Easiest Way to Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey

This recipe is very minimal but seems to work just fine every time. So although it is minimal it is reliable.

Ingredients

Whole Turkey

Water

Canola Oil

Step 1

Preheat oven to 450.

Step 2

Place turkey breast side up into baking pan then pour ½ cup water and ¼ cup canola oil into the bottom of the pan.

Step 3

Reduce oven to 350 then put the turkey into the oven.

Step 4

Check the turkey every 45 minutes or so and using a spoon or baster put some of the juice from the bottom of the pan onto the turkey.

Step 5

Cook the turkey until it has an internal temperature of 165 or 170 degrees, or more depending on how you like your turkey cooked.

Step 6

Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes or so and then enjoy.

Eggnog French Toast

Double or triple this recipe depending on how many pieces you want to make. One batch makes about 3 pieces of toast.

Ingredients

1 Egg

Eggnog

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Vanilla

Bread

Butter and Powdered Sugar (optional but recommended)

Step 1

In a bowl mix the egg and an equal amount of eggnog to the egg. So the mix is 50/50 egg and eggnog. Then add a little cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and stir.

Step 2

Quickly coat each side of a piece of bread then place in a buttered saucepan on medium heat and cook both sides which I’m sure goes without saying.

Step 3

Remove from heat and melt butter on top of the hot toast then cover with powdered sugar. Add a lot of butter and powdered sugar. It would be hard to add too much.

Pan Fried Brown Rice with Lettuce

Ingredients 

1/2 lb. of ground beef 

Brown Rice 

Iceberg Lettuce 

Cayenne Ground Pepper 

Salt 

Chopped onions (optional) 

Step 1

Cook desired amount of brown rice. When done set aside.  

Step 2

Cook ground beef in a pan making sure to keep breaking it apart so it stays an even consistency. 

Step 3

Add cayenne ground pepper and salt to taste. 

Step 4

When ground beef is all cooked add cooked brown rice and mix together. Chop iceberg lettuce and add to pan. Cook everything together for a few minutes until the iceberg lettuce is soft. Remove from heat and serve. 

Peanut Noodles with Tomatoes & Mushrooms

Ingredients 

Japanese Somen Noodles 

Tomatoes 

Mushrooms 

Thai Peanut Dressing 

Pepper 

Step 1 

Put desired amount of noodles into boiling water. When cooked remove from heat and strain. 

Step 2

In medium sauce pan cook tomatoes and mushrooms. 

Step 3

When the mushrooms and tomatoes are cooked add in peanut sauce and cook for a few minutes. 

Step 4

Add cooked noodles and a pinch of pepper. 

And voila! 

Crepe and Cream Layered Cake

Ingredients

2 cups of milk

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon of sugar

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 cups of flour

2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil (additional oil will be needed for oiling the pan)

Original Kraft Cool Whip for cream

Powdered Sugar 

Steps to make the crepes

1. In a bowl whisk eggs, milk, sugar, and salt.

2. Then stir in the flour a little at a time and whisk mixture until you get a runny batter. Note the batter should not be thin as milk though.

3. Add in oil and whisk mixture.

4. Let the the batter rest for 10-15 minutes.

5. Heat a non-stick pan on medium heat and make sure to oil the pan a little before making each crepe.

6. Use a 1/3 measuring cup to scoop the batter (you can add a little bit more batter depending on the size of your pan, but remember crepes should come out thin).

7. Pour batter into the middle of the pan, then very quickly tilt the pan in a circular motion until the batter is evenly spread in the pan. If the mixture is too thin add more flour, if it is too thick add more milk.

8. Cook for 2-3 minutes on the first side on medium heat (if the crepe starts to burn adjust the heat accordingly). When you start to see small bubbles form on top and the bottom is light gold flip the crepe and cook for 30 seconds on the other side, then remove from heat.

9. Repeat steps until all of the batter is used.

This recipe will roughly make 15 crepes.

Assemble the cake

1. Take one crepe and put on a large plate. Add about 1 tablespoon of cool whip on top and spread evenly to cover the entire surface of the crepe (feel free to add more cool whip if you like).

2. Place another crepe on top and add another tablespoon of cool whip and spread evenly.

3. Repeat steps until all of the crepes are used. Sprinkle the top of the cake with powdered sugar.

4. Cut and serve.

Meatball Sandwich

Ingredients

1 lb. of Ground Beef

¼ Cup Parmesan

¼ Cup Bread Crumbs

Chopped Onion

Chopped Green Pepper

Tomato Sauce (store bought tomato sauce in a jar or can works just fine)

Sandwich Rolls or Hotdog Buns

Step 1

Mix ground beef, parmesan, and bread crumbs then form into meatballs. Place meatballs in oiled pan on medium heat.

Step 2

Once the meatballs are mostly cooked, drain excess grease and add in onion and green pepper.

Step 3

Once the onion and green pepper cook down a little, add in the tomato sauce and cook for 10 minutes.

Step 4

Serve on sandwich rolls or hotdog bun.

No Bake Banana Cream Pie

Be sure to top with Cool Whip when serving. It makes it so much better.

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust (premade store bought works just fine for this)

Two 3.4 oz. Boxes of Vanilla Instant Pudding

2 Cups of Milk

2 Cups of Thawed Cool Whip

2 Bananas

Caramel for Topping

Step 1

Slice Bananas and place in the bottom of graham cracker crust. No need to bake the crust.

Step 2

Mix the 2 boxes of instant vanilla pudding with the 2 cups of milk until well mixed. Then add 1 cup of the cool whip.

Step 3

Pour the pudding cool whip mix onto the bananas and then refrigerate for an hour or two.

Step 4

Top with the left over Cool Whip and caramel if you like. Enjoy.

Lemon Bars Recipe

These are great any time of the year and are really easy and quick to make.

Crust

1 Stick of Butter Softened

¼ cup Powdered Sugar

1 Cup Flour

Pinch of Salt

Lemon Filling

1 cup Sugar

2 Eggs

¼ to 1/3 Cup Lemon Juice

1 Tablespoon Lemon Zest (optional)

2 Tablespoons Flour

Step 1

For crust, with an electric mixer cream together the softened stick of butter and powdered sugar. Then add flour and pinch of salt and mix into dough. Press into bottom of a very lightly greased 8x8 pan, or pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until the crust starts to gold a little.

Step 2

For the filling, with an electric mixer mix sugar, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, and flour. After the crust is cool, pour the filling on top then bake at 350 degrees for another 20 minutes.

Step 3

Once cooled, top with powdered sugar if you like.