Our family isn't your traditional family when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. Sure we enjoy ham and turkey like everyone else but we like to dress our turkeys with something a little different! While all the other moms are out buying crannberries I'm sitting here with summer fruit feeling like a total winner! That's right, we don't do the cranberry thing around here! We like to dress up our turkey with some good ole raspberry and blueberry sauce!
This year I was inspired by a Citrus Cranberry Sauce Recipe I saw on the Hefty site. I love fresh berry sauce, and I love citrus so I figured if it works for cranberries, it should work for my blueberries and raspberries as well. Cranberries aren't the only ones who get to have all the fun!
Now it's only the first week in November, so why would I already be prepping Thanksgiving foods? Is it just for show? Uh, no! This mama is planning ahead. That's right. I have decided to start marking certain recipes off the list before the big day. Why? Well, mainly because I love Thanksgiving and as much as I love the cooking and chatting I also like to offer LOTS of foods. If I waited until the day of to start making all the different foods I serve I would be in the kitchen until Black Friday!
So here's a tip: If you want to offer the huge spread that Grandma used to offer be sure to a) plan ahead and b) enlist your family members! Even family members who aren't usually very helpful are usually willing to lend a hand if they can prepare their dish weeks ahead of time.
There are so many different appetizers and sides that can be prepped before the big day.
*Cookies
*Pies & Cakes
* Sausage Balls
* Meat Sauces
* Soups
Want to know exact times? Check out this awesome infographic from Hefty! Need more Thanksgiving Day Prep tips?
Heck, you could even pre-cook the meat, but then you wouldn't have any excuse to spend time with the girls in the kitchen!
Anyway, if you want to make these recipes ahead of time go ahead and grab some Hefty Slider Freezer Bags and you'll be all set! Just freeze and thaw the day before in the fridge. You can serve these sauces cold on top of your pies, but we prefer then warm on our turkey!
Citrus Berry Turkey Sauce:
Berry Citrus Turkey Sauce
Ingredients
For Blueberry Turkey Sauce
- 2 Cup fresh blueberries
- 1/2 Cup sugar
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
ForRaspberryTurkey Sauce
- 2 Cup fresh raspberries
- 1/2 Cup sugar
- 1/8 cup orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
For both recipes follow these instructions (Note: We like our blueberry sauce a little more liquified, if you don't use half the orange juice)
- PLACE berries in a large saucepan. Add sugar, orange juice, orange zest, lemon zest, lime zest and cinnamon; stir to combine.
- COOK over medium-high heat, stirring often for 6 to 8 minutes or until the cranberries come to a rapid boil. Reduce heat to medium –low and continue cooking, stirring occasionally for 10 to 12 minutes or until cranberry mixture has thickened.
- COOL cranberry sauce to room temperature, then transfer to a Hefty Quart Size Slider Freezer Bag. Store in freezer for up to one month.
Reheating & Serving
- TRANSFER cranberry sauce from the freezer to the refrigerator 24 hours before serving. Bring to room temperature before serving. Or to serve warm, place cranberry sauce in a large saucepan and reheat over medium-low heat.
- Garnish with orange, lemon or lime zest before serving.
Be sure to stay close to the stove because you don't want your berries to stick and burn!
We make the blueberry sauce a little more runny. but you can add 1/2 the required orange juice if you don't like it. This helps compensate for turkeys that may have cooked too long and might be a tad dried out. Of course we don't know this from experience so..... 😉
Make sure your sauce is COMPLETELY cooled! Seriously. Let it sit.
Don't forget to label your bags. We do a lot of food prep around here and things can get mixed up pretty easily!
Looking for cool Thanksgiving Day craft ideas for the kids? Hefty's got cha covered!
Josie
turkey bones
Juana Esparza
I would definitely freeze the Turkey.
Renee
I would freeze cranberry sauce.
John
I'd freeze turkey.
Shari
Would freeze the turkey and gravy.
Amanda Whitley
i would freeze the gravy
Sarah Gibson
I'd freeze turkey and stuffing. Both are my favorite thing to eat at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Karrie
turkey bones
Piroska
It would definitely be the cranberry sauce. I would then use it later, to make muffins!
Jenilee Dunson
We always have too much Turkey, so I would freeze that.
Debby Cooper
I would freeze plenty of turkey and the raspberry turkey sauce! I LOVE turkey!
Alexandru Rusu
I like to freezing the turkey,looks awesome.Thanksgiving without turkey doesnt work
Tanya White
I would freeze the cranberry sauce.
Judy Thomas
I would freeze the gravy.It will come in handy.
Amber Y
I'd love to freeze the gravy!! I would eat gravy on everything if I could.
Lita Bush
I'd freeze stuffing
Robert Brooks
Freeze the turkey bones to make soup later.
Susan Christy
I'd freeze the gravy - I always seem to have a lot left over.
betsy cortez
gravy
Charlene S.
I would freeze the gravy.
donna
Gobble gobble!!
Lauraleigh
I would freeze turkey & stuffing for a rainy day 🙂
Crystal Hilko
I would freeze the turkey.
Jeff Rothrock
freeze stuffing
Denise Bigley
I would freeze turkey since I always have plenty leftover
tina reynolds
For sure always freeze the stuffing
Karla Yungwirth
Great idea to freeze ahead! I love the idea to put berries in your sauce!
Rachel
I would freeze the turkey.
Birgit L.
I'd freeze the cranberry sauce!
Rise Isom
I would freeze the turkey for later sandwiches!!
Crystal S
I would be freezing the cranberry sauce for sure!
EmileeD.
I would freeze the turkey. You can use it for so many more dishes at a later time.
Theresa A.
Citrus Berry Turkey Sauce
Christine B
I would freeze the turkey. Maybe even the turkey and the gravy together and have it for hot open face turkey sandwich. YUM.
Amber
The Turkey would be what I would like to freeze
Elisa Panjang
I'll freeze the turkey!
Arra Odeza
the yummy TURKEY!
Leah
The turkey! 😀
Megan Denholm
Cranberry Sauce
thuy vu
I would freeze gravy
lynn clayton
id freeze leftover turkey
Tricia Hope
I would freeze the Citrus Berry Turkey Sauce,I like it on things besides turkey!
Kristin K
What I do is...I freeze the leftover turkey! It still tastes great....just take it out of the freezer, leave it out to thaw, and warm it up in the microwave, or turn it into turkey stew/soup!!!
Kristin K
I freeze the leftover turkey! It still tastes great....just take it out of the freezer, leave it out to thaw, and warm it up in the microwave, or turn it into turkey stew/soup!!!
Kathy Linklater
I will be freezing cranberry sauce.
hez15
turkey
Amy Hall
Probably the stuffing so I can make it ahead of time
Simon Slavik
I would freeze cranberry sauce, looks so delicious 😉
shelleyb
I would freeze recipe, homemade cookie dough. What a great idea!
Ivette
The stuffing!
DESPINA VENETI
I would freeze the cranberry sauce, thank you!
veronica lee
I would freeze the stuffing.
Julie Murphy
I would freeze the cranberry sauce
BlackAsphodel
I would freeze the cranberry recipe.
Kristen
I'd freeze stuffing to have later with chicken.
Rhonda M.
I'd freeze the stuffing/dressing. My favorite holiday food.
Kalyani N
I would freeze stuffing!
lissa crane
I would definitely freeze the gravy! Nothing beats left over Thanksgiving gravy for me! I would love to recapture it at any time, 6 months later! Yum!
jc
i'd freeze the gravy
JenniferB
I would freeze the cranberry and the gravy
sandra
I would freeze the turkey
brittany doerfler
I would freeze the cranberry sauce
Amanda B.
I'd freeze holiday cookies.
Sheila V.
I would freeze some of the leftover turkey.
Talia
I would try the stuffing one. Probably with different ingredients because recipes are just guidelines anyways 😉
Bebe
I'd freeze the rest of the turkey and the cranberry sauce 🙂
Ellen Watkins
I always freeze about half of the turkey, gravy and stuffing. The stuffing I form into balls and freeze it before it is cooked! It is so simple when you cook a turkey later on to already have stuffing made and ready to pop in the oven!
Rita Leonard
we never have leftover gravy so I would freeze the stuffing.
sheryl Cerniglia
Always freeze my turkey and leftover ham.
Annmarie W.
I'd love to freeze the Stuffing...I had no idea you could do that! I love my stuffing!
Cheryl Montgomery
the stuffing
clynsg
The cranberry sauce--it is the only one that might have some left to do so!
Bailey Dexter
I would like to freeze the stuffing but in our house there is never any left! So I would like to freeze the gravy!
Michelle Olms
I would freeze the stuffing.
Michelle L
turkey day leftovers
Shannon
I'd make and freeze the cranberry sauce!
Tari P
I'm a blueberry girl myself; going to have to try this one
Tricia G
I would freeze the turkey... yum!!
Paula
I would freeze the stuffing
Amy Heffernan
I would freeze the gravy.
Will G
I'd freeze the turkey!
Steven weber
I'm totally freezing the turkey.
Rhianna
I would freeze the turkey
Allicia
I would freeze the stuffing.
Vickie
My word..left overs ..what is that. Hahaha!
Of the three I will have the turkey carcass with some of the meat leftover to freeze for soup.
Thanks.
Kelly D
I would freeze the stuffing.
Christina Foley
I need to try freezing our leftover gravy... I always end up tossing it but I never thought to freeze it for later recipes!
Stephanie Phelps
I would freeze the turkey we always have more than we need!
nannypanpan
i'd freeze the stuffing
Amelia Drew
I love the idea of freezing stuffing- I've never thought of that!
Sandra U.
I would freeze turkey since I always have way too many leftovers.
Anne
Freeze the turkey!
kelly tupick
I would freeze the turkey.
shantelle stately
I'll be freezing some stuffing!
Laura Lanza
I would freeze the stuffing and gravy.
Beatrice Pierre
I would freeze the turkey!
Colleen G
I'd freeze the gravy & cranberry sauce
Sunnie
I would freeze the gravy.
Stacey Roberson
I would freeze the gravy. Perfect for reheating and enjoying with turkey or stuffing.
sheila ressel
I would freeze the cranberry recipe.
necta nelson
I would freeze the turkey and the stuffing! I didnt know the stuffing could be saved in the freezer thanks for this tip!
Marta H.
I'd freeze the cranberry sauce.
diane
turkey
Sandra L Hying McFadden
I would freeze the gravy!
Lisa Brown
I would freeze the stuffing
Claudia Davis
I would freeze the gravy!
Philip Lawrence
I would freeze the turkey because that's good to eat anytime.
Wendy
I would try the turkey.
Carolyn Daley
I would freeze the turkey for future sandwiches.
Nicole Powell
Cranberry Sauce. I'm the only one that will eat it so I could have a serving here and there and none would go to waste.
kari
I would freeze the stuffing. I've never done that before!
katie collins
I would freeze the turkey
Mindi Eden
I would definitely freeze the gravy!
Diana Smith Hill
The pinterest entries are not right, hefty is a girl names Hanes? And they other one they cannot find.
Shasta Walton
THANK YOU! I'm not sure why mine wasn't working, it's fixed now. Seriously, I really appreciate you letting me know!! 🙂
Diana Smith Hill
Your welcome! I knew something was wrong!
Diana Smith Hill
I would freeze the Turkey and the sauce! There is never any gravy left.
Mal
Urkey Freeze is great! Thanks!
Deb Ford
I would freeze the stuffing!
Paula Gillespie
I would freeze the turkey for sure. We always have so much left over and we get so tired of it so freezing it is one way to keep it until ready to eat some more.
Jenny D
I would freeze the turkey for turkey sandwiches later.
Vanessa Madrigal
I'd freeze gravy! Love it!!!
sarah
gravy. nothing beats real thanksgiving gravy
soha molina
I;d de freeeze THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS.
Elisabeth
Oooh I would definitely freeze stuffing! I could have it anytime, not just Thanksgiving.
Anastasia Falling
Ooooh Freezing the turkey? That's such a good idea! That's the recipe I would freeze 🙂