With so many amazing ingredients to choose from, creating a traditional Thanksgiving feast can be a daunting task. But with the right Thanksgiving recipes, it can be a smooth ride.

Thanksgiving is the perfect day to celebrate with your loved ones. It’s a time when you spend quality time with your friends and relatives. And it’s also a great opportunity to cook up a feast and enjoy every single moment together. Because good food is truly worth sharing together.

If you are looking for ideas on how to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal, then you came to the right place. In this article, we will help you find some easy-to-follow recipes that you can try out.

So here goes… find the most mouth-watering recipes for you to enjoy this holiday season.

Turkey: the Ultimate Roasted Bird

First, let’s talk about the main dish. I know that many of you will be making a roast turkey on Thanksgiving Day, but what recipe to follow?

One of the most popular Thanksgiving foods is turkey. It is the centerpiece of the holiday meal. The goal is tender and flavorful meat. Turkey has a reputation for being dry, but that all comes down to overcooking.

If you do want to roast your own turkey, the best advice for making sure you don’t end up with dry meat is to take a bit of time in the kitchen to ensure you get the most out of your bird.

My recipe calls for using a meat thermometer, not stuffing the turkey, and making sure to let it rest to make sure it is cooked perfectly. That and a lot of sage for added flavor.

Mashed Potatoes: the King of Side Dishes

Potatoes are such simple ingredients. But that might be why they are so amazingly versatile. After all, there are a million ways to cook a potato. Mashed just happens to be the method of choice for Thanksgiving.

For Thanksgiving recipes, this one is super easy to prepare. It takes very little effort to cook up a batch of these luxurious potatoes.

Peel the potatoes (or thoroughly scrub them if you want skins in the mashed potatoes), and toss them into a large pot of water to boil. Cook the potatoes until tender.

After boiling the potatoes, drain them and allow them to cool off. Then peel and mash the potatoes with a potato masher, fork, or hand mixer. Add in some butter and cream. Mmmmmm.

Gravy: A Great Sauce for All Food

Gravy is an essential part of my Thanksgiving recipes. Plus you start it off by making a roux, the namesake of my website!

Gravy is a great condiment that adds extra flavor to foods. And, unless you are like my wife who detests even the thought of gravy (idk how…), it can go over almost anything.

Gravy is one of the most versatile sauces out there. It is the most versatile because it is so simple. You only need 3 ingredients to make gravy: fat, flour, and liquid. Then add in a few other things for more flavor – garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. That’s all you really need.

Use drippings from the turkey if possible, otherwise a solid turkey or chicken stock will work fine.

After making the roux, add in drippings or turkey/chicken stock and salt and pepper it to taste. Then stir until smooth. Now lather it over all those delicious potatoes and turkey slices.

Dinner Rolls: Bread with a Little Twist

Dinner rolls are a staple in American households. And this roll recipe comes from my mom and was one of my favorites from growing up. She would always make huge batches and then we’d have rolls for days. Perfection!

In this case, we’ll be making dinner rolls from scratch. But, the process is very similar to making basic white bread. And that means we’ll be making yeast dough and baking it in the oven.

What makes this particular dinner roll recipe unique is the way that it includes a big twist – literally.

Instead of just making dough balls and packing them together in a pan to cook, this dough is rolled out, cut, and then twisted together like an XL-sized garlic knot. Just without any added garlic butter or parm on top. Trust me, they’re still delicious and pillowy soft inside.

Glazed Carrots: A Sweet Side Dish

Carrots are a great side veggie. They have a naturally sweet flavor and a nice crunch to them.

Start them off by building the glaze in a large frying pan. Honey, brown sugar, spices, and broth. They combine for a spiced sweet glaze that’ll really complement the flavors of the carrots themselves.

Then just add the carrots and let them cook until perfectly tender. It’s as simple as that.

Glazed carrots are one of those side dishes that almost everyone likes. They are simple, sweet, and go well with everything.

You can serve it by itself, or you could add some nuts, raisins, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, etc. to make it more interesting.

Salad: Fall Flavors with Greens

There are many different kinds of salads you can prepare. And on a day when it has to compete with all of the other Thanksgiving recipes, you don’t want a plain, bland salad.

Now, let’s mix it up with this fall-flavored salad.

First, we’ll be starting with an interesting dressing. This salad has a mustard-maple dressing that gives hints of fall flavor in a warm almost honey-mustard flavor.

Next, we’ll be adding in some greens. Whatever mix of greens you have available will work. I tend to use a spring mix, even though it isn’t springtime…

Add in some pomegranate seeds, pecans, cheese, apples, and pears.

This salad is very simple. It doesn’t really need much else. But you can always play around with the ingredients to see what you think. You can use any combination of lettuce you like.

Punch: Mixed Drink for All Ages

This recipe comes courtesy of my wife’s family. It was one of their Thanksgiving recipes that became a tradition. And so now we continue that tradition.

Why? Because punch is awesome and it is great to just have out for everyone to serve themselves.

Bubbly, fruity flavors make this a drink that the whole family can enjoy. Just make sure that you have a huge punch bowl ready to go.

This is a super easy recipe, just get the ingredients and pour it all together and then add a few scoops of sherbet to float on top.

Pumpkin Pie: A Classic Dessert

Now we’re ready to finish off our meal with some pie! Or maybe wait for a few hours after the meal so there is room to eat some dessert.

Pumpkin pie is one of the most popular desserts at Thanksgiving. There are so many different varieties that you can make, but here’s a recipe for pumpkin pie that everyone loves!

It is one of the most common desserts you will find in the grocery store. But I frequently find those store-bought pumpkin pies bland and lacking in complexity.

So trust me, it is definitely worth making from scratch. And, one of the best parts, you can make it the day before and then just keep it in the fridge until it’s time to serve.

Make sure to have some whipped cream on hand for topping your pie slices.

The post 8 Heavenly Recipes for a Traditional Thanksgiving appeared first on Do You Roux?.

Some are frozen drinks to cool you down, some are meals to grill outside to help keep the house cooler, and others focus on using foods that are at their peak flavor while in the summer season.

Bring summer to the table with these 10 awesome summer recipes:

1. Marinated Steak Kabobs with Chimichurri

I love summertime. And one of my favorite things to cook is grilled meats. Grilling meat over a fire makes it taste so delicious. And this recipe is perfect for grilling outdoors. Just get a grill and some sturdy skewers and you are off to the races.

This is one of my personal all-time favorite summer recipes, so I made sure to put it first on the list.

First, mix together the chimichurri sauce, which is a bright, fresh, herb-based sauce that really takes the dish to the next level in flavor. This is then added to a marinade for the meat, along with a few other ingredients.

The marinade for this dish includes ingredients like garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, herbs, and spices. This makes it perfect for serving with your favorite side dishes.

While the meat is marinating in that herbaceous mix, take the time to chop, cut, and slice the veggies and everything else for the skewers. Then assemble and grill until the meat is cooked to your liking. Note – if you are using wood skewers, then soak them beforehand.

And, if you’d rather eat a vegetarian option, try making them all vegetable skewers. You can use vegetables such as eggplant and mushrooms along with those that are already included in the recipe.

2. Easy Frozen Mint Lemonade

With summer comes heat, so you know that you have to start thinking about refreshing drinks. Nothing’s better than a frozen drink to cool you off on a hot day. And with three frozen drinks on this list, you know I mean it. If you’re looking to add to your summer recipes, then you might be interested in trying this easy frozen mint lemonade.

To make this recipe, all you need to do is mix together some ice cubes with fresh mint leaves and a peeled lemon. Then, add some sugar and water. You’ll want to blend the mixture until it becomes a smooth consistency.

Serve the drink straight away after blending so that it doesn’t melt and separate. It can still taste pretty good, but the texture will be a bit off and it won’t be quite as refreshing if the ice all melts.

Make it fun by using some green and yellow straws to complement the lemon and mint.

Most interestingly for this recipe, I peel the lemons like you would an orange. I’m not sure if many people would think to approach it this way. But it is fast, easier than juicing. And if I’m already blending it up anyway, then why not. Whenever I make frozen lemonades it is my go-to move.

3. Watermelon Feta Mint Salad

Watermelon is the epitome of summer fruit. That’s probably why I have two different watermelon recipes in this list. The combination of watermelon, mint, and feta cheese makes this dish taste delicious. You can serve it with grilled chicken or fish, or as a side dish to any summer dinner.

Salty, creamy, and sweet, You can make this watermelon feta salad to bring summer to the salad bowl. You’ll need fresh watermelon, feta cheese, and mint leaves. The best thing about this dish is how easy it is to prepare. All you have to do is chop up your ingredients, toss them together, and serve!

Though I use this watermelon salad as a side, it can also make a perfect appetizer.

If you want to add more flavor, then you can try squeezing some lime juice over the salad. Another option is to use other fruits in place of the watermelon. Try using strawberries, peaches, or nectarines instead. Just be sure that they are ripe.

You also don’t have to make the homemade watermelon dressing – I’ll be honest it does take a fair amount of effort. So feel free to substitute any dressing that will pair with the watermelon flavor.

4. Caprese Salad with a Balsamic Reduction

Caprese salads are so simple to prepare. But their simplicity is what really lets them shine. You are getting pure, fresh flavor. Because it is a simple dish, the quality of your ingredients makes a big difference in the final flavor. So make certain that you source excellent components so that every part can shine through.

Or even try using some home-grown produce where possible.

The best caprese salads have fresh mozzarella cheese, thick tomato slices, large fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil. Sprinkle a bit of salt on top at the end for added punch.

I try to kick it up a notch with a homemade balsamic glaze and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. The balsamic glaze is essentially just balsamic vinegar that has some of the water cooked out of it. So that it gets a little thicker.

This is great to make as an appetizer for a large gathering because it is easy to make a large platter.

5. Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Kabobs

Summer is here, and it makes it lovely to cook outside. So once again I bust out the grill to make some kabobs. Kabobs are just so versatile for all your summer recipes. You select the main protein (shrimp in this case) and then add any vegetables or fruits to cook alongside it on the grill.

Just skewer everything up and get to cooking.

To fully lean in to the ‘summer’ of these summer recipes, I pair these shrimp kabobs with a sweet coconut sauce. Great for dipping your shrimp or drizzling it over a bed of rice.

These kabobs cook quite quickly, so we’ll make sure they won’t dry out by using a marinade on the shrimp. Plus, it’ll also infuse even more coconut into the dish.

6. Pesto Pizza Pasta Salad

Pizza is one of the most popular foods in the U.S. for good reason. So why not mix things up with another summer recipe favorite – the pasta salad. If you’re looking for a new recipe that’s perfect for summer, then this pesto pizza pasta salad might be just the thing that you’ve been searching for.

This dish combines the three P’s: pizza, pesto, and pasta. The combination makes for an incredibly tasty meal. And I highly recommend checking out my recipe for homemade basil pesto to make this dish.

This recipe assumes you’ll be starting with prepared pesto, whether homemade or store-bought. Then, get to cooking that pasta. I like using rotini pasta since it seems to hold on to the sauce and some of the cheese really well. But you can honestly use whatever variety you prefer most.

Remember that it is for a pasta salad though.

With the pesto and pasta ready, it all comes down to mixing everything together in a tasty summer concoction.

7. Simple Watermelon Limeade Freeze

Another frozen drink, and certainly not the last. And this one’s so good you’ll probably want to make sure you have enough ingredients on hand to make more than one batch. Because it goes fast, especially when it’s warm out.

This recipe also uses summer’s favorite fruit – the watermelon. This time in a sweeter fashion than the more savory-focused salad. If you’re looking for a different citrus-based refreshment, then try my rainbow lemonade recipe.

Always use freshly-squeezed lime juice. I promise you it is better than any type of concentrate from a container. Even though I’ve been known to turn to those in desperate times on occasion…

This is a great summer treat that’s easy to prepare and it will keep you cool throughout the day. Which I really envy with my air conditioning being out during this current heat wave.

I like serving this in a tall glass and, if I’m feeling real fancy, garnishing the top of the drink with a slice of lime and a skewer of fresh watermelon.

8. How to Make Guacamole

For me, guacamole is like getting ice cream at Cold Stone. You smash together the avocados and then choose all of your mix-ins. And while the base itself is really good, the mix-ins help determine your final flavor profile. This is how to make the best possible guacamole that is tailored to your own tastes.

Making guacamole isn’t difficult. The first step is to choose everything you’d want inside and then prepare all of the ingredients. Then, you need to mash the avocado. Finally, you simply combine everything into the avocado bowl and give it a good stir.

You can serve guacamole as an appetizer, snack, or even as a side dish along with the meal. But, in my mind, it goes best as an appetizer with tortilla chips. Use ripe avocados and fresh lime juice for the best flavor possible.

Guacamole is delicious. It’s creamy and tangy, with just the right amount of spice. This summer recipe is all about getting creative, so try adding different ingredients until you find your favorite flavor combo.

9. The Best Black Cherry BBQ Sauce

A good sauce can complete a meal. And for summer recipes the typical go-to is usually a sweet and tangy bbq sauce. If you have a grill outside, then you should definitely give this recipe a go. You’ll be amazed by how delicious the results will turn out.

I originally wanted to make my own barbecue sauce because so many of the commercially available sauces relied on corn syrup. I’m not totally against it as an ingredient, but I wanted a sauce that used molasses and brown sugar to sweeten it.

And, when I looked at a lot of other barbecue sauce recipes, they tend to use ketchup as the base. Ketchup has never been my favorite, so I wanted to start off with crushed tomatoes and tomato paste.

I’m also a sucker for anything with black cherry flavor. So I definitely didn’t impulse buy 100% black cherry juice when I saw it at the store and then have to retroactively come up with a recipe to justify having made the purchase.

I’d never do that.

10. Easy Family Friendly Piña Colada

To round out the list we finally have our last frozen drink. Perfect for keeping cool and bringing on all of the summer vibes.

If you’re looking for an easy way to enjoy your summer vacation, then you need to start thinking about how you can turn pineapple and coconut into a refreshing drink. And for this family-friendly version, we won’t be using any alcohol.

Just that pure pineapple-coconut flavor. The epitome of lounging on the beach with a drink in your hand and the ocean waves lulling you into a calm afternoon nap. All distilled into a simple drink.

And, luckily, the ingredient list isn’t too complicated. Just make sure you can get your hands on some lusciously-sweet cream of coconut.

Frozen drink perfection? Maybe. Though I’d probably have to set up a bracket and let it contend with my frozen butterbeer to see which is the true winner.

So, choose your favorite summertime recipes from this list and try making them at home. Then, tell me what you think. Which of all of these is your favorite? Any iconic summer recipes that are missing? Let me know in the comments.

The post 10 Awesome Summer Recipes to Try This Year appeared first on Do You Roux?.

I want to thank everyone who has tried out a recipe, visited the site, followed, liked, commented, and everything in between. Support has been wonderful and it is amazing to see others enjoying my recipes.

I’ve had a lot of fun cooking and experimenting. I still have lots to learn both in the kitchen and when posting online. But I cannot believe that it has been a year since my very first post on how to make a roux.

One year and 77 recipes – about 1.5 new recipes a week. Since that is a fair amount of recipes to sift through, I thought I’d make a list of the top ten recipes of year one.

There’s no real method to this madness. But I’ll be judging it based on my own feelings, along with including some of the most popular and most visited recipes. So, here it goes in no particular order:

#1 – Easy Brown Butter Sage Sauce

This is far and away my most popular recipe. Like, seven times as many views as second place.

All because somehow it got popular on Pinterest (note – go follow me there if you’re on Pinterest a lot!). I wish I knew why everyone loves it so much, but I’ll take it.

It truly is a simple recipe with only 3 ingredients. With a nutty, sage-filled, delicate flavor, it is best paired with something that won’t overshadow the butter. Plus, those crunchy leaves. Mmmmmm. Don’t even think about tossing the leaves out once the butter is cooked.

#2 – Perfectly Flaky Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

These buttermilk biscuits are in my top ten recipes of year one mostly because I am proud that I made them.

I have long said that I cook, but I don’t bake. Cooking to me feels comfortable and easy because you can almost always save a dish by tasting it as you go along and adding or changing as needed.

For baking, you have little control once you put it into the oven. It will either turn out, or it won’t. So I was over the moon when I opened the oven and saw these perfect little layered flaky biscuits.

#3 – Pesto Pizza Pasta Salad

I’m a sucker for alliteration, even if I’m the one who came up with it. And this recipe is just too fun to say. Try saying it ten times real fast. Pesto pizza pasta salad, petsto pizta pasta salad, pezto…

Plus it feels kind of unique and fun. And last spring it was popular for a minute on Pinterest as well, bringing in some new viewers to the site.

#4 – Buttery Salted Caramel Sauce

That picture just makes me happy. And makes me want to whip together a batch of this caramel. This one is just a personal favorite of my own. Ever since I found the basis for the recipe in a waffle and pancake cookbook years ago.

Gooey, salty, caramel. Great for topping everything from desserts to breakfasts, including ice cream, pancakes, waffles, banana bread, and more.

Just try to make it when other people will also be around. Because otherwise, a straight spoonful of caramel may be too tempting.

#5 – Hot Honey Biscuit Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Oozing with flavor, I’m a sucker for buffalo chicken. Especially in sandwich form. So, I paired it with biscuits and hot honey for a tasty combo.

For the longest time, this was also my top performer on Google search. Though it did require some pretty specific search terms, it would show up as the top result. It was recently overtaken by my fried baja shrimp burrito.

#6 – Marinated Steak Kabobs with Chimichurri

Originally inspired by another food blogger’s recipe, this became our go-to family recipe for Easter. Since one of the biggest things I love about food (besides the taste…) is sharing it with others, I love the memories of sharing this with family.

Plus, the chimichurri sauce is to die for. Truly the best way to describe it is simply fresh. Bursting with fresh herbs, it both complements and contrasts the steak and other kabob ingredients.

#7 – Fried Potato and Onion Strings

This recipe is actually a decent amount of work. But frying things will of course taste delicious. Thin potato and onion are the perfect things to batter and fry.

When I first started Do You Roux, a lot of family and friends came out to visit my initial post. Then the views dropped off a bit… so How to Make a Roux remained my top post for a long time. This fried potato and onion string recipe was the first one to surpass it in views to become my most viewed recipe. It has since been overtaken itself (see above), but it was a nice boost to see this one perform well at the time.

#8 – Family Thanksgiving Punch

Honestly, I mostly just love how the images for this one turned out. The colors, the mood. Mmm.

Plus it is a delicious party punch that comes from my wife’s family. Lots of fruit juices combine for a punch that… packs a punch. And the sherbet included as a floating treat adds even more flavor to the drink.

#9 – One-Pot Dutch Oven Garlic Roasted Whole Chicken Meal

This is a very tasty meal, but it is hard to photograph right. Honestly, I still don’t really like most photos I have of it.

Fun fact – I also had the chicken upside down for most of the cooking on accident, and I took photos of it that way. Then I realized and saw how bad those looked. So I flipped it over, tossed some seasoning (mostly smoked paprika) on top, and put it in the oven a bit longer. Then I took more photos. And it turned out ok. I guess the people of Pinterest agreed since it got fairly popular there – though maybe they mostly just like the fact that it is a one-pot meal.

#10 – Easy Instant Ramen Omelet

A ramen omelet is a childhood favorite and one that I learned to make fairly early because of its simplicity. A simple and cheap meal – but one that I’ve now realized can be dressed up a little bit.

Originally we would only make it with the ramen, seasoning packet, egg, and cheese. Now I dress it up with garlic chili sauce, green onion, soy sauce, sliced carrots, pickled red onion, and more.

So there you have it, my top 10 recipes of year one.

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