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Having been born in the country that celebrates Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday of November, I have fond memories of roast turkey, cranberry sauce, candied sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. After feasting we would doze in the livng room with one eye on the telly watching the Cowboys play the Indians and the other closed in slumber.



However, bringing my children up in another country posed no problem. My little half American sweeties would always look forward to me replicating this wonderful family feast. We couldn't always get a turkey so a variation of turkey anything would do.



Here are some recipes for you to try where ever you may be.


TANGY GLAZED TURKEY MEATLOAF

1 lb. ground turkey
1/4 c. bread crumbs or medium matzo meal
1 sm. onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tspn dried basil
2 tbsp. Ketchup (or 2 tbsp. sweet chili sauce)
1 egg beaten
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all meat loaf ingredients in a bowl. Mix well and pat into small loaf pan. Bake at 180C or or Gas Mark 6 for 30 minutes.

GLAZE: (optional)
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 c. Ketchup
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Mix glaze ingredients and spoon over meatloaf. Bake 20 minutes longer.

ROAST SWEET POTATO WEDGES
4 big sweet potatos
2 tablespoons oil

Heat oven to 200C/gas mark 6. Toss the potatoes with the oil and cook in the oven for 35 mins until lightly charred, then season with a little salt.

BROCCOLI WITH CASHEWS

fresh broccoli
1 red onion
2 tbsp mayo
1 tspn caster sugar
1 tspn lemon juice
handful of salted cashews

Steam the brocci for 5 mins, then rinse under cold water. This helps retain the greeness. Let cool. Slice the red onion into thin slices.Meanwhile mix the mayo, sugar and lemon juice to form a dressing. Toss the onions into the broci and then add the sauce and mix gently but well.

Pumpkin Muffins

Tired of pie? Try this instead

3 cups caster sugar
1 cup oil
4 eggs
1 1/2 tspn salt
1 tspn cinnamon
2.3 cup water
2 cups cooked pumpkin
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tspn ground ginger
2 tspn bicarb of soda
1 1/2 tspn vanilla
2 cups chopped walnuts or raisins

Mix together sugar, oil, eggs, salt cinnamon, water and pumpkin 'til well blended. Add remaining ingredients and mix thouroughly. Pour into muffin cases and bake for 15-20 mins at 180c or gas mark 4. Makes 30.