Thanksgiving is about family, friends, cherishing time together, and of course, FOOD. Mouthwatering platters heaped with beans, mashed potatoes, rich gravies, juicy turkey, and steaming pies call us together once a year to give thanks for all the joy in our lives. Everyone’s got their cache of go-to recipes, but sometimes we get tired of the same old dishes. We’ve compiled a handful of unique combinations that are can spice up the average Thanksgiving fare.

1. Roasted grapes and brussel sprouts.

Ingredients

• 24 ounces brussel sprouts (about 8 cups), halved or quartered if large
• 24 ounces grapes
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 tablespoons fresh thyme
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

Directions

Heat oven to 450 degrees. On two rimmed baking sheets, toss brussel sprouts and grapes with oil and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, until caramelized and tender, about 20 minutes.

Drizzle each tray with 1 teaspoon vinegar and scrape up any caramelized bits with a wooden spoon. Toss in walnuts.

2. Perfectly juicy turkey.

Ingredients

• 1 (18 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
•  2 cups kosher salt
•   1/2 cup butter, melted
•   2 large onions, peeled and chopped
•   4 carrots, peeled and chopped
•   4 stalks celery, chopped
•   2 sprigs fresh thyme
•   1 bay leaf
•   1 cup dry white wine

Directions

Rub the turkey inside and out with the kosher salt. Place the bird in a large stock pot, and cover with cold water. Place in the refrigerator, and allow the turkey to soak in the salt and water mixture 12 hours, or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Thoroughly rinse the turkey, and discard the brine mixture.

Brush the turkey with 1/2 the melted butter. Place breast side down on a roasting rack in a shallow roasting pan. Stuff the turkey cavity with 1 onion, 1/2 the carrots, 1/2 the celery, 1 sprig of thyme, and the bay leaf. Scatter the remaining vegetables and thyme around the bottom of the roasting pan, and cover with the white wine.

Roast uncovered 3 1/2 to 4 hours in the preheated oven, until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Carefully turn the turkey breast side up about 2/3 through the roasting time, and brush with the remaining butter. Allow the bird to stand about 30 minutes before carving.

3. Green Beans with Shallots, Thyme, and Shiitake Mushrooms

Ingredients

• 2 pounds green beans, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup thinly sliced shallots (2 medium)
• 12 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and halved
• 2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
• Coarse sea salt or kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup slivered almonds (optional)

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to boiling. Add green beans. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Cook, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain green beans in a colander. Run cold water over beans until chilled to stop the cooking and keep the beans bright green.

2. In an extra-large skillet heat oil and butter over medium heat. Add shallots; cook just until tender, stirring frequently. Add mushrooms; cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently.

3. Add green beans. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until heated through, tossing occasionally. Add lemon peel, lemon juice, and thyme; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If desired, garnish with almonds.

4. Twice-Baked Mashed Potatoes with Pesto

Ingredients

• 4 12-ounce russet potatoes
• ½ cup basil or dried tomato pesto
• ½ cup shredded Pecorino-Romano cheese (2 ounces)
• ¼ cup whole milk
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ cup pine nuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Scrub potatoes thoroughly with a brush; pat dry. Prick potatoes with a fork. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until tender. Remove from oven; let stand for 10 minutes. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out potato pulp, leaving 1/4-inch shells; place pulp in a medium bowl. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Mash potato pulp with a potato masher or an electric mixer on low speed. Add pesto, 1/4 cup of the cheese, and the milk; beat until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the mashed potato mixture into the potato shells. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese.

Place filled potato shells in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with pine nuts. Bake about 10 minutes more or until nuts are toasted.

5.  Bread Pudding with Brandy Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 5 large beaten eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups cubed Italian bread, allow to stale overnight in a bowl
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
• 1 cup chopped pecans

For the sauce:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup brandy

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan.

Mix together granulated sugar, eggs, and milk in a bowl; add vanilla. Pour over cubed bread and let sit for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, mix and crumble together brown sugar, butter, and pecans.

Pour bread mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over the top and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until set. Remove from oven.

For the sauce:

Mix together the granulated sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir together until the sugar is melted. Add the brandy, stirring well. Pour over bread pudding. Serve warm or cold.

What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes? We’d love to hear from you.

An excellent career path to consider once you’ve left the military is becoming a truck driver. Job prospects are more than favorable. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports this occupation is expected to grow more than 20 percent over the next decade, much faster than the average field. By 2020, there are expected to be nearly 2 million truck drivers hauling freight on America’s highways and roads.

Trucking is a natural choice for military personnel because it requires discipline and strength. Punctuality and the ability to weather stressful situations are two more attributes military men and women exhibit that can help them be successful as a trucker. Trucking companies enjoy hiring veterans because they know the job will be done well and with pride.

When considering a job as a truck driver, veterans should carefully examine how their military experience will translate to civilian life. The job titles and duties you performed will be foreign to non-military people, so you’ll want to find a military skills translator. There are several of these on the web. Military.com has a translator that lets you figure out what your skills, experience, and training align with in today’s workforce. These tools can also help you build a resume by finding common terms that can be easily understood by interviewers.

Employers who hire truck drivers like to see experience as an Army truck driver or similar titles on a veteran’s resume. If you do have experience driving trucks in the military, you should check with the state you will be registered in to see if your military experience qualifies you for a CDL, or commercial driver’s license. But some veterans have been quick to point out that many states still require you to go through process of getting the CDL, including obtaining a permit and taking a driving test.  At Greatwide our requirements include 12 months verifiable tractor-trailer driving experience within the past three years. Experience must be with a trailer 45′ or longer for Van/Refer drivers or with a like vehicle type for tankers and flat beds.

There are many schools that will train you to receive the CDL, which will enable you to legally operate a truck in the United States. Training takes anywhere from a few weeks to six or seven months. Some of these schools are specifically for ex-military personnel and let you use the GI Bill or other veteran’s education benefits to obtain your CDL. If you are in the National Guard, you may be able to get your CDL without using the GI Bill. The Guard has programs with some driving schools that give you college credit for the CDL. Not matter what option you choose, always do plenty of research, check reviews, and ask other truck drivers to ensure the training school is legitimate.

Once you have obtained your CDL, you’ll want to look at potential companies to drive for. Greatwide offers a lot of resources to answer some of the most frequently asked questions, found at www.driveforgreatwide.com. You can also call one of our recruiters at 1-866-566-2074.

If you are an owner-operator with multiple trucks, you are well on your way to becoming a small fleet owner. You can take your love of being in control of your operation—and your sense of pride in owning your own rig—and expand your career to include a small fleet with your own drivers. This is an exciting career decision that can lead to great opportunities now and far into the foreseeable future. Whether or not you currently drive for Greatwide, here’s what you need to know about your expenses and profits before you pursue becoming a small fleet owner.

Expenses

Once you’re the boss, you’ll need to consider what effect multiple trucks will have on your free time and your bottom line. As a small fleet owner, you need to be prepared for far more expenses than you had as an owner-operator. Expect these costs to increase as your fleet grows.

Expenses may include:

• Payroll taxes
• Workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance
• Wage and benefit costs
• Truck maintenance and repair

Profits

Being the boss obviously has its expenses, but you can expect great profits from your new career path as well since additional trucks obviously bring greater potential for increased profits. While you can’t simply multiply your individual profitability by the number of trucks in your small fleet, there are great profits to be had by small fleet owners, some of which are directly monetary while others are simply benefits of being the boss.

Profits and other benefits may include:

• Profits from employees’ loads
• The power to create your own schedule
• A sense of pride in owning your own fleet
• Having total control over the operation

Discover more of the advantages of becoming a small fleet owner by connecting with us on LinkedIn and YouTube. Then, see what truckers are discussing on Facebook and Twitter. You’ve got what it takes to start your own small fleet—now let’s go do it!

One of the biggest concerns for the transportation industry is the high cost of fuel, which is why those who drive for Greatwide are eager to take advantage of our fuel discount program. The program is slightly different for owner-operators and company drivers, so we’ll explain the differences here.

Owner-Operators

This job title indicates that you own your own tractor and possibly even your own trailer. If you are an owner-operator, you are considered a small business owner, since you take care of your equipment and pay your own operating expenses. You might end up making a little less money than a company driver, but the freedom of taking whatever routes you want and living the lifestyle that’s right for you are often worth it.

Plus with the fuel discount program from Greatwide Logistics, rising fuel costs can be less of a concern for owner-operators like you.

Our program that is designed for owner-operators went into effect on May 1, 2012 and provides you with savings of up to $3,000 in fuel costs each year. To secure maximum benefits, you must sign and return your Schedule E as soon as possible. You can begin benefiting from the fuel discount program by using your Comdata card at Flying J and Pilot fueling locations whenever possible. For the first year you’re signed up, you’ll earn triple points that can be used toward purchases of:

• Electronics
• Household appliances
• Recreational products
• Food
• Merchandise
• Wi-Fi service

The program also makes you eligible for benefits such as:

• Special pricing on Flying J and Pilot merchandise
• Sweepstakes entries
• Birthday rewards
• A free shower credit with every 50-gallon fill-up

Company Drivers

If you’re a company driver, you’re an employee of Greatwide Logistics and you drive our equipment. We cover all operating expenses, including fuel and maintenance. While you are paid by the mile, you also receive great benefits, enjoy consistent home time, and are only responsible for minor living costs.

The fuel discount program for company drivers went into effect on April 16, 2012. Now, all company drivers who drive for Greatwide must purchase over-the-road fuel from Pilot and Flying J locations. Just like owner-operators, you get triple points during the first year to put toward a variety of purchases, which are outlined above. The program also makes you eligible for the benefits offered to owner-operators.

To learn more about our fuel discount program, or for additional information on Greatwide Logistics, be sure to connect with us on LinkedIn and YouTube. Then, see what truckers are discussing on Facebook and Twitter.