Thanksgiving Recipes and Where to Buy Ingredients in Lakeshore East

We can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week! There are so many things to be thankful for during these uncertain times. We are grateful to be happy and healthy and have a wonderful community of residents at Aqua Lakeshore East. Whether you’re celebrating at home together or with loved ones virtually, we’ve compiled our favorite recipes to share with you this year! Read on for some fun Thanksgiving recipes and where to buy ingredients in Lakeshore East. 

Apple Cider Whiskey Smash

This cocktail is just 3 ingredients and is the perfect way to start off the festivities and end cap off the night. It’s the perfect pairing for the warm fall flavors you’ll find in the rest of these tasty recipes. You can find even more on Brit. 

Ingredients:

• 1 oz whiskey
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 4 oz apple cider

Instructions:

• Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Add whiskey, lemon juice and apple cider. Shake until thoroughly chilled. Pour over ice and enjoy.

Green Bean Casserole

The beans are greener on the other side! Don’t fight over politics this Thanksgiving, fight over the last bite of this incredible green bean casserole. Packed full of flavor, and it only takes 25 minutes to bake. Most people either love or hate casseroles, but we’re convinced this recipe from All Recipes can sway nonbelievers to our side. 

Ingredients: 

• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans green beans, drained
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup 
• 1 (6 ounce) can French fried onions
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions: 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place green beans and soup in a large microwave-safe bowl. Mix well and heat in the microwave on HIGH until warm (3 to 5 minutes). Stir in 1/2 cup of cheese and heat mixture for another 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer green bean mixture to a casserole dish and sprinkle with French fried onions and remaining cheese.
• Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven until the cheese melts and the onions just begin to brown.

Cast Iron Hasselback Potatoes

We could eat an entire meal of just potatoes, and this dish would definitely be on the table! These potatoes are simple to make and packed full of flavor. They take about an hour to cook so you can get these going and then multi-task and cook other things at the same time! The ingredients are super simple, and you can easily multiply this recipe from Country Living without breaking the bank for a large family meal. 

Ingredients:

• 5 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and divided, plus more for pan 
• 6 medium russet or Yukon Gold potatoes (about 2 pounds)
• 2 tsp. M5 Spice Rub, divided
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• Sour cream, for serving

Directions: 

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a 12-inch cast-iron pan with butter. Cut each potato crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices without cutting all the way through to bottom and leaving about 1/4 inch of potato intact (this will help them hold together). Arrange potatoes in pan 1 inch apart. Brush with 2 1/2 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon spice rub. 
•  Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and drizzle potatoes (which should have opened up slightly) with remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon spice rub. Bake, uncovered, until potatoes are crispy on edges and soft in the middle, 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish with parsley. Serve with sour cream alongside.

You can find ingredients for these recipes at Mariano's, Bockwinkels's, Trader joes, and Whole Foods all within 5 minutes of our apartments. Snap a photo of your best dish and share it with us on social media! Come back next week for more food and fun in Chicago. Happy Thanksgiving!