Tips & Recipes for a Gluten Free Thanksgiving

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gluten free thanksgiving dishes

‘Twas the week of Thanksgiving,
And all through the store,
People were shopping,
For just one ingredient more.
They searched and they searched,
But the shelves were all bare,
they started to stress,
since their guests would soon be there! 
Shopping was harder,
Than they remembered it to be,
because this year their guests
were gluten free! 
Tried as they might
To make the perfect holiday meal,
some gluten free tips and recipes
can make the holiday no big deal!

Yes, I’m in the holiday spirit, so much so I’m waxing on poetically! The holidays are coming and while they may look different this year, I still have a baking list that is longer than I am tall.

It may be your first gluten free holiday, or first time hosting gluten free guests. It may even be your first time hosting Thanksgiving – at all. It can be stressful, but if you have your recipes ready it can be a breeze! I’ve included some of my favorite holiday tips below, as well as some recipes from some other great gluten free bloggers.

Here’s to a stress free Gluten Free Thanksgiving!

Here are my two ways to make a delicious Turkey for Thanksgiving:

Traditional Roast Turkey with a roasting rack: 

Ingredients:

  • 1 Turkey, 10 lbs or more
  • 1 stick of butter melted
  • 32 Oz Turkey or Chicken Stock
  • salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees
  2. Remove the giblets from the turkey, and other parts you don’t want like the tail etc. Rinse and completely try your bird.
  3. Cover the skin with salt and pepper, rub it into the skin.
  4. With a flavor injector, inject melted butter under the skin of the breasts and into the thigh pieces.
  5. Place your Turkey on the rack in your roasting pan, breasts up
  6. Pour your stock in the bottom of the pan
  7. Cover your pan with tin foil, and place on the lowest rack available in your oven.
  8. Cook 15 minutes for every pound your bird is. Baste with pan juices every 30-45 minutes.
  9. When your bird reaches 180 degrees remove from the oven and let sit for 30 minutes before carving!

Without a Roasting Rack or Flavor Injector – Inverted Bird Method! aka Surgery Method

Ingredients:

  • 1 Turkey, 10 lbs or more
  • 1/2 stick of butter, softened
  • 1 tbsp Fresh Rosemary
  • 1 tbsp Fresh Thyme
  • salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees
  2. Remove the giblets from the turkey, and other parts you don’t want like the tail etc. Rinse and completely try your bird.
  3. Cover the skin with salt and pepper, rub it into the skin.
  4. With a knife slowly cut a slit at the bottom of the bird near the breasts. With your hand carefully separate the skin above each breasts – try not to tear it.
  5. Once the skin is off the breast, rub in your softened butter, rosemary and thyme.
  6. Place the turkey in a large baking dish (13×9 casserole dish is fine if it fits). Put the bird in BREAST DOWN!
  7. Bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees – this will help seal the butter and herbs back in the bird and close the cuts you made.
  8. Reduce your temperature to 325 degrees. Cook 15 minutes for every pound your bird is. Baste with pan juices every 30-45 minutes.
  9. When your bird reaches 180 degrees remove from the oven and let sit for 30 minutes before carving!

Tips for a Reduced Stress Holiday Feast:

  1. Get your ingredients at least 2 or 3 days before the holiday! If your turkey is frozen you may need that long for it to thaw properly! This also keeps you from running
  2. Pat your bird down with paper towel and make sure the skin is dry before you season it and put it in the oven – this will make sure you get a crispy skin!
  3. Remove your jewelry, watch etc before you start working with the bird – trust me cleaning your jewelry later is going to be more of a pain than you want!
  4. Have all of your recipes and ingredients set out and ready to go. The French call this mise en place – I call it being organized. When you’re prepping your turkey have everything ready, that way you wont be touching a ton of stuff with raw poultry on your hands.
  5. Use those coupons if you have them! Save on the most common ingredients.
  6. Make sure your Turkey is 180 degrees, but don’t hit the bone when you’re taking the temperature.
  7. Use Corn starch to thicken your gravy! No one will know the difference.
  8. DO NOT STUFF your bird! It doesn’t cook evenly, and you have a higher chance of getting food poisoning.
  9. Baste your bird every 30-45 minutes. Make sure it doesn’t dry out :).
  10. Cook/Prep as much as you can ahead of time! Spend some time with your family and friends.
  11. Make sure that turkey hits 180 degrees! Check the breast meat and the thigh. Food poisoning does not make a happy holiday make!
  12. Your feast doesn’t have to be fancy or gourmet. The reason for the feast is to celebrate family and what we’re thankful for – if you like it, buy it or make it the family time is more important!

What is your tip for making your Thanksgiving Feast?

Our Thanksgiving Meal –  Homemade Turkey, Home Canned Cranberry Sauce, Basil Carrots, Gluten Free Stuffing, and Turkey Gravy.

What will be on your plate for Thanksgiving? Maybe you need a little help finding the right gluten free recipe for your feast! Check out some great Holiday Recipes from Gluten Free Bloggers. Some are more traditional than others, and all are gluten free!

Holiday Breakfast Ideas!

Main Courses

Breads

Appetizers and Starters

Side Dishes

Desserts & Sweet Treats

Holiday Cocktails & Drinks

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