Thanksgiving is a wonderful gathering of friends and family to give thanks and eat some amazing food. The vast majority of cooks will be serving turkey or ham using their own special preparation secrets. Along with the big protein dish, you’ll want to create that wow factor with some amazing sides as well. Here’s a twist on cooking your turkey and a few savory sides that will make you all the talk this Thanksgiving. Now, let’s get steamy!
Steamy Turkey
One of the main issues with Thanksgiving dinner is timing the turkey. At 350 degrees, an unstuffed bird takes about 15-20 minutes per pound. A stuffed one takes even longer. So you’re waiting a good four-plus hours for a 20 pound turkey. However, that cooking time can be slashed in half by placing the stuffed or unstuffed bird in a tightly sealed roasting pan. Coat it with butter and garlic powder and surround it with vegetables. Add a couple of inches of filtered water and set the stove at 550 degrees. In two hours, the skin will be golden brown and you will have a steam-cooked turkey literally falling off the bone. Keep in mind that clean filtered water is your primary cooking tool, so be sure it’s crystal. You can always order your replacement water filters online at DiscountFilters.com!
Steamy Crabs with Spicy Sauce
No one says that turkey has to be the only protein on the table. Crab legs are fairly easy to prepare. Just steam them in good filtered water for five or six minutes. The twist for your dinner guests will be a zesty butter-based dipping sauce. Melt two sticks of butter in a sauce pan. Add in two tablespoons of fresh diced garlic, two tablespoons of black pepper, and squeeze in the juice from half of a fresh lemon.
Steamy Honey Carrots with Fruit
Take one pound of baby carrots, ¼ cup of raisins, two tablespoons of butter, ¼ cup of cranberries and steam with filtered water. As they tenderize, squeeze a fresh lemon over them. Serve hot with an ample dousing of honey and sprinkle with a garnish of your choice.
Steamy Fruit Pudding
While bread pudding is a mainstay for many traditional dinners, there’s always room to expand. Creating a steamy fruit pudding means that you can select the fruits that appeal to your individual palate. Put together two cups of mixed fruits, try blending apples, pears, mango and add cranberry for that traditional tang. Combine the fruit mix with two tablespoons of butter, a cup of whole milk, four tablespoons of sugar, a teaspoon of bicarbonate soda and one cup of flour. Boil for three minutes then pour into a pre-buttered pudding basin, cover firmly and steam heat for 120 minutes. Serve warm or cold.
By utilizing filtered water and steam as your strategic cooking tool, your Thanksgiving dinner will be succulent, juicy and wow! Happy thanksgiving.
