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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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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
Holding on to summer just a little longer with thi Holding on to summer just a little longer with this easy peach and blackberry filo galette! 🍑 A delicious, almost effortless fruit dessert with layers of crispy filo, topped with sweet peaches and tart blackberries! 😋 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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#fruitdessert #peachdessert #peaches #baking @fillofactory #bakingtime #sweettreats #bakingfromscratch  #bakingwithfruit #filo #fillofactory #bakedwithlove #dessert #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #gastronomia #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #easybake #onthetable #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
Summer ruffled filo custard pie with juicy nectari Summer ruffled filo custard pie with juicy nectarines 🍑 A fun and easy recipe to make with crispy filo pastry, an aromatic vanilla custard and slices of nectarines or other stone fruit, tucked in between the creases of filo.  So, so good! 😋🧡🍑
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.🧡A new recipe, in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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🧡Recipe linked in profile and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 👩🏻‍🍳

#summerdesserts #fruitdesserts #baking @fillofactory #bakingtime #sweettreats #bakingfromscratch  #bakingwithfruit #filo #fillofactory #bakedwithlove #dessert #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #gastronomia #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #easybake #onthetable #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
Greek stuffed tomatoes and peppers with rice, flav Greek stuffed tomatoes and peppers with rice, flavorful aromatics and plenty of extra virgin olive oil - one of my favorite summer dishes, so delicious, especially when served with roasted potatoes and feta cheese on the side! 💛🍅 🫑☀️#gemista
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✨Recipe linked in bio! 👩🏻‍🍳🍷
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#greekvegetarian #stuffedtomatoes #vegetarian #mediterraneandiet  #greekcuisine #greekfoodblogger #foodfromgreece  #mygreektable #greekcooking #mediterraneanliving #huffposttaste #yahoofood #bonappetitmag #buzzfeedfood #epicurious #yummy #feedyoursoul #zagat #dailyfoodfeed #saveurmag #thefeedfeed #appetitejournal #marilenaskitchen
Mediterranean Roasted Vegetable Strudel - a delici Mediterranean Roasted Vegetable Strudel - a delicious treat with layers of crispy filo pastry, a flavorful filling of seasonal roasted vegetables, plenty of fresh herbs and cheeses! 😋 So, so good! 🥕🍆🍠🧄🌶️ 
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🧡A new recipe, in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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🧡Recipe linked in profile and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 👩🏻‍🍳
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#savorybaking #filo #filopastry #filopastry #strudel #appetizer @fillofactory #bakingtime #fromscratch #yummydish #mediterraneanrecipes  #vegetarianappetizers #thefeedfeed #mushrooms #bakingathome #feedfeedbaking #foodblogfeed #fillofactory #makeitdelicious #foodstyling #myfoodphotography #buzzfeedfood #buzzfeast #photooftheday #yummyfood #realfood #eattheworld  #foodphotography #foodiesfeed #heresmyfood #thebakefeedfeed #marilenaskitchen
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