Microwave Thanksgiving

Microwave Thanksgiving

 

 I was thinking about my Cousin Carol. She is working on Thanksgiving and then most likely going up to the nursing home for dinner with her mom and dad.

Carol lives in an apartment about her mom so she can take care of her. It’s not a real apartment so it has no real kitchen.

Her main source of cooking is the microwave.

I decided she deserved a homemade Thanksgiving not just the nursing home version so I did some research and came up with a complete Thanksgiving meal that she can prepare if she wants to do it. If you are in a similar situation and only have basics maybe just a microwave I hope what I found will be a help to you as well if you want to celebrate Thanksgiving at home this year.

Below are the recipes:

TURKEY IN MICROWAVE

12 lb. turkey

1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning

1/2 c. onion, chopped

2 tbsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. paprika

1 tbsp. olive oil

Directions:

Rub the cavity of the turkey with 1/4 teaspoon of the poultry seasoning; put the chopped onion in the cavity. Tie legs together and tuck the wing tips under the bird.

Combine the soy sauce, paprika and oil in a small bowl. Brush the underside of the turkey with 1/2 of this mixture. Put the turkey in an oven cooking bag. Tie the bag using string, leaving an opening about the size of a quarter for steam to escape.

Place the turkey breast side down in a large rectangular dish and microwave it on high for 15 minutes. Rotate the dish half a turn and cook the bird on high for 15 minutes more before removing it.

Pour off the juices into a saucepan and reserve. Turn the turkey breast side up and brush with the remaining soy sauce mixture. Close the bag loosely again and microwave the turkey on high for 15 minutes. Pour off the juices into the saucepan.

Let the turkey stand for 20 minutes. Test for doneness by piercing a thigh with the tip of a sharp knife; the juices should run clear. If they do not, microwave the bird on high for 5-10 minutes more. Serves 12. 378 calories per serving. 10 grams fat per serving. 369 mg sodium per serving.

EASY MICROWAVE TURKEY BREAST

1 turkey breast

1/4 c. butter, softened

1 tsp. dried tarragon

1/4 tsp. celery seed

½ Package Onion Soup Mix

Directions:

Mix together butter, herbs, onion and Kitchen Bouquet to make a paste. Spread liberally over turkey breast.

Stuffing just get some ready to mix it’s easy to make in the microwave

Mashed potatoes are easy too. Put about four peeled and cut into quarters in a sealed baggie and put in the microwave for five minutes. Then just take out and mash them the way you like them

If you want sweet potatoes I like the Bob Evens Sweet Potatoes. They are great and ready to go into the microwave.

If you want corn or another vegetable a small steam bag is a good choice.

Green Bean Casserole :

1 small can of green beans or ¾ cup of frozen defrosted.

¼ cup of milk

½ can of mushroom soup

1/3 cup of French fried onions

Directions:

Combine beans, milk, soup, pepper and 1/2 of the onions. Pour into dish.

Cook covered on high 8-10 minutes.

Turn and stir halfway through if you don’t have a turntable in the microwave.

Top with remaining onions; cook uncovered on high 1 minute. Let stand 5 minutes.

2 servings.

Now it’s time for desert yup in the microwave!

MICROWAVE BUNDT CAKE

3 eggs, beaten

1 (20 oz.) can cherry pie filling

1 (18 oz.) pudding cake mix, yellow, white or devils food (if using devils food add 1 tsp. almond extract)

Using electric mixer, blend all ingredients well. Grease microwave Bundt cake pan heavily with butter - do not flour. Add batter evenly. Cook on full power 12 1/2 or 13 1/2 minutes; turn pan half way through cooking time.

Let cool 30 minutes before turning over to serving plate. Use your favorite icing - canned or otherwise - cream cheese icing is good with white or yellow, chocolate icing with devils food.

MICROWAVE AMARETTO BUNDT CAKE

Cinnamon-sugar mixture

1/2 c. ground pecans

1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix

1 (3 3/4 oz.) pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix

4 eggs

1/2 c. oil

1/2 c. Amaretto

1/2 c. water

Lightly butter and microwave Bundt pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. Pour pecans on bottom of pan. Blend cake and pudding mix in food processor (or with mixer). Add eggs, oil, water and Amaretto. Beat in processor 1 1/2 to 2 minutes (or 4 minutes in mixer). Pour batter into pan. Cover with waxed paper. Elevate cake on a rack. Microwave 50% power for 15 minutes. Then microwave high power 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool. Do not remove from pan. Poke holes in cake with a skewer. 1/2 c. sugar 1/4 c. Amaretto 1/4 c. water

In bowl melt butter for 1 minute on high power. Add sugar, Amaretto and water. Bring to boil on high power for 2 minutes. Pour over cake. Let totally cool. Invert onto serving dish.

MICROWAVE GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

1/4 c. butter

1 pkg. Betty Crocker coconut pecan frosting mix

1/4 c. milk

1 Betty Crocker Super Moist German chocolate cake mix

3 eggs

1 1/3 c. water

Melt butter (1 minute full power) in 4 cup glass measuring cup. Add frosting mix and milk and blend well. Pour into a microwave 12-cup Bundt pan that has been sprayed with Pam. Blend cake mix, eggs and water and pour into Bundt pan.

Cook at Power Level 7 (medium high or 70% power) for 11 minutes and full power for 1 minute. Use turn table or turn cake 3 to 4 times during cooking. Let cake cool in pan 15 to 20 minutes.

The German Chocolate Bunt Cake is in honor of my cousin Carol. She has good memories of our Aunt Marie making this cake for her.

I hope this helps anyone out there that wants a nice at home dinner this year and the microwave is the only choice to make it.

Happy Thanksgiving!