Healthy Thanksgiving Side & Dessert Dishes to Try This Year

WESTLAND, Mich.,––The holidays are right around the corner, and you know what that means: junk food galore! From pies to mashed potatoes and gravy, your favorite home cooked delights aren't always the best for your body. It's great to indulge every now and then, but you can avoid the stomach aches and the need for a big nap after Thanksgiving dinner with a few healthy swaps. Here are a few of our favorite healthy Thanksgiving side & dessert dishes to try this year:

1. Honey Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Feta

This dish screams "fall" in a delicious sweet and savory way. 

2. Mashed Cauliflower with Parmesan and Chives

Pro-Tip: make this recipe a happy compromise with half potatoes & half cauliflower.

3. Cheesy Spinach Balls

These little green-filled guys can be used as an appetizer or a side dish.

4. Green Bean Mushroom Saute 

You can appease to picky eaters by doing half of this dish with mushrooms and half without.

5. Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts

This dish is full of good fiber! Feel free to get creative with the herbs and spices you use. 

6. Skinny Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

You can't beat a healthier version of pumpkin pie and cheesecake in one easy dish! 

7. Healthy Apple Crisp 

Pro-Tip: Skip the regular vanilla ice cream and try Halo Top or another ice cream alternative.

8. Vanilla Orange Candied Cranberries

These little bites are full of sophisticated flavor that feels like you're eating candy.

9. Gluten Free No-Bake Salted Caramel Pumpkin Bars

The name is a mouthful, but this is a great option for those who don't do gluten!

10. Maple Vanilla Baked Pears

Most of us choose to do an apple or pumpkin based dessert, but how about giving pears a try?

We hope these healthy Thanksgiving side and dessert dishes give you the arsenal to eat better and feel better this year! We're all about healthy alternatives when it comes to fueling our bodies and fun ways to keep our bodies moving all year round, especially when we're preparing for our 5K Fun Run that happens in May. Stay tuned to our blog for some workout ideas you can use to combat the fatigue during the holiday season and for tips and tricks on how to take care of yourself and your car this winter. 

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 855-739-2023, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

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Classic Thanksgiving Side Dishes

WESTLAND, Mich.- It's not a complete Thanksgiving feast without those Classic Thanksgiving Side Dishes! Every family has a special twist that they put on their holiday meals, but almost every table will feature the Classic Thanksgiving Side Dishes: mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole!

We've gathered up some quick Classic Thanksgiving Side Dish Tips to help you prepare a delicious dinner:

Mashed Potatoes: For this classic use whole russet potatoes. Mash them with 1/2 to 1 stick of butter, 1 cup hot milk and salt and pepper. Add your own taste by experimenting with sour cream, yogurt, spices or herbs!

Stuffing: Always a classic, making stuffing by mixing melted the butter, diced celery and onions, sage, thyme, salt and pepper, and turkey or chicken broth, then simmer. In a separate bowl, mix eggs, parsley and stale bread cubes. Mix it all together, dump into a baking dish and baken until golden! As with all of these recipes, make it your own by adding apples, cranberries, walnuts or sausage!

Cranberry Sauce: This sweet classic side dish has a base of fresh cranberries and sugar. From there you can make it your own, add: orange juice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, orange zest, or brown sugar. Then cook, stirring until the cranberries pop!

Green Bean Casserole: This is a one dish classic! Mix together green beans, french fried onions, dash of pepper, splash of milk and some cream of mushroom soup. Then just pop it in the oven for less than 30 minutes! Top if off with some more onions for a crunch and you're done.

As with any of your Thanksgiving recipes, don't be scared to add in your own special spice or family twist. And check out our tips for How To Thaw A Turkey Safely and How To Cook A Turkey before you begin preparing your Thanksgiving feast!

Arrive at your Thanksgiving destination safely with our Brake Service Coupons and Tire Discounts. Stop by our lot located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 to take a look at our New Ford Inventory and Used Vehicle Inventory.  Feel free to give us a call with any questions you may have at (888) 806-7163.

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Tips For How To Cook A Turkey

WESTLAND, Mich.- There is no time to procrastinate, Thanksgiving is almost here! Yesterday the 1st Part of our Thanksgiving Series explained How To Thaw A Turkey Safely. Now, we present you with Tips For How To Cook A Turkey to help you brush up on the basics, and then you can add in your special touch or secret spice!

1. DON'T STUFF THE TURKEY- This is pretty straightforward, because this can be unsafe. It is hard for the stuffing to cook evenly inside the turkey, which means by the time the stuffing reaches a safe temperature, your turkey will probably be over cooked. Just spoon the stuffing into the turkey cavity after both are cooked if you're going for presentation.

2. SEASON ALL OVER- Don't go light on the seasonings. There's a lot of meat on a turkey, so remember inside, outside and under the skin. Rub butter or oil under the skin and on the outside for a moist and juicy turkey. Then be generous with your seasoning, and don't forget inside the cavity.

3. PREPARATION IS KEY- Tuck, tie, and cover. Pull the wing tips forward and tuck them under the breasts so your turkey sits straight and so they don't burn. After seasoning, tie the legs together with kitchen string or floss so it cooks evenly, and then use a loose piece of foil to cover the breasts for about 75% of the cooking time to keep the turkey moist.

4. LOW AND SLOW- Preheat your oven to 325 Degrees Fahrenheit and allot 15-20 minutes per pound. Putting about a 1/2 inch of water or stock in your roasting pan with some carrots, celery and onions will keep the oven moist and aromatic. Just make sure the thickest part of the thigh meat reaches 165 Degrees Fahrenheit!

5. LET IT BREATHE- Take your turkey our of the oven and allow about 20 minutes for it to rest, loosely covered with foil, so that the juices can redistribute. Don't worry about it getting cold, it will actually stay hot for over 40 minutes!


Now that you've refreshed your memory with these Tips For How To Cook A Turkey you're ready to prepare a tasty bird this holiday! Check back for the 3rd Part of our Thanksgiving Series: side dishes! Arrive at your Thanksgiving destination safely with our Brake Service Coupons and Tire Discounts. Stop by our lot located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 to take a look at our New Ford Inventory and Used Vehicle Inventory.  Feel free to give us a call with any questions you may have at (888) 806-7163.

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How To Thaw A Turkey Safely

WESTLAND, Mich.- Can you believe Thanksgiving is just one week away? Time to make your grocery list and prepare for the big feast! We've created a 3-Part Series of Posts to help you cook up a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner! Since the most important part of your Thanksgiving feast is the big turkey, the first part of this series is: How To Thaw A Turkey Safely!

Before you start cooking Thanksgiving dinner, make sure you have started thawing your turkey well in advance. The important part of thawing is making sure the turkey stays free from bacteria. Bacteria that could have been present before freezing, can become present and multiply rapidly if the turkey is not thawed properly. The recommended way to thaw a turkey is in the refrigerator. Just be aware that you must allot a full 24 hours of thawing time for each 4-5 pounds of turkey, so start early! After the turkey is thawed it can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Another option for thawing your turkey is cold water thawing, which is less time consuming; taking only 30 minutes per pound. All you have to do is wrap the turkey in a leak-proof plastic bag and then submerge it into cold water. But, make sure you change the water every 30 minutes and then cook the turkey as soon as it is thawed.

To ensure a healthy and happy Thanksgiving for all, it is important to know How To Safely Thaw A Turkey to keep bacteria at bay. Stay tuned for the next part of this series: how to cook your turkey once it is thawed! And if you haven't even thought about decorating for your Thanksgiving gathering yet, check out our blog post Easy Holiday Decor Tips!

If you find yourself in the need of a vehicle of this season, you can count on your Suburban Detroit Ford Dealer for both new and used cars! Plus, we can save you money this holiday season with our Brake Service Coupons and Tire Discounts. Stop by our lot located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 to take a look at our New Ford Inventory and Used Vehicle Inventory.  Feel free to give us a call with any questions you may have at (888) 806-7163.

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+