Pear Cranberry Crumble with Cardamom Whip

Food for the Holiday Feast

Tip-Top Turkey Extras

written by matthew brady photography by shana smith

Sweet Pineapple Stuffing

For some, stuffing is the star of the holiday meal—after all, when it’s made from scratch, the flavor possibilities are virtually endless. Here’s a sweet stuffing idea that combines pineapple and onions for a decidedly tropical twist to the traditional side dish.

Ingredients
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ cup onions,
    finely chopped
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 can crushed pineapple, in its own juice, drained
  • 2 tablespoons flat-leaf Italian parsley, finely chopped
  • 8 slices sturdy white bread, cubed

Print Recipe
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F, and spray an 11″ x 7″ baking dish or 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
  2. Melt butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add in the onions and salt, and stir occasionally, for 5–10 minutes, or until softened. Set aside to cool.
  3. Whisk eggs and sugar in a large bowl until combined. Add in the drained pineapple and parsley, and stir. Then add in the slightly cooled onions and butter mixture, and stir to combine.
  4. Add the bread cubes to the mixture, and gently toss with a large spoon until the cubes are evenly coated, without smashing the bread.
  5. Lightly spoon the stuffing into a baking dish, and evenly distribute in the pan. Cover with foil, and bake for 25 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue to bake until golden brown, approximately another 25–30 minutes. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Try your hand at this stuffing, and be sure to post photos of your side dish on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #ALMbites.

Apple and Cranberry Brine

Cranberry sauce is a staple of the Thanksgiving holiday, so why not infuse your turkey with the taste of cranberries? This brine recipe brings the flavor, balancing the berry’s tartness with apple and orange flavors, as well as spices—ensuring that your turkey will be the talk of the table.

Ingredients
  • ½ cup kosher salt
  • 2 cups apple-cranberry juice
  • 1 apple, diced
  • 3 large sprigs rosemary
  • 1 small bunch fresh thyme
  • 4 bay leaves
  • ¼ cup fresh cranberries
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon peppercorn
  • 2 oranges, sliced

Print Recipe
  1. Add 1 quart of water and salt to large pot. Bring to a simmer, and then add in all the other ingredients. Continue to simmer on low for a half hour. Set the mixture aside, and let cool completely.
  2. Put the uncooked turkey in a brining bag, and pour in the brine. Seal, set in a large pan, and place back in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours, until it’s time to prepare and cook the turkey. Make sure to turn the turkey over a few times during the brining period.
    3. Note: the brine is already salty, so there’s no need to season the turkey with salt when you prepare for baking.

Try this brine on your Thanksgiving turkey, and be sure to share photos of your feast on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #ALMbites.

For more easy-to-make recipe ideas, visit americanlifestylemag.com/recipes.

Up Next: Eat Up! Oven Delights

Posted in Article, Issue 86 Vol 1, Recipe on Sep 06, 2017