Thanksgiving

If you need us, we’ll be eating our way through Thanksgiving. Some popular side dishes for Thanksgiving dinner include mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, rolls, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, stuffing and roasted vegetables. Gather ‘round the table and dig in.

After the feasting is done, there are still plenty of ways to spend time on Thanksgiving with your fam. Turn on the football game, play some board games, put together a puzzle, watch home videos, go for a walk or play a game of flag football. And if you need to take a quick nap, we won’t judge.

We’re thankful for friends, family and great savings. Oh, and stretchy pants too. Show your friends and family you care by making a toast, going around the table and giving each person a chance to say what they are thankful for or even by helping the host set the table and clean up.

First time hosts, fear not…we’ve got you. Brining a turkey refers to adding salt to an uncooked turkey, either by sprinkling salt directly onto the turkey (dry brine) or by soaking the turkey in a solution of water and salt (wet brine). Brining a turkey helps to tenderize the meat, absorb flavors and retain moisture.

Let’s talk turkey. You can still achieve juicy meat and crispy skin without basting your turkey. But repeatedly opening the oven door may make your turkey take longer to cook. So, keep that oven door closed and trust the process.  

Our nightmare? Dry turkey. To tell when your turkey is done cooking, you’ll want to channel your inner Goldilocks. Not too undercooked and not too overcooked. How long you’ll cook your turkey will depend on the size of the turkey and if it is stuffed or unstuffed. The best way to know when your turkey is done cooking is by using a meat thermometer. If the temperature of the thigh is 180°F, it’s a good indicator that your turkey is fully cooked.

ALDI to the rescue…a burnt turkey (and your Thanksgiving dinner) can be saved. If your turkey burns, you’ll want to carve it and remove any burnt skin or dry meat. Chances are towards the center of the turkey the meat has still retained its moisture. For any dry pieces, you can pour on some extra gravy. Phew, that was a close call.

Mashed potatoes are our love language. Depending on your preference, you can leave the skin on your potatoes or peel them. If you’re using smaller potatoes, you’ll want to boil them for about 15-20 minutes. Larger potatoes will take about 20-30 minutes. If you’re unsure if your potatoes are fully cooked, you can take a fork and pierce the potato to see if it slides through easily. Once the potatoes are fully cooked, drain the water out of the pot. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher until no lumps remain. Add in salt, pepper and milk for creaminess. You can’t go wrong with mashed potatoes.

Gravy and mashed potatoes.  Name a more iconic duo. We’ll wait. But while we’re waiting, we can tell you how to make a delicious gravy. To make gravy, you’ll need pan drippings or butter, flour, stock or broth and your favorite seasonings. First, pour the pan drippings into a measuring cup and skim and reserve the fat. If you don’t have pan drippings, you can use butter instead. Next, pour ¼ cup of the fat into a pan, and whisk in flour. Add stock and the rest of the drippings in a measuring cup. You’ll want about 2 cups. Whisk the stock until it’s fully incorporated. Cook until it reaches your desired thickness and add in your desired seasonings. And there you have it...the best gravy for the best duo.

Ice, ice turkey…wait, that’s not how the song goes. You’ll need considerable time to thaw out your frozen turkey. How long you’ll need to thaw it will depend on the size of the turkey. You can thaw your turkey in the refrigerator by leaving it in its original packaging. In a refrigerator that is set to 40°F or lower, it typically takes one day for every 4 pounds to thaw a frozen turkey.

Pro Thanksgiving tip: pair your poultry with wine. White wines pair nicely with poultry, especially white meat. If you prefer dark meat, a light-bodied red wine will make a delicious pairing. No matter your preference, you’re sure to find the perfect pairing for your Thanksgiving table when you shop our Specially Selected wines. Some delicious non-alcoholic options that pair well with turkey are sparkling water and apple cider. 

Our favorite Thanksgiving tradition? Cooking a Thanksgiving feast without setting off the smoke detector. It’s possible to cook multiple dishes in the oven at the same time, but it can be tricky. You’ll need to keep a close eye on your dishes and make adjustments to the oven temperature and cooking time. Keep in mind that the more dishes you add to the oven, the longer the cook time will be because having several pans in the oven will block the air circulation. However, if cooking multiple dishes seems too stressful, you can always shop our Park Street Deli, Chef's Cupboard and Season's Choice brands for delicious and convenient options.

Boring Thanksgiving recipes? Can’t relate. Check out our holiday recipes to get inspo for variety of Thanksgiving main courses and side dishes. The festivities don't end with dinner. Save room for dessert. We’re talking pumpkin pie, cookies and all kinds of sweet treats that are perfect for Thanksgiving. And let’s be honest, Thanksgiving leftovers are the best, so stock up. When the food is this good, you’ll want extras for days to come.