A Caribbean Thanksgiving

Not Your Grandma’s Thanksgiving (2008)

Every year my sister Janet hosts a “theme” Thanksgiving dinner. It’s fun for her because she gets to dream up new recipes and ideas, and it’s fun for the guests because it’s not the same dishes year after year. We still get to enjoy the ‘basics’ like roasted turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, but every dish is prepared with a little twist. 

At this years gathering we celebrated a “Caribbean Thanksgiving”, which included Jerk spices, exotic island flavors and a rousing game of Limbo! Thankfully we did this before we stuffed our faces.  

The Menu:
Coconut Shrimp w/ Pineapple Salsa
Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites
Caribbean Jerk Turkey
“Yo Ho” Mashed Potatoes
Buccaneer Gravy
Mango Cranberry Relish
Island Fresh Fruit Salad
Reggae Banana Chip Stuffing
Jonkanoo Seafood Salad
Grilled Veggies Abroad
Jerk Sausage Crostini
Key Lime Pie
Pirate Pumpkin Pie w/ Rum Whipping Cream
Chocolate Espresso Mini Cakes
Apple Alamode 

Janet’s Caribbean Turkey: She rubbed it first with olive oil, salt, pepper and Jamaican Jerk seasoning. It was stuffed with fresh limes, celery, onions, garlic and quartered butter cubes (about 8)… then followed with a quick wash of soy sauce. She then covered the wings and tips of the drum sticks and covered the entire turkey with foil, making sure to baste every hour. The turkey was 22.5 pounds to start, and ended up being over 25 after stuffing!

Photos of the delicious, family fun day!

Cody & Chace Cutting Pineapple

Kindal & Chace, Bacon Wrapped Pineapple

Uncooked Bacon Pineapple Bites

Pirate Decor

Table Settings

Janet and Cody. Done Cooking!

Kindal and Chace

Limbo Time! Janet, Kindal, Chace, Paul, Trevor and Laur!

Thankfully we did this before eating!

The Menu

Janet and her delicious Caribbean Jerk Turkey.

Peter gets carving!

Reggae Stuffing

Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites

Jerk Sausage Crostini

It’s time to eat!

Chow Time!

Happy Cody! With piles of food and Jade.

Paul with Chocolate Espresso Mini Cakes

STUFFED and very grateful indeed!

Leftovers – Stuffing Frittata

This is my favorite “Thanksgiving Leftover” recipe and I also use it when it’s not the day after turkey day! An easy-to-do frittata for breakfast or brunch.

Stuffing Frittata

–Ingredients 

Cooking spray
2 cups leftover stuffing 

1 cup of diced leftover turkey
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
8 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon ground fresh nutmeg
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan 

Pinch of red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

–Directions

Preheat oven to 400

Coat an ovenproof nonstick skillet with cooking spray.

Place over medium heat (on stovetop).

Mix stuffing and turkey in a bowl, then put mixture in the bottom of pan to warm through.

Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over top.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, 1 tablespoon of parsley (save the rest for later), red pepper flakes, and nutmeg. Add salt and pepper to taste… it depends on how much seasoning was used in the stuffing.

Pour egg mixture over stuffing and cheese to cover stuffing. Sprinkle Parmesan over top.

Carefully transfer to preheated oven.

Bake until the eggs are set and the sides have puffed up a little bit and cheese is golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. 

Cool before cutting.

Sprinkle with remaining fresh parsley.

Remember: This isn’t just for “Thanksgiving Leftovers”. I’ve made it with good old Stovetop stuffing on a lovely Spring day. It’s fun, easy and super tasty!