Fall is here and you know what that means — the holidays are just around the corner. Whether you’re prepping for Canadian Thanksgiving in October, American Thanksgiving in November, or a holiday get-together in December, we figured you could use some new recipes to add to your archives. The G.A.P. Team has done all of the homework for you, and here are our detailed notes for you to copy. (Don’t worry – we won’t tell the teacher.) All we ask is that you look for the G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified label when you shop for your meats and meat products. Every G.A.P.-labeled purchase you make helps impact the lives of farm animals and helps G.A.P. bring more producers into the program who are committed to changing the way our food is raised. Thank you for your continued support.
Canadian Thanksgiving
We wish all of our Canadian fans celebrating Thanksgiving a beautiful fall day filled with changing leaves, apple picking, pumpkin patch visits, and family time. We’ve hunted down some traditional Thanksgiving Recipes in the section below if you’re ready to host a big gathering with a turkey as the star and lots of accompanying side dishes. But if you’re in more of a non-traditional mood just looking for a nice family meal without turkey, we’ve got you covered as well. Especially if you have young kids, remember that enjoying a meal around a table with family and friends is what matters most – not that you’re a Michelin-Star chef. We hope this recipe round-up helps you strike a nice balance between what you envision for your table with what you have time for. Either way, give thanks on this day and reflect upon that for which you are grateful.
Pork and Chicken Recipe Ideas (mouth-watering photos below):
Pork Loin with Braised Mushrooms & Wine
Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Vegetables
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- Pork loin with mushrooms
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- Whole roasted chicken
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- Sheet-pan pork tenderloin
American Thanksgiving
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- Herb Roasted Turkey & Gravy
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- Herb Roasted Brined Turkey
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- Buttery Turkey Breasts
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- Grilled Turkey Legs
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- Turkey in One Hour
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- Turkey Meatballs
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- Turkey Roulade
Don’t forget the Sides!
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- Crispy Brussels Sprouts
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- Sausage Apple Stuffing
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- Twice Baked Potatoes
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- Green Bean Casserole
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- Louisiana Dirty Rice
Helpful Tips & Tricks
As you plan your meal, here are a few tips to keep in mind…
- Allow time to thaw. If you’re purchasing a frozen whole turkey for your meal, make sure you purchase it with plenty of time to thaw in the refrigerator. The rule is 24 hours of thawing time for every 5 lbs of turkey. So, if you’re getting a big turkey, plan to purchase it several days in advance.
- Make sure you have enough. How do you know what size turkey to get? A good rule of thumb is to plan on 1 pound per person if you’re cooking a whole turkey – and 1.5 lbs per person if you’d like to have leftovers.
- Don’t overcook your turkey. We always recommend a meat thermometer when you’re cooking — insert the tip into the meatiest part of the breast and make sure it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit before removing it from the oven. A good rule of thumb is 10-12 lb turkeys = 3 hours; 12-16 lb turkeys = 3-4 hours; 16-20 lb turkeys = 4-4.5 hours; 20-24 lb turkeys = 4.5-5 hours.
Want more? We produced a Thanksgiving Turkey Guide in 2020 with even more Thanksgiving recipes and helpful tips. You can flip through and download it here.
