. Punch down dough. Cover with inverted bowl; let rest 15-20 minutes. Shape into rolls.

Let rolls rise 40 mins. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes covering with foil after about 10 minutes. When done, let cool and mix up cream cheese frosting. Well, she does a "creamy glaze" but we made up a cream cheese frosting.

It was delicious and exactly what a family who hasn't gotten sleep in weeks needed! Sorry I forgot to take a picture. I was probably holding a crying baby. :)

Goal #72 Try 100 new recipes: Lara Bars (50/100)

My friend Kristy introduced me to Lara bars--whole food granola bars that are made primarily with nuts and dates. They're delicious...but costly. THEN she told me you could make your own for much less money!

I tried this recipe for Pecan Pie Lara Bars. Only 3 ingredient! Almonds, pecans, and dates! I used my VitaMix to blend it, but it just about killed it. Or it killed the circuit breaker. I'm not sure. But I couldn't use my VitaMix for a full day after that. I'm kind of scared to make more!

But they were delicious! 4.5/5 stars. Minus .5 because they were kind of crumbly. I'd want them to stick together more like they did in the recipe's picture (below).