Thanksgiving Day Menu (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue): Turkey, Ham, Six kinds of pie for favorite dessert

from Obama Food-o-rama -- Google Blog (Nov. 25, 2013): When President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome family and friends on Thursday for their Thanksgiving feast, like many Americans they will serve beloved favorites that have been enjoyed year after year. The White House chefs have been sharing their recipes since 2009, so it's now possible for home chefs to cook the First Family's holiday menu, including the star of the show, turkey. Executive Chef Cris Comerford's recipes for the garlic and brown sugar-brined White House Thyme-roasted Turkey and for White House Turkey Gravy are reprinted below, with links to recipes for Thanksgiving side dishes as well as the desserts created by Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses. The grand finish to the holiday meal is six different kinds of pie, the President's favorite dessert. White House Kale Salad Turkey is not the only meat on the Obama Thanksgiving menu: The President and First Lady annually serve Honey Baked Ham. They also serve two kinds of stuffing: Cornbread Stuffing and Oyster Stuffing. Sides are Macaroni and Cheese, Sweet Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Kale Salad, and Dinner Rolls. Kale is currently growing in Mrs. Obama's Kitchen Garden. Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Potato Pie, Huckleberry Pie, Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, and Banana Cream Pie have all been served each year since 2009. The White House Thanksgiving recipes are ucomplicated, and the First Family's celebration tends to be equally unfussy. Last year they dined in the Blue Room, with the feast set up on a self-serve buffet in the Cross Hall. Mrs. Obama's brother, Craig Robinson, head coach of the men's basketball team at Oregon State University, and some of his players were the special guests. POTUS pardons Cobbler in '12 The White House turkey recipe calls for a 20-pounder for 16 guests, which is about half the weight of the young Minnesota tom President Obama will pardon this Wednesday during a Rose Garden ceremony, where he will "reflect upon the time-honored traditions of Thanksgiving, and wish American families a safe and healthy holiday," the White House said. Day-ahead prep time for the turkey recipe is needed: It must be soaked in the brine in the refrigerator for at least twelve hours before roasting. A five-gallon food-grade bucket is called for, unless a brining bag is used. >The recipe for White House Whipped Sweet Potatoes uses cinnamon, cumin, chili powder, and cloves to create a unique flavor. >The recipe for White House Kale Salad includes fennel, radish, jalapeno peppers, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and a red wine vinaigrette. >The recipe for White House Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese is a healthy Let's Move! version of the dish, included in Mrs. Obama's book American Grown. >The recipe for White House Sweet Potatoes and Greens was created by Assistant Chef Sam Kass. >The recipe for White House Green Beans with Almonds included in American Grown is the closest recipe to the Obamas' Thanksgiving casserole. >Pastry Chef Yosses has not shared his recipe for Dinner Rolls, but his White House Sweet Potato Quick Bread is perfect for Thanksgiving. >The recipe for White House Huckleberry Pie uses blueberries, too. Frozen berries are fine. >The recipe for White House Apple Pie has a double crust that uses both butter and lard. >The recipe for White House Sweet Potato Pie has a honey meringue topping, an homage to Mrs. Obama's beehive, the first to be on the grounds. http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-white-house-recipes-for-president.html