Thanksgiving Menus

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I'll be really honest with you -- I'd be hugely disappointed to get anything pumpkin. I simply can't stand pumpkin in any shape or form, and I'm always very bummed when I get to a Thanksgiving dinner and that's the only dessert option. In my experience, pumpkin is one of those foods people either really like or really don't, so I'd suggest you have something in addition to pumpkin (whatever) for dessert, or at least find out in advance if your guests like it.

Meanwhile, as someone who is also not a turkey fan (I know, I know), I heartily endorse the duck idea.

You're like a Thanksgiving killer.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I'll be really honest with you -- I'd be hugely disappointed to get anything pumpkin. I simply can't stand pumpkin in any shape or form, and I'm always very bummed when I get to a Thanksgiving dinner and that's the only dessert option. In my experience, pumpkin is one of those foods people either really like or really don't, so I'd suggest you have something in addition to pumpkin (whatever) for dessert, or at least find out in advance if your guests like it.

Meanwhile, as someone who is also not a turkey fan (I know, I know), I heartily endorse the duck idea.

I always make pecan pie, especially since the ones my sil has bought in the past have been much too skimpy on the pecans.

I'm not wild about the turkey, either, unless it's swimming in cranberries!

Originally Posted by Drolefille

You're like a Thanksgiving killer.

The mental picture I got from your remark was awesome!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

You're like a Thanksgiving killer.

LOL. I actually love Thanksgiving. I just hate dry turkey (which almost all turkey is, though I'll gobble up smoked turkey) and left-over turkey, and I hate pumpkin.

Originally Posted by honeychile

I always make pecan pie, especially since the ones my sil has bought in the past have been much too skimpy on the pecans.

That's what we typically had when I was growing up. (I wasn't the only one in the family who didn't crave pumpkin.) A good pecan pie can't be beat, especially if there's a bit of bourbon in it.

[IrishLake]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

LOL. I actually love Thanksgiving. I just hate dry turkey (which almost all turkey is, though I'll gobble up smoked turkey) and left-over turkey, and I hate pumpkin.


That's what we typically had when I was growing up. (I wasn't the only one in the family who didn't crave pumpkin.) A good pecan pie can't be beat, especially if there's a bit of bourbon in it.

MC, have you had deep fried turey? My mom does her meal the weekend after Thanksgiving, and they always do 2 turkeys. One roasted in the oven or roaster, and the other injected with somesort of flavorful goodness and then deep fried outside. My God, deep fried turkey is my kind of heaven. Never ever had a dry bite yet.

And I make a kickass pecan pie, but with some Captains in it instead of bourbon. (We save the bourbon for Christmas bourbon balls, which get made the first week of december, but don't get eaten until Christmas, so they're potent!)

As for the oysters... his family isn't from the east coast, so I wonder where the tradition came from. But yes, the oyster casserole is like an oyster stuffing/dressing. I'm just thankful they don't stuff the bird with it. First year I was there for a meal when we were dating, he didn't tell me what it was. I took a bite, gagged and couldn't swallow it.

[AZ-AlphaXi]

traditional dishes at my house .. popovers and dressing balls.

The dressing balls (we think) came about from dressing that was extra from what was
stuffed in the bird so my grandmother would fry it up ... now no one in my family stuffs the bird .. we just have the fried dressing balls.

Also for using leftover turkey .. HOT BROWNS (receipe from the Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY)

open face turkey sandwich

toast
layer of turkey (and/or ham)
layer of turkey gravy
layer of cheese sause
layer of bacon (partially cooked)

grill until bacon is crisp ..serve hot

YUM YUM .. would almost rather have Hot Browns than the Turkey-Day dinner

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by AZ-AlphaXi

Also for using leftover turkey .. HOT BROWNS (receipe from the Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY)

open face turkey sandwich

toast
layer of turkey (and/or ham)
layer of turkey gravy
layer of cheese sause
layer of bacon (partially cooked)

grill until bacon is crisp ..serve hot

YUM YUM .. would almost rather have Hot Browns than the Turkey-Day dinner

Our tradition is to have Hot Browns for dinner on Black Friday! FYI, your toast should be cheap ole white bread, cheese sauce should be white and preferably homemade (no cheddar sauces, PLEASE) and stick that baby under the broiler until bubbly and browned.

This is the first year that our oldest will not be home for Thanksgiving, due to his school's basketball travel schedule. The joys of being a team manager, ugh. Hubby is going to their away game next Wednesday and flying home Thanksgiving day, so we're postponing the big meal until Friday afternoon.

He grills the turkey and it's awesome that way. He also handles the homemade gravy, stuffing (out of the bird, please) and mashed potatoes. I handle the shopping, but since it's just the four of us this year I'm not sure what size turkey to get? I prepare the casseroles (green bean, baked mac & cheese and some type of sweet potato), other veggies, desserts (pumpkin pie and chocolate chip banana bread). There's always that canned cranberry sauce too. Say what you will, but delicious on leftovers. The boys all swear it's not Thanksgiving without Crescent Rolls. I don't get it but if it makes them happy I can deal.

[BraveMaroon]

Here's the thing... turkey is critical, even though I don't love eating it on Thanksgiving Day.

It serves three purposes, though:

1. It's the cooking vessel for the dressing - now, I know - not everyone will eat the stuff that comes out of the bird, but in my opinion it's the best. But, I've found that the Crock Pot works well as a secondary option - the dressing is still really steamy and good, but I didn't have to go elbow deep into a bird to get it.

2. Without the drippings, there would be no gravy. Without gravy, there is no point of even coming to the table. Gravy can be used later in the weekend on hot, open-faced sandwiches.

3. Which brings me to the turkey itself. I could take or leave the actual bird at the formal meal, but nothing, and I mean nothing is as good as turkey sandwiches the next day.

If you are not yet familiar with Durkee's Sauce, you need to get to your store and get some. It's... I can't even describe it - it's like mayonnaise and mustard and Hollandaise sauce had a three-way, made a baby and it was Durkee's. Slap that, and some cranberry sauce, and some turkey on fresh, nutritionally-bereft white bread, and Give Thanks all over again.

As for pie, pecan or chocolate chess, please. Pumpkin is fine, but if you're giving me a choice, it's a 3rd place.

As for dressing - cornbread with sage, rosemary, green onion - and NO CELERY. Cooked celery is the bane of my existence.

We always have pickled peaches (which nobody eats), we always have congealed salad.

And there is always a selection of olives. I don't know why.

After four years of being in charge of Turkey Day, I'm giving the reins back to Dad.

I'll be sitting in front of the fire, listening to Alice's Restaurant Massacree.

And dreaming of gravy.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by BraveMaroon

Here's the thing... turkey is critical, even though I don't love eating it on Thanksgiving Day.

It serves three purposes, though:

1. It's the cooking vessel for the dressing - now, I know - not everyone will eat the stuff that comes out of the bird, but in my opinion it's the best. But, I've found that the Crock Pot works well as a secondary option - the dressing is still really steamy and good, but I didn't have to go elbow deep into a bird to get it.

2. Without the drippings, there would be no gravy. Without gravy, there is no point of even coming to the table. Gravy can be used later in the weekend on hot, open-faced sandwiches.

3. Which brings me to the turkey itself. I could take or leave the actual bird at the formal meal, but nothing, and I mean nothing is as good as turkey sandwiches the next day.

Here comes the Thanksgiving killer.

1. We always had dressing cooked separately. The bird was totally superfluous to the dressing.

2. If the bird weren't so dry, the gravy woudn't be needed. I've never liked gravy (and yes, I've had Durkee) or wanted gravy -- please don't put it on my rice or my mashed potatoes -- but I have to use it if I'm going to get the bird down.

3. See my point above about left-over turkey. I don't eat turkey sandwiches, and the thought of a sandwich with gravy on it makes my stomach turn just a little. (I know I've mentioned here at GC before one of my other peculiarities -- I hate sandwiches and consider them a meal of last resort. Again, I know, I know.)


And IL, yes, I'll agree with you on deep fried turkey. I should have added that to smoked turkey as good turkey that doesn't rival the Sahara for dryness.