Love and Life

The Innovator's take on Thanksgiving Dinner.

This is so not the Thanksgiving Dinner for me, but I thought it was so clever and beautiful that I had to post it. What are your thoughts? Will make the Turkey Cake for Thanksgiving Dinner??

I've included the recipe below:

For the turkey layers:

• Unsalted butter, for coating the pans
• 2 pounds ground turkey breast
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated on the small holes of a box grater
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup finely chopped yellow onion
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh sage leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
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For the sweet potato layer:

• 1 pound sweet potatoes
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick)
• 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
• Pinch ground mace or nutmeg
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 
  

To assemble:

• About 5 cups or 1 recipe Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, warm
• 1/2 cup cranberry sauce, such as our Cranberry and Citrus Sauce, chilled, excess liquid drained
• 2 1/2 cups Sausage Stuffing, warm
• 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
• Gravy, for serving (optional)

To assemble:

1. Arrange a rack in the lower third of the oven.
2. Run a knife around the edge of the turkey cakes. Unmold one of the turkey layers and place it bottom-side up on an overturned 8-inch cake pan or in an ovenproof serving dish. With a long knife or offset spatula, evenly spread 1 1/4 cups of the mashed potatoes over the top of the cake, leaving a 1/2 -inch border (keep the remaining potatoes warm).
3. Using the back of a clean spoon, spread the cranberry sauce evenly over the mashed potatoes.
4. Using your hands, gently pack the stuffing in an even layer over the cranberry sauce, using one hand to keep any stuffing from falling off the side. Press gently on the stuffing to make sure it adheres to the mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.
5. Evenly spread another 1 1/4 cups of the mashed potatoes over the stuffing (keep the remaining potatoes warm).
6. Unmold the second turkey layer and place it bottom-side up on top of the mashed potatoes.
7. Transfer the cake pan or serving dish with the partially assembled cake to a baking sheet and bake until heated through, about 30 to 40 minutes (an instant-read thermometer should register 165°F).
8. Remove from the oven and set aside. Heat the oven to broil.
9. With a long knife or offset spatula, evenly coat the outside (but not top) of the entire cake with the remaining mashed potatoes (you may have a little left over).
10. With a clean long knife or offset spatula, evenly spread all of the sweet potatoes on top of the cake. Arrange the marshmallows across the top and gently press them into the sweet potatoes.
11. Return the baking sheet with the assembled cake to the oven and broil until the marshmallows are golden, about 1 to 2 minutes (watch closely so the marshmallows don’t burn). Using two flat spatulas, carefully transfer the cake to a serving dish. Serve immediately with gravy, if desired.