This App Helps Make Thanksgiving Budget-Friendly

Bringing friends and family together to enjoy a tasty meal shouldn’t bust your budget, but head to the local grocery store and costs can add up pretty quickly. With the help of a new app, though, it doesn’t have to be this way: The Flipp shopping app can help you feed six people at Thanksgiving for $30, so it seems we have one more thing to be grateful for this year.

As someone who has spent $30 on the turkey alone in the past, I find this all pretty dang impressive. Flipp offers suggested recipes too, taking the stress out of combing through cookbook after cookbook for the perfect brussels sprout dish. Think of all you could do with that extra time — like watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or getting crafty with table decorations.

So how does using Flipp bring costs down to a mere $5 a person for food that is both healthy and yummy? The app finds weekly promotions, discounts, and circulars at stores near you for everything on your shopping list — no coupon clipping required. Simply download the smart shopping app, and tap to open the shopping list feature at the bottom of the screen. Input Flipp's recommended Thanksgiving grocery list or search for the best deals on your own preferred items. If a friend or S.O. is helping pick up the groceries, you can share your shopping list on Flipp with them by selecting the “Invite” option in the top lefthand corner. Those who are included on the shared shopping list will be able to see items you have purchased and checked off, as well as products added in real-time. No more endless calls in the supermarket asking "Did you get the cranberries?" or multiple runs back to the store because someone forgot the gravy. Yay!

Here are all a couple of delectable dishes Flipp recommends making this Thanksgiving (for under $30!):

Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad With Green Apple, Pistachios, Asiago, and Creamy Dijon Dressing

For The Sprout Salad:

• 1.5 lb Brussels sprouts
• 2 granny smith apples
• 1/3 cup shelled pistachios
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• ¼ lb Asiago cheese, sliced very thinly

For The Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• salt and pepper to taste

Using a sharp knife, slice the bottom of each sprout off. Discard any of the outer leaves that fall off (or need to be peeled off, if they don’t look great). Slice each sprout in half lengthwise, and lay in on the cutting board flat-side down. Slice the sprout crosswise as thinly as you can. Toss the sliced sprouts into your salad bowl. Next, core the apples and slice them into thin matchsticks. Toss them into the bowl with the sprouts, and then add the pistachios and cranberries to the bowl. Break the cheese into small pieces and add to the bowl or, if you prefer, put the cheese to the side to serve on top of each plate. Make the vinaigrette by whisking all the dressing ingredients together until slightly foamy and emulsified. Pour over the prepared salad ingredients and toss well. This salad can be prepared a few hours ahead, if needed.

Traditional Roasted Turkey with Citrus Sage Compound Butter

For The Turkey:

• 1 fresh, unseasoned turkey, between 9-10 lb
• 1 stick of butter, softened
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped and lightly packed fresh sage + a handful of whole fresh sage leaves
• 1 large orange
• 1 large lemon
• 1 tablespoon coarse salt
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced

For The Gravy:

• 2T flour
• 1.5 cups chicken stock
• Optional: 2-3T Marsala or sherry

(You can also dress the whole thing with oranges and sage leaves for decoration.)

Preheat oven to 450F. Remove the giblets from the turkey and, using a paper towel, pat the bird dry all over and inside the cavity. Zest the lemon and orange – you should have around 1T of zest from each. Slice the lemon and orange into ½ inch rounds and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the butter, garlic, chopped sage, orange and lemon zest, and salt. Stir together.

Using a small, sharp knife, cut slits in the skin on the turkey’s legs. Being careful not to tear the skin, pat ½ the butter mixture under the skin on the turkey’s legs, and, sliding your hand underneath the skin on the turkey’s breast, on the breast of the bird as well. Using the other ½ of the butter mixture, rub into the outside skin of the entire bird. Place ½ the orange and lemon slices inside the turkey’s cavity.

Place a layer of lemon and orange slices, along with some sage leaves, on the bottom of the roasting pan. Lay the turkey on top, and sprinkle the chopped onion around the turkey. Roast the turkey, uncovered, at 450F for 30 minutes. Then, tent the turkey with foil, turn the oven to 350F, and roast another 90 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Let the turkey rest in the pan for 20 minutes, then place on a platter.

To Make The Gravy:

Skim the fat off the top of the pan juices and discard. Place the roasting pan on the top of the oven – you’ll likely have to put it overtop of two burners – and turn the burner heat to medium-high. Deglaze the pan using 1 cup chicken stock, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan as the stock begins to simmer lightly.

In a glass or small bowl, beat together 2 tablespoons flour and ½ cup stock until combined, then add to the pan, along with the Marsala or sherry if using. Keeping the heat at a low simmer, cook, stirring, until the gravy thickens. Pour into a gravy boat and serve.

Flipp also has excellent recipes for Thanksgiving sides such as mashed potatoes with celery root, roasted sweet potatoes with vanilla butter sauce, and fresh cranberry-orange relish that are definitely worth checking out!

Here is Flipp's recommended budget-friendly Thanksgiving grocery list, although bear in mind that exact prices will vary depending on where you are:

• 9lb turkey (6 adults with leftovers) at 0.69/lb: $6.21
• 5lb potatoes: $2
• Sweet potatoes: 6oz per person @$0.49/lb: $1.10
• Celery root: $1
• Brussels sprouts: 1lb fresh: $1.29
• Cranberries: $2/bag
• Orange: $0.50
• 2 apples: $1.00
• Asiago: 1/4lb: $2.00
• Stuffing box: $1
• Chicken stock: $1
• Butter: $2.69
• Brown sugar 1lb: $1.00
• Onion: $0.25
• Sage: $1.00
• Nuts: FROM BULK STORE: $2
• Pumpkin pie: $3.48

Total: $29.52

So check out Flipp for a meal that is sure to leave your friends full of good food and good cheer!

Images: Courtesy of Flipp