Microwave Your Thanksgiving: Yes, It Can Be Done!

Maybe it is just the two of you this year, or maybe you will be celebrating Turkey day alone. Just because it will only be a small party doesn't mean you can't effiiciently cook a quick and tasty meal. Look no further than your own microwave for a tasty Thanksgiving meal option.

Microwave cooking is way under rated and most people think it can only be used for popping popcorn or heating up leftovers, while it is good for those things you can also cook an entire meal with a medium to large microwave.

The first step will be to go out and purchase a large plastic oven cooking bag. They come in a wide range of sizes from a small size for a chicken to extra large for a 20 pound Turkey. I wouldn't recommend cooking a Turkey over 12 pounds in a microwave, just to assure proper output. The larger the food item that the microwave has to heat the harder it is to have it come out tasting good.

If you want an all in one meal this is a great way to do it in the microwave. Take your Turkey and remove the bag that is found inside the hole in the bottom, remove all contents and discard. If you are really craving the Turkey's neck or the heart well go right ahead and set it aside to cook for later. This is the time to season the Turkey and any other ingredients you will be microwaving. If you want to stuff the Turkey now is the time to do so. Instant stuffing or Stovetop brand stuffing is a wise choice because it is already marinated and somewhat cooked. Remember the center of the bird is going to take a while to cook. Grab some potatoes and vegetables and surround these items around the Turkey in the bag. Add a small amount of water into the bottom of the bag. Close the bag tightly on the ends but make sure to cut a few small slits on the top of bag to assure proper ventilation. Cook the Turkey for 45 minutes on medium high checking frequently.

If you wish to prepare your Turkey and side dishes separately in the microwave that is fine also. Maybe you will be smoking or baking your Turkey and you just want to microwave all of your side dishes. This can easily be done with the help of your microwave. This will also help free up oven and cooking space. Just about everything can be cooked in the microwave from a Green Bean Casserole to a Pumpkin Pie. The one thing I Would not recommend to microwave would be dinner rolls or bread. These can be bought already prepared but you can heat these up for a minute in the microwave.

Speaking of Pumpkin Pie, here is one of my favorite Pumpkin Pie recipes for the microwave-

Ingredients:

16 oz. can of pumpkin

12 oz. can of evaporated milk

2 eggs

1/2 cup of Bisquick Baking mix

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp ground cloves (optional)

Whipped topping

Gather a 9 inch glass pie pan and coat with a thin layer of nonstick cooking spray. Take all of the above ingredients and place them in a blender. Blend 1 to 2 minutes until the mixture forms a puree. Pour the puree into the pie plate. Microwave the mixture at 50 percent power for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the center slightly jiggles.
Let the pie stand for 15 minutes.
Cut the pie into serving size pieces. Top with whipped topping and sprinkle with a cinnamon if desired.

This is just a small sample of what you can cook in your microwave at Thanksgiving time. Be creative. The sky is the limit on menu choices. With Microwave cooking efficiency is the key!