#10 Time is on Your Side
Don’t be a turkey when it comes to cook time this Thanksgiving. A whole turkey typically needs 13-15 minutes per pound at 325°F (163°C). A 15-pound turkey can take over 3½ hours, so plan backwards from dinner time, and don’t forget to let it rest for 20-30 minutes before carving.
#9 Dress to Impress
If there’s one herb that defines a Newfoundland Thanksgiving, it’s savoury. Combined with breadcrumbs, onions, butter, and poultry seasoning, it creates the sumptuous dressing that’s a staple on tables across the province.
#8 Don’t Be Afraid to Veg
Want a make-ahead hack? Peel potatoes, carrots, and turnip ahead of time and keep them covered in cold water in the fridge. You’ll thank yourself when the kitchen gets busy.
#7 All Aboard the Gravy Train
A good rule of thumb for the sauce that’s the boss at your table is about ½ cup of gravy per person, and even more if you’re serving mashed potatoes, dressing, and leftovers. A gravy boat? More like the gravy navy, am I right?
#6 Livin’ On Turkey Time
Don’t get caught with an over or undercooked bird. The safest way to know your turkey is done is with a meat thermometer. The thickest part of the breast should reach 165°F (74°C). That way you’ll get juicy meat without overcooking.
#5 Add a Homemade Twist
If you can find them, serve partridgeberry sauce instead of cranberry sauce. Homemade bread, garden vegetables, or mustard pickles also bring a taste of the island to the table without completely overhauling the traditional meal we know and love.
#4 Cook Smarter, Not Harder
Sometimes it’s the add-ons that make the meal. Most side dishes can be made ahead and reheated while the turkey rests. That 20-30 minute wait time is perfect for warming potatoes, vegetables, rolls, and gravy.
#3 A Family Affair
Preparing a Thanksgiving feast need not be a herculean effort. One person carves the turkey, another mashes potatoes, someone keeps an eye on the gravy, and someone else sets the table. Thanksgiving is much easier and more fun when it’s a team effort.
#2 Live, Laugh, Leftovers
In Newfoundland and Labrador, there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing. Thanksgiving leftovers are almost a tradition of their own: turkey sandwiches, fries, dressing, reheated mashed potatoes, and gravy often taste even better the next day. Or, throw it all together for a heavenly hash.
#1 What are You Thankful For?
The best Newfoundland Thanksgiving dinners aren’t remembered because the turkey was tight, gravy glorious or pie pristine. They’re remembered because family and friends gathered around a table full of homemade food made with love. And that’s something worth being thankful for.
