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Thanksgiving Day Favorites

November 22, 2016 by Marilena Leavitt Leave a Comment

gather with a grateful heart

I cannot believe it that Thanksgiving is just a few days away!  Every year, my family starts the planning for this special meal the week before Thanksgiving by gathering various cookbooks, loose recipe cut-outs with copious notes on them, and, many old handwritten recipes.  My husband then starts putting together the menu and the grocery list and I make the prep schedule for the days ahead.  Typically, we try a couple of new dishes each year, but we always go back to certain favorites that we make almost every year.  Here are some of my family’s favorite Thanksgiving dishes that I would like to share with you today!

Wishing you all a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!

I am very thankful for all of you who visit my blog, read my posts, and try my recipes!

APPETIZERS:

Baked Brie with Fig Jam

baked brie

Bacon Wrapped Dates with Asiago Cheese

Bacon Wrapped Dates 2

Potted Port Wine Cheese Spread 

port wine cheese spread

MAIN COURSE:

Dry-Brined Herb Roasted Turkey

how to dry brine a turkey

 

Ina Garten’s Make-Ahead Gravy

ina-garten-gravy-recipe

SOUPS:

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

roasted butternut squash soup sq

Creamy Carrot and Ginger Soup

carrot ginger soup

Sweet Potato Soup

sweet potato soup

SIDES:

Make-Ahead Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

parmesan cheesy mashed potatoes

Green Beans with Sautéed Shallots

Green beans with shallots

Maple-Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Orange and Cranberries

maple glazed sweet potatoes

BREADS:

Buttermilk Biscuits

buttermilk drop biscuits

Honey-Wheat Dinner Rolls

honey wheat dinner rolls

DESSERTS:

The Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie!Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

 

Easy Pear Torte

easy-pear-tart-marilenaskitchen

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

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Filed Under: Recipe Roundups Tagged With: buttermilk drop biscuits, How to dry brine a turkey, thanksgiving, thanksgiving menu, Thanksgiving pies, Thanksgiving recipes, Thanksgiving sides

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Marilena Leavitt

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Crispy, buttery Pistachio Filo “Bird Nests”: a del Crispy, buttery Pistachio Filo “Bird Nests”: a delightful, two-bite treat that is fun to make and completely foolproof even for the beginner baker!  Golden brown filo, pistachio nuts and a lemony, simple syrup, make a light and delicious Mediterranean dessert! 😋🧡
✨New recipe, in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory - recipe linked in bio! ✨
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#springdessert #filodessert #smallbatchbaking #Mediterraneandessert #easydessert
A simple Greek Easter menu, highlighting some of m A simple Greek Easter menu, highlighting some of my favorite Easter recipes! 🐣 

Braided Easter bread (tsoureki), ✨ Feta cheese filo triangles (tiropitakia), ✨Classic Greek spring salad (maroulosalata), ✨Lemon & garlic roasted potatoes, ✨ Succulent Greek lamb in parchment paper, ✨orange custard filo ruffled pie! ✨ 
Kalo Pascha to all my Greek friends who are celebrating Easter this Sunday! 🐣
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✨Find all the recipes on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com], linked in profile! ✨
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#GreekEaster #Easterrecipes #greekfood #Greekrecipes #greeklamb
Kleftiko-Style, oven roasted Greek lamb with potat Kleftiko-Style, oven roasted Greek lamb with potatoes - an iconic, rustic, Greek recipe for lamb marinated in lemon, garlic and olive oil, wrapped in parchment paper and slow-cooked in the oven! 💙🇬🇷 A simple method of cooking that results in succulent, well-seasoned, melt-in-your-mouth lamb! 😋🍷
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✨New recipe, linked in profile! Check out my blog [marilenaskitchen.com] ✨👩🏻‍🍳
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#greeklamb #kleftiko #easterlamb #greekcuisine #mediterraneanfood
Mini filo bundles filled with minced corned beef, Mini filo bundles filled with minced corned beef, caramelized cabbage, leeks, potatoes and carrots and served with whole grain mustard. A delicious two-bite treat that we can make with all those delicious leftovers from St. Patrick’s day! 😋🧡 So, so good! 
This new recipe is a collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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—> 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe linked in profile & on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 
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#filoappetizer #fillofactory #filopastry #cornedbeefandcabbage  #Mediterraneanrecipe
Easy Cherry Strudel with filo pastry - a delicious Easy Cherry Strudel with filo pastry - a delicious fruit dessert that can be made ahead of time and is ready to enjoy in under an hour! 😋A box of filo pastry, cherries (fresh or frozen) and a couple of basic baking ingredients is all you need to make this perfect, not too sweet treat! 
This new recipe is a collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🍒
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—> 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe linked in profile & on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 
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#dessert #fillofactory #filopastry #valentinesdessert #fruitdessert
Braised Fennel and Sausage Filo Tart, a super flav Braised Fennel and Sausage Filo Tart, a super flavorful, savory dish that pairs classic Mediterranean flavors with a light, crispy filo pastry base that is easy to assemble! So, so good! 😋This new recipe is a collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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—> 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe linked in profile & on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 
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#Savorytart #fillofactory #filopastry #fennel  #Mediterraneanrecipe
Classic Mediterranean, vegetarian meals: easy, ad Classic Mediterranean, vegetarian meals:  easy, adaptable recipes, using simple & nutrient dense ingredients!  Perfect for weeknight meals, these recipes are tasty, super flavorful and very satisfying! 😋🌿🥣
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✨Recipes are linked in bio ✨New post on the blog: ➡️Marilenaskitchen.com 👩🏻‍🍳
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#mediterraneanrecipes #healthyrecipes #Greek #familymeals #vegetarianrecipes
Traditional Greek roasted potatoes! A classic Gree Traditional Greek roasted potatoes! A classic Greek recipe for incredibly tasty potatoes with just a few ingredients! 🥔 🍋 🧄 🌿 The potatoes come out of the oven golden brown on the outside and soft, tender and creamy inside! So good! 😋
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✨Ingredients:✨
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* 2½ lbs. medium-sized potatoes
* ⅓ cup Greek extra virgin olive oil
* 3-4 medium garlic cloves, peeled 
* 1½ lemons (zest and juice)
* 1 tsp. dried Greek oregano
* 1 tsp. sea salt
* ½ tsp. freshly ground pepper
* 1 tsp. mustard 
* ½ cup hot water
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 ✨Full recipe linked in bio and on the blog: Marilenaskitchen.com 👩🏻‍🍳✨
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#vegetarian #roastedpotatoes #greekpotatoes #greekrecipe mediterraneanrecipes #potatoes
Some of my favorite holiday baking recipes: Greek Some of my favorite holiday baking recipes: Greek almond shortbread cookies (kourabiedes), chocolate peppermint bark, honey-drenched orange & warm spice cookies (melomakarona), soft almond macaroons (amygdalota) and many more treats! 🎄✨🎄✨
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✨New post linked in bio and in stories! ✨
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#christmascookies #holidaybaking #greekcookies #melomakarona #kourabiedes
Artichoke and Graviera Cheese Filo Puffs - the per Artichoke and Graviera Cheese Filo Puffs - the perfect bite-sized appetizers for all your holiday entertaining needs! Greek Graviera cheese, artichoke hearts and a box of filo pastry shells are all you need to make this flavorful and fuss-free appetizer in minutes!
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✨A new recipe in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory ✨ Recipe linked in profile! 👩🏻‍🍳✨
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#appetizers #holidayappetizers #homebaking @fillofactory #filopastry #artichokes #graviera #easyrecipe #makeahead #cocktails  #fingerfood
Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Crispy Filo Topping - a g Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Crispy Filo Topping - a great way to repurpose those turkey leftovers and transform them into an entirely new meal! 😋 This is a lighter alternative to the usual crust you would find on a traditional chicken pot pie and is much easier to assemble! 🍁This is a collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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—> 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe linked in my profile and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 
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#turkeypotpie #filopastry @fillofactory #cookingwithfilo #thanksgivingleftovers
As the countdown to Thanksgiving begins, here are As the countdown to Thanksgiving begins, here are some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes and last minute ideas: easy appetizers, buttermilk biscuits, sherry sweet potatoes, make-ahead gravy, a foolproof dry-brined turkey, cranberry & orange relish and a heavenly pumpkin pie! 🦃🥧 
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🍂 New blog post with all recipes is linked in bio! 🍂 
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#thanksgivingrecipes #favoriterecipes #turkeyrecipe #thanksgivingsides #thanksgivingdinner #familyrecipes
Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Caramelized Fennel, a Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Caramelized Fennel, a surprisingly easy and uncomplicated fall dish to make! 🧡
A flavorful filling of caramelized mushrooms, onions and fresh herbs compliment so well the lean protein of the tenderloin! 😋🧡
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🍂Recipe linked in profile and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 🍂👩🏻‍🍳
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#easydinners #porktenderloinrecipe #fennel #falldinner #recipe #homecooking #comfortfood #healthyfood #dinnerathome #mediterraneanfoods #proteinmeals 
#weeknightmeals #buzzfeedfood #feedyoursoul #dailyfoodfeed #marilenaskitchen
Some of my favorite squash recipes to make this fa Some of my favorite squash recipes to make this fall: 🍂Roasted butternut squash, apple & shallot soup,🍂hearty fall salads,🍂creamy risotto,🍂crispy filo strudel, 🍂hearty breakfast and, 🍂yummy desserts! All seasonal and so delicious! 😋🧡
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. 🍂Get the recipe roundup in my profile and on my blog: [Marilenaskitchen.com]🍂👩🏻‍🍳
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#fallrecipes #squashrecipes #mediterranean #comfortfood #realfood #eattherainbow #healthyeating #homemade #squash #dinner #recipes #marilenaskitchen
Crispy kataifi rolls with caramelized pears, walnu Crispy kataifi rolls with caramelized pears, walnuts, warm spices and a drizzle of honey syrup! 😋 The flavorful pear filling comes together in minutes, small kataifi pastry bundles are wrapped around it and then baked until golden brown! A perfect little fall dessert! 🍁🍐🍂 This is a collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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—> 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe linked in my profile, you can find it on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 
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#kataifi #peardessert #falldesserts #baking @fillofactory #bakingtime #sweettreats #bakingfromscratch  #bakingwithfruit #filo #fillofactory #bakedwithlove #dessert #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #gastronomia #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #easybake #onthetable #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
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