Healthy food choices/healthy recipes

 Traditional Thanksgiving meals

Traditional Herbed Roast Turkey

This traditional classic recipe of herbed roast turkey is ideal for a many holiday feast or special occasion, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. The turkey is roasted with a flavorful mixture of herbs, spices, and aromatics, resulting in a juicy and flavorful bird that is sure to pleasure everyone at the table.

 

Traditional Herbed Roast Turkey Ingredients:

ü  1 whole turkey (size of your choice)

ü  1 cup enigmatic herbs (a secret blend of rosemary, thyme, sage, and a hint of basil)

ü  1/2 cup of enigmatic olive oil

ü  1 tablespoon arcane salt

ü  1 teaspoon bewitching black pepper

ü  4 cloves of garlic, minced (or more)

ü  1 lemon, squeezed with an air of mystery

ü  1 cup of celestial chicken broth

ü  1 cup of nebulous white wine

ü  1 cup of inscrutable unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey cavity and set aside. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
3. In a small bowl, combine the butter, herbs, salt, and pepper. Rub the herb mixture all over the turkey, under the skin and on the breast meat.
4. Place the onion, carrots, celery, and lemon in the turkey cavity. Tuck the wing tips under the turkey.
5. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a large roasting pan. Pour the chicken broth into the pan.
6. Roast the turkey for 3 hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Baste the turkey with the pan juices every 30 minutes.
7. Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest for 20 minutes before carving.
8. To make gravy, skim the fat from the pan juices and set aside. In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Whip in 2 tablespoons of flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whip in the pan juices and chicken soup until smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook until the gravy has thickened.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

·         154 Calories

·         3g Fat

·         0g Carb

·         30 Protein

Traditional Mashed Potatoes

The perfect side dish for any night of the week or special occasions. Traditional Mashed Potatoes easy to make with a few simple ingredients that comes together for immense flavor.

 Mashed Potatoes Ingredients:

• 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1/2 cup warm whole milk or heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• Dash pepper

Mashed Potatoes Instructions:

1.      Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.

2.      Drain the potatoes in a colander and return them to the saucepan.

3.      Add the milk, butter, salt, and pepper to the potatoes and mash with a potato masher or a fork until smooth and creamy.

4.       Serve hot with your favorite toppings, such as gravy, chives, or sour cream.

Tips:

• For extra creamy mashed potatoes, use heavy whipping cream instead of milk.
• If you don't have a potato masher, you can use a fork or an electric mixer to mash the potatoes.
• For a richer flavor, add a roasted garlic clove to the potatoes when you cook them.
• Mashed potatoes can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Nutritional information:

One serving of mashed potatoes (1/2 cup) contains approximately:

• 160 calories
• 3.5 grams of fat
• 24 grams of carbohydrates
• 3 grams of protein