Thanksgiving feast combines tasty additions with old traditions

My mother was very proud of her very special veggie stuffing and used it for chicken as well as turkey. She mixed everything together and placed it in the bird uncooked, but I have found that cooking the stuffing first blends the flavors together better. I’ve also added my own flourish — plumped raisins that give it a nice, sweet taste that is especially festive. 

This year, I am adding some new dishes to the meal, and you can, too, combining tradition with creative new recipes. As a first course, try Chopped Liver Bruschetta and Parsnip Soup. Serve the latter with homemade tomato salsa, made with chopped tomatoes, onions and cilantro.

My family loves rhubarb, so this year we’ll include the tangy, sweet and vibrantly colored fruit, serving it alongside the traditional cranberry sauce. Don’t forget to include some Honey Glazed Yams to round out your menu.

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie is the traditional pie for our family Thanksgiving dinner. I always served it when the children were small, because although pumpkin was never their favorite, this dish is especially light in flavor and texture — and absolutely delicious after a big dinner.

TURKEY IN A BAG WITH VEGETABLE STUFFING

From “The Gourmet Jewish Cook,” by Judy Zeidler

• Mom’s Vegetable Stuffing (recipe follows)
• 1 turkey (15 to 20 pounds)
• 1/4 cup safflower or vegetable oil
• 1 cup apricot preserves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Prepare Mom’s Vegetable Stuffing; set aside.

Preheat oven to 325 F.

Clean the turkey and pat dry with paper towels. Spoon cooled stuffing into both cavities and close with a needle and thread or skewers*. Rub outside of turkey with oil and preserves; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Grease the inside (seamless unprinted side) of a large paper bag, or use a large plastic baking bag. Place turkey, neck first and breast down, inside the bag. For a paper bag, fold down the top and seal it with paper clips or staples. If using a plastic baking bag, tie with plastic ties supplied in the package. Place turkey on large rack over a roasting pan lined with heavy-duty foil. Bake according to the following guide, about 20 minutes per pound:

10 to 12 pounds = 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours

14 to 16 pounds = 5 to 6 hours

18 to 20 pounds = 6 to 7 1/2 hours

About 30 minutes before the turkey is done, make a slit in the bag under the turkey and let the liquid drain into a saucepan. When all the juices are poured off, remove bag. Return turkey to oven to brown for remaining cooking time. Skim fat that forms from juices, discard fat, and heat juices. Remove stuffing and transfer to a heated bowl. Carve turkey and arrange slices, legs and wings on a large platter. Serve heated juices in a gravy boat.

Makes 15 to 20 servings.

*I always stuff a turkey like my mother did, sewing the cavity closed with a needle and thread. It can be much more difficult these days, however, since the turkey skin is often cut away.

Last year, my daughter, Susan, who was visiting from Portland, Ore., offered a solution after watching me struggle with this problem. A master at quilting and weaving, she grabbed a pair of scissors, cut the excess turkey skin from the neck and patched the cavity with the same technique she uses to makes quilts. In no time, she had the bird all sewed up, a perfect solution.

MOM’S VEGETABLE STUFFING

• 1/4 cup safflower or vegetable oil
• 3 medium onions, finely  chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 1 bunch carrots, peeled and grated
• 1 parsnip, peeled and grated
• 2 large zucchini, grated
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup golden raisins, plumped and drained
• 8 mushrooms, chopped
• 2 to 3 tablespoons oatmeal
• 2 to 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 to 3 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• Salt and freshly ground black  pepper to taste

In a large, heavy skillet, heat oil; sauté onions and garlic until transparent. Add celery, carrots, parsnip and zucchini; toss well. Sauté for 5 minutes, until vegetables begin to soften. Add parsley, raisins and mushrooms; mix thoroughly. Simmer for 5 minutes. Blend in 1 tablespoon each of the oatmeal, flour and breadcrumbs. Add wine; mix well. Add remaining oatmeal, flour and breadcrumbs, a little at a time, until stuffing is moist and soft, yet firm in texture. Season with salt and pepper. 

Makes about 4 to 5 cups.

CHOPPED LIVER BRUSCHETTA

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 1 pound chicken livers
• 4 large mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1 medium apple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons brandy or cognac
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• French or Italian bread slices, toasted
• In a large, heavy skillet, heat oil; sauté onions until lightly browned. Add livers, mushrooms and apple; sauté, turning livers on both sides, until lightly browned. (Do not overcook.) Add brandy; simmer 3 to 4 minutes.

Spoon the mixture into a meat grinder, add eggs, and grind into a large bowl, making sure to add juices from skillet. Add salt and pepper to taste; stir well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Spread on toasted bread slices. 

Makes about 3 cups.

PARSNIP SOUP

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 pound parsnips, peeled and diced
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 3 cups vegetable stock
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)

In a medium saucepan, heat oil. Sauté onion and garlic until soft, about 5 minutes. Add parsnips and curry powder; fry for 2 to 3 minutes to release the flavors. Pour stock over mixture, bring to a boil, and simmer for 15 minutes or until parsnips are soft when pierced with a fork.

Remove from heat, ladle into a blender, and blend until smooth. Add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Transfer to the saucepan. Reheat before serving. 

Makes 6 servings.

RHUBARB PRESERVES

• 3 to 4 rhubarb stalks, ends trimmed, cut in 1-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• 2 tablespoons grated orange peel

Place rhubarb in a medium pot; pour sugar over. Let rhubarb absorb the sugar for 30 minutes. Add cranberry juice and orange peel. Cook over low heat for 20 minutes or until rhubarb is soft. Cool and transfer to a bowl. 

Makes about 3 cups.

HONEY-GLAZED YAMS

• 2 1/2 pounds yams or sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces (about 7  cups)
• 6 tablespoons unsalted margarine or olive oil
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 F. 

Arrange yams in a 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking dish. In a small saucepan, combine margarine, honey and lemon juice; cook over medium heat, stirring, until margarine has melted. Pour mixture over sweet potatoes; toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until tender when pierced with fork, stirring and turning occasionally, about 45 minutes. 

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

PUMPKIN CHIFFON PIE

• 1 1/4 cups pumpkin (canned or fresh; if canned, use 100 percent pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix)
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground mace
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin (kosher)
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 (9-inch) baked deep-dish pie crust
• Nondairy whipped topping

In the top of a double boiler, over simmering water, combine pumpkin, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, mace, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; beat well. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.

Dissolve gelatin in cold water and let stand for 5 minutes. Blend into pumpkin mixture, remove from double boiler; let cool.

Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add remaining 1/2 cup sugar; beat until stiff. Fold pumpkin mixture into beaten egg whites until combined. Pour into prepared crust; chill in refrigerator until set, 3 to 4 hours. Garnish with non-dairy whipped topping.

NOTE: For those preferring not to consume raw egg whites, Eggbeaters 100% Egg Whites may be substituted.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.