Preparing for Thanksgiving

11 years ago

As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches, it’s time to dust-off some tried and true recipes, and add a few new ones to the dinner menu. Being American Armenian, we often mix-and-match our menu items to express our gratitude to our birth country and our ancestral home.

Here’s a list of recipes to use as a guide in planning this year’s mix-and-match Thanksgiving feast. My recipe for Cranberry-Orange-Pomegranate Relish follows.

Basic American Menu:

Roasted Turkey with Stuffing

Potatoes -white and/or sweet

Green Bean Casserole, Brussels Sprouts

Pumpkin or Apple Pie

Apple Pie for Thanksgiving

Basic Armenian Menu:

Roasted Leg of Lamb

Rice or Bulgur Pilaf

Fassoulia

Cranberry-Orange-Pomegranate Relish (recipe below)

Boorma, Apricot Pie

Boorma, another Thanksgiving dessert option!

Cranberry-Orange-Pomegranate Relish

Cranberry-Orange-Pomegranate Relish

Yield: about 3 cups

Ingredients:

1-12 oz. bag fresh cranberries

1 cup granulated sugar

Zest and juice from 1 orange

½ cup water

½ cup 100% pomegranate juice

1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick

Garnish: 1/2 cup pomegranate arils, optional

Directions:

Sort through cranberries; discard any that are soft. Rinse and drain.

Preparing the relish

In a non-reactive saucepan, stir together the cranberries,
sugar, zest, orange juice, water, pomegranate juice and cinnamon stick.

Turn heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, partially cover, and simmer gently and stir occasionally, about 10-15 minutes or until cranberries begin to burst. Discard cinnamon stick.

Transfer to a bowl and allow mixture to cool for about 15 minutes. Mixture will thicken as it cools. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with pomegranate arils, if desired.