Thanksgiving Menu

[NoNamePerson]

Nov 9, 2021 17:06:31 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Nov 9, 2021 13:58:36 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I don't like making turkey mainly because I don't like dealing with the carcass afterwards, but the few I made turned out ok.  I just always make them in a bag.

Ah, but the carcass makes wonderful broth!  You just throw it in a pot with chopped celery, onions and water and let it cook for a few hours and remove all the bones and anything else that doesn't look edible (e.g. wing tips).  Of course, that part is messy.  A friend like the soup I made form a turkey carcass so much that when he went to California for Thanksgiving with his family, he brought the turkey carcass back to NJ in his luggage so I could make turkey noodle soup.

I don’t eat turkey but I take home carcass as part of my leftovers! If there’s a ham involved I also get ham bone for seasoning. They are glad I take “bony” leftovers. 

[Tennesseer]

Nov 9, 2021 13:44:43 GMT -5 swamp said:

Nov 9, 2021 11:52:08 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

My birthday is on Thanksgiving this year so I'm on strike. I'm not cooking anything. T1 is still mad about it. She's attempting the turkey for the first time and I think she's way overthinking it.

She’s way overthinking it. Turkey is one of the easiest things to cook.

"Cooking a turkey is easy" NoNamePerson said. "Piece of cake" NoNamePerson said.

[happyhoix]

SIL is hosting so I just have to bring a veggie and desserts. I’m the family pie person (because otherwise they would just get a frozen one). Last year I found pie dough cutters (like cookie cutters but smaller shapes to decorate pies crusts and make beautiful lattices) - very fun. So pumpkin pie and a cherry pie and probably some kind of brownies or cookies for the heathens who don’t like pies.

[thyme4change]

I am not a fan of turkey. I have eaten it every year and it is fine, but I never get excited to have it.

Last year Covid was roving strong, but I hadn't seen my 80 year old parents for eons. So, I asked them if we wanted to sit outside and eat (it is beautiful in Phoenix). We put our TV outside so we could watch football, and I set up 2 6 foot tables against each other, so we had one giant 6 x 6 table. But we were still technically social distancing. It was great. My Mom said it was one of her favorite T-days ever. So, we decided to repeat.

Best part about it - last year my DH made a small prime rib on our rotisserie on our grill, and he smoked a turkey breast. I made stuffing (technically dressing, since we did not stuff) mashed potatoes and carrots, and we bought rolls, and made a couple if pies. My son put apple pie filling into small tortillas and deep fried them using the burner we have outside. That was fun (and different, but not...)

I have taken for granted that my DH will smoke turkey again.

I have a recipe that I have bastardized carrot recipe that feels special - but can be served at any temperature, so I make that. I probably will also do some Brussels Sprouts - and stuffing (mandatory per husband) and mashed potatoes (mandatory per me). Pumpkin pie (mandatory per husband). Apple something (mandatory per me).

And then leftover turkey sandwiches later that night. 😉

[Opti]

Nov 9, 2021 20:34:22 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Nov 9, 2021 13:44:43 GMT -5 swamp said:

She’s way overthinking it. Turkey is one of the easiest things to cook.

"Cooking a turkey is easy" NoNamePerson said. "Piece of cake" NoNamePerson said.

Of course its easy for NNP. Her oven only has two options - off and fire roasted. 

[Opti]

And there's always outdoor cooking...

[Tennesseer]

Yummmmmmmm..

[NoNamePerson]

Nov 9, 2021 20:34:22 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Nov 9, 2021 13:44:43 GMT -5 swamp said:

She’s way overthinking it. Turkey is one of the easiest things to cook.

"Cooking a turkey is easy" NoNamePerson said. "Piece of cake" NoNamePerson said.

[NoNamePerson]

Nov 9, 2021 22:01:51 GMT -5 Opti said:

Nov 9, 2021 20:34:22 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

"Cooking a turkey is easy" NoNamePerson said. "Piece of cake" NoNamePerson said.

Of course its easy for NNP. Her oven only has two options - off and fire roasted. 

  So true!

[steff]

We didn't get to do Thanksgiving with family last year, so this year will be a little over the top.  We'll have between 7-10 people.  I tend to make something each person loves/requests so there's LOTS of dishes, but reasonably small amounts of each. 

Veggie tray/relish tray

spinach artichoke dip

queso dip (middle brother MUST have)

deep fried turkey (we make 2.  1 for turkey day & 1 for the weekend after)

baked ham (kiddo & middle brother HATE turkey)

cornbread dressing (mom & hubby)

regular bread stuffing (me & middle brother)

mashed potatoes (hubby & sis in law)

green bean casserole (hubby & youngest brother)

corn casserole (me & mom)

broccoli cheese & rice (me, kiddo, youngest brother & sis in law)

baked mac n cheese (kiddo & youngest brother)

rolls

homemade cranberry sauce & canned sauce (huge debate for years.  gave up & have both now)

cheesecake (for me, mom & sis in law)

apple pie (for youngest brother & hubby)

cherry pie (me & kiddo)

pumpkin pie (kiddo & hubby)

pecan pie (hubby & mom)

chocolate pie (middle brother)

gingerbread (me & middle brother)

applesauce cake  (youngest brother & mom)

apple, pumpkin, & pecan pie will be frozen pies from hubby's work.  I am not doing THAT much baking.

I started pulling out casserole dishes, great gramma's china & gramma's silver this week.  Will wash/polish everything this weekend & get the leaf put into the big table to start getting ready. 

For several years, kiddo worked retail & had to work on Thanksgiving.  I would do a full on 2nd Thanksgiving dinner for him & his friends who had to work on Saturday.  I'm so glad I don't have to do that anymore.  They loved it & loved being thought of but it was a shit ton of work to do twice in a few days. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Steff is your real name Monica Gellar by any chance? That's what your post made me think of.

[steff]

Nov 9, 2021 22:55:51 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Steff is your real name Monica Gellar by any chance? That's what your post made me think of.

lol  It's my one day of the year to really shine  

Funny part is, I cook all this damn food & by the time it's done I'm sick of it all.  I don't eat very much of it that day, I drink instead.  lol

[jerseygirl]

No one has mentioned mashed turnip- my dad loved it and so do I

[thyme4change]

Nov 9, 2021 23:32:43 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

No one has mentioned mashed turnip- my dad loved it and so do I

I don't think I have ever had mashed turnip. Do they have more flavor than potatoes?

[jerseygirl]

Nov 10, 2021 8:54:37 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Nov 9, 2021 23:32:43 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

No one has mentioned mashed turnip- my dad loved it and so do I

I don't think I have ever had mashed turnip. Do they have more flavor than potatoes?

Yes much more flavor, we just mash with butter and salt pepper

[Opti]

Nov 9, 2021 23:10:26 GMT -5 steff said:

Nov 9, 2021 22:55:51 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Steff is your real name Monica Gellar by any chance? That's what your post made me think of.

lol  It's my one day of the year to really shine  

Funny part is, I cook all this damn food & by the time it's done I'm sick of it all.  I don't eat very much of it that day, I drink instead.  lol

Its an impressive list Steff. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving with your family.

[raeoflyte]

Nov 9, 2021 21:39:45 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I am not a fan of turkey. I have eaten it every year and it is fine, but I never get excited to have it.

Last year Covid was roving strong, but I hadn't seen my 80 year old parents for eons. So, I asked them if we wanted to sit outside and eat (it is beautiful in Phoenix). We put our TV outside so we could watch football, and I set up 2 6 foot tables against each other, so we had one giant 6 x 6 table. But we were still technically social distancing. It was great. My Mom said it was one of her favorite T-days ever. So, we decided to repeat.

Best part about it - last year my DH made a small prime rib on our rotisserie on our grill, and he smoked a turkey breast. I made stuffing (technically dressing, since we did not stuff) mashed potatoes and carrots, and we bought rolls, and made a couple if pies. My son put apple pie filling into small tortillas and deep fried them using the burner we have outside. That was fun (and different, but not...)

I have taken for granted that my DH will smoke turkey again.

I have a recipe that I have bastardized carrot recipe that feels special - but can be served at any temperature, so I make that. I probably will also do some Brussels Sprouts - and stuffing (mandatory per husband) and mashed potatoes (mandatory per me). Pumpkin pie (mandatory per husband). Apple something (mandatory per me).

And then leftover turkey sandwiches later that night. 😉

Do you have a separate grill and smoker? Or a combo?

[Deleted]

Nov 9, 2021 22:44:42 GMT -5 steff said:

For several years, kiddo worked retail & had to work on Thanksgiving.  I would do a full on 2nd Thanksgiving dinner for him & his friends who had to work on Saturday.  I'm so glad I don't have to do that anymore.  They loved it & loved being thought of but it was a shit ton of work to do twice in a few days. 

Our Thanksgiving will be Saturday of that weekend.  DDIL's parents live a couple of hours away form them and her Mom works in a nursing home.  She has to work Thanksgiving and also that Friday night and is working someone else's shift for them Sunday afternoon.  

When they're in town I get a hotel room so they can stay with DS and DDIL- they don't have my lavish travel budget and DDIL's Dad is being treated for colon cancer.  DDIL said that I could stay at their place Friday night but I've gone ahead and booked Friday and Saturday night- the girls LOVE spending a night in the hotel with me (including using the pool, checking out the gym, choosing ice cream treats from the pantry as a bedtime snack and throwing coins in the fountains) and if I stayed there only Saturday night and took them with me they'd see almost nothing of their other grandparents.

[thyme4change]

Nov 10, 2021 10:06:36 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Nov 9, 2021 21:39:45 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I am not a fan of turkey. I have eaten it every year and it is fine, but I never get excited to have it.

Last year Covid was roving strong, but I hadn't seen my 80 year old parents for eons. So, I asked them if we wanted to sit outside and eat (it is beautiful in Phoenix). We put our TV outside so we could watch football, and I set up 2 6 foot tables against each other, so we had one giant 6 x 6 table. But we were still technically social distancing. It was great. My Mom said it was one of her favorite T-days ever. So, we decided to repeat.

Best part about it - last year my DH made a small prime rib on our rotisserie on our grill, and he smoked a turkey breast. I made stuffing (technically dressing, since we did not stuff) mashed potatoes and carrots, and we bought rolls, and made a couple if pies. My son put apple pie filling into small tortillas and deep fried them using the burner we have outside. That was fun (and different, but not...)

I have taken for granted that my DH will smoke turkey again.

I have a recipe that I have bastardized carrot recipe that feels special - but can be served at any temperature, so I make that. I probably will also do some Brussels Sprouts - and stuffing (mandatory per husband) and mashed potatoes (mandatory per me). Pumpkin pie (mandatory per husband). Apple something (mandatory per me).

And then leftover turkey sandwiches later that night. 😉

Do you have a separate grill and smoker? Or a combo?

The smoker is separate. It is an electric one and we picked it up from Lowes for a couple hundred bucks. Our grill island has a side burner and an electric outlet, so we set it up right there.

[daisylu]

IT gave us 1.5 hours notice this morning that our main system would go down at 11 for 3 hours. Thinking about calling it an early day. I am off the rest of the week, which makes me feel kind of guilty.


OOPS, wrong thread. 

[andi9899]

Nov 10, 2021 11:54:47 GMT -5 daisylu said:

IT gave us 1.5 hours notice this morning that our main system would go down at 11 for 3 hours. Thinking about calling it an early day. I am off the rest of the week, which makes me feel kind of guilty.

Do it!

[jelloshots4all]

Thanks all!  I love reading about different things/traditions.

My meal will be pretty standard as my parents are traditional, and my kids asked for a "regular" turkey feast after covid.

I submitted a grocery order to pick up late next week, so hopefully the store has the items in stock.


deviled eggs (my dad's fave)
veggie tray
cheese, sausage and crackers
spinach dip

Turkey
stuffing/dressing
mashed potatoes and gravy
fresh green bean side
home made cranberry sauce
crescent rolls

Costco pumpkin pie with ice cream or cool whip

Sangria
brandy slush
wine
beer
vodka
bloody mary's

Maybe I will share the beverages (lol- these will be the options to choose from)

[finnime]

I'll never forget my 3-yo niece at Thanksgiving, standing at my mother's table which was groaning with platters and dishes of every type, including a handsome 25-lb. stuffed turkey. M clasped her hands together and exclaimed, "Ritz crackers!"

[Tennesseer]

Nov 11, 2021 21:51:54 GMT -5 finnime said:

I'll never forget my 3-yo niece at Thanksgiving, standing at my mother's table which was groaning with platters and dishes of every type, including a handsome 25-lb. stuffed turkey. M clasped her hands together and exclaimed, "Ritz crackers!"

Better to hear "Ritz crackers!" blurted out than "Mother fuckers of the universe" shouted out after a friend's 4 yo daughter said it at a big family dinner. No one was paying attention to her request for a certain food on the table and she was frustrated. When asked where she heard those words she replied "HBO".

Most dinner guests snickered though not her mom.

[stillmovingforward]

I think I'm your friend because that's totally something one of my kids would have done. They were pretty feral.

[Tennesseer]

Nov 11, 2021 23:35:02 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

I think I'm your friend because that's totally something one of my kids would have done. They were pretty feral.

could be!

[finnime]

If you're serving ham or just want a ridiculously easy side dish, make That Pineapple Stuff:


INGREDIENTS

About 8 slices white bread, crusts removed, heavily buttered, cubed. Stale bread is fine.
20 ounce can crushed unsweetened pineapple, with juice

3/4 cup light brown sugar

4 eggs




DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325 or just put this in the oven with whatever else is cooking in there.
Layer bread and pineapple in greased two quart baking dish, starting with bread.
Beat together brown sugar and eggs and pour over bread mixture. If you're making ahead, refrigerate dish until an hour before you want to serve it.
Bake until puffed and golden, about 40 minutes in a slow oven.

[stillmovingforward]

That acty sounds really good!

[NancysSummerSip]

Nov 8, 2021 19:43:11 GMT -5 buystoys said:

I started shopping today so I wouldn't have an impossibly long list of things to buy the Monday before.  I'm making turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, dressing, cranberry sauce (canned) and rolls.  I'm thinking about making a chocolate pecan pie even though DH and I don't need it.  We'll do the holidays with just the two of us.

Your recipe (and guest list) sounds like mine. I make cranberry compote for myself (DH eats the canned kind) and we do baked sweet potatoes instead of the white mash. Dessert is pumpkin pie for him (I am not a fan, and I consider stuffing a side dish, dessert and a blessing. Also the greatest carb ever invented).

[andi9899]

Nov 9, 2021 10:05:48 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Nov 8, 2021 20:36:34 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Turkey, cornbread dressing for DH & plain bread dressing for me, homemade noodles to go over my mashed potatoes, gravy for DH, green bean casserole, creamed corn, candied yams, canned jelled cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie & Xcreamy cool whip.

Nay on noodles on the potatoes. Gotta have the turkey gravy, with noodles on the side. Nay on creamed corn. sub a brussel sprout or whl kernal corn. Gotta have the real whipped cream instead of the chemical concoction.
Love the two choices of dressing. We do that and I eat both.
Gotta have the green bean casserole, either fresh beans or canned is ok for me.We have to have some sort of jello with a fruit added to it with a dab of Miracle whip or mayo on top.
Pumpkin and homemade apple pie and a pecan pie for a few fanatics with real whipped cream (no aerosol cans).
Reisling and a sweet red wine for adults, sparkling grape juice for the young'uns.
Topped off with good coffee.

With the leftovers I always make turkey with noodles and gravy. It's served over mashed potatoes. So good!