Thanksgiving

Time Savers

With all the traditional Thanksgiving recipes you love to prepare, wouldn't it be nice to buy extra time? We've bought you about 7 hours. If you prepared the following recipes using grandma's methods, you'd be sporting the apron longer than you'd probably care to admit. Prepare these tried and true versions of old familiar favorites and sleep in a little later, sit down to eat a little earlier.

Gravy - 10 minutes

Hands-on time: 5 minutes, Total time: 10 minutes

Open two 12-ounce jars turkey gravy and heat with 2 tablespoons dry vermouth.

Pecan Sticky Buns - 20 minutes

Hands-on time: 5 minutes, Total time: 20 minutes

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray. Spoon 1 tablespoon melted butter, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 3 pecan halves in each muffin cup. Open two 11.3-ounce packages brown-and-serve rolls and divide among the muffin cups. Bake 10 minutes or until golden. Place a wire rack over a sheet of wax paper. Turn the muffin tin onto the rack, wait 5 minutes, then remove the tin.

Mint-Orange Squash - 15 minutes

Hands-on time: 15 minutes, Total time: 15 minutes

Prepare three 12-ounce packages frozen winter squash according to the label directions. With a wooden spoon, beat in the grated zest of 1 orange, 3 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional).

Green Beans with Honey Mustard Glaze - 5 minutes

Hands-on time: 5 minutes, Total time: 5 minutes

Thaw three 9-ounce packages frozen whole green beans under warm running water. Place in a skillet with 1/2 cup bottled honey mustard salad dressing. Over medium heat, toss until heated through, adding more dressing if necessary to lightly coat all the green beans.

Broiled Apples - 10 minutes

Hands-on time: 5 minutes, Total time:10 minutes

Heat broiler. Dump the apples from two 12-ounce packages scalloped apples onto a broiler pan or baking sheet. Toss with the grated zest from 1 lemon. Spread the apples in a single layer and broil about 8-inches from the heat for 5 minutes or until bubbly. Meanwhile, heat 1/3 cup rum or 1/2 cup maple syrup in a small saucepan over low heat. Serve the apples warm with vanilla ice cream. Drizzle with the rum or syrup.

Sources: National Turkey Federation & Webstop