What's for dinner?

[dewtwo]

This year we have the honor of joining our friend's family for Thanksgiving. For the first time in over 20 years, I will be enjoying other regional foods. I have never had creamed onions for Thanksgiving, let alone any other meal. I am taking oyster stuffing southern style, squash casserole and southern ambrosia. Dinners are always to be enjoyed with a minimum of 12 people. If you don't know 12 people to share dinner with, you have to go find homeless people (Ok just people who don't have family in town). We will have 10 for dinner this time.

 

Share with us your traditions that might be more regional in nature.

[Quinn]

My wife's family had never had sauerkraut(sp) with turkey until I introduced them to it. My father also always wanted duck instead of turkey, but my Mom was the cook so that didn't happen until Christmas. Dad was from New Jersey and a second generation Czech. Mom was from Pink Hill, North Carolina.

[BFish]

since i pretty much cook almost everything 'cept dessert we do the following:

 

-cupla birds so the guests can take some LO's home and killer gravy

-no stuffing

-sour cream infused mashed taters (good)

-green bean casserole

-sweet tater casserole

-homemade cranberries (daughter makes it)

-homemade bread

-corn

 

a host of desserts (i don't officially sit down and eat any of the pies, but rather keep a fork in my pocket and graze a bit)

 

stogies

 

poker (guts to be specific)

 

dinner is for about 13-15 relatives including the outlaws.

 

[Knifemaker]

poker (guts to be specific)

 

 

I'm in......

[Twisties]

I prefer to make a non-turkey meal. Sometimes it might be prime rib or leg of lamb (roasted or butterflied and grilled), other times we have made vegetarian entrees. Some years we go to relative's places... which means travel, other years they come here. Some years we are on our own, in which case we would most likely go camping.

 

This year we have family here and they have insisted on turkey. I will often make a wild mushroom and bacon dish, sage stuffing and gravy (we have sage in the backyard, yes Michael, culinary sage, not great basin sage), and some herb roasted vegetables.

 

The turkey in our house is always an "all natural", un-injected bird and is oven roasted with no basting or other interference. It starts out tented with foil, and is allowed to brown towards the end.

 

This year I went on Epicurious.com and got all new recipes. I have no idea if they are any good. The fun is in the trying. Cooking will be a family affair and will start today. Here's the menu:

 

Plain turkey

Sage stuffing

Sage Gravy

Artichokes in lemon and olive oil

Smashed pototoes with roasted garlic gravy

Haricots verts with bacon and chestnuts

Brussels sprout hash with caramelized shallots

Cranberry tangerine conserve

Cranberry and blood orange relish

Cider-poached apples with candied walnuts, rum cream, and cider syrup

Prune, cherry, and apricot frangipane tart

 

Appetizers will include marinated artichokes, various olives, and humus with pita

 

Oh, and Diane, I am going to try to work in some Grapeseed Oil for ya'

[ArmyGuy]

We have had several families get together for the past few years...none of which ate turkey until I smoked one. 14 hours in a slow, 180 degree smoker. It's a bugger to light and keep lit but the taste is worth it.

[Mister Tee]

My traditional Thankgiving dinner was usually a roast turkey or chicken, chitlins, okra and fried pork rinds. Sometimes it would just be pork rinds. Once it was just Fritos and bacon. Nowadays, the Tee prefers prime rib for Thanksgiving.

 

Except this year will probably be roast duck wrapped in rice paper, and maybe some sort of Thanksgiving drink at an ex pat bar.

[Joel]

Sometimes you gotta go against the flow. A couple of years ago, we told each side of the family that we were going to the other side's for Thanksgiving. Then we stayed home and had a total couch potato experience: drinking beer, playing Xbox, watching DVDs, and enjoying the lack of family drama. We won't make a tradition of that, but it was a nice temporary break from tradition.

[Kitsap]

Growing up dead pig, cheddar cheese jello salad and cast iron skillet corn bread was always involved. My wife hates jello w/ cheese, some people have no taste.

[Paul Mihalka]

I'm getting hungry just reading all this. We'll go to son and daughter in law, north of New York city. We take the wine and desert from a local shop called Bonaparte. The owner looks like Napoleon! He makes good stuff. On the menu is turkey and sides.

[Fugu]

Haricots verts with bacon and chestnuts

Oh, are you eschewing the traditional cocotte en terre d'haricot vert avec la soupe à champignons et les oignons frits français de Durkee?

 

Quel Snob, Jan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Matts_12GS]

It's a bugger to light and keep lit but the taste is worth it.

 

Try different papers. Maybe if you can get it rolled tighter it'll stay lit better...

[bakerzdosen]

Sometimes you gotta go against the flow. A couple of years ago, we told each side of the family that we were going to the other side's for Thanksgiving. Then we stayed home and had a total couch potato experience: drinking beer, playing Xbox, watching DVDs, and enjoying the lack of family drama. We won't make a tradition of that, but it was a nice temporary break from tradition.

Why not? Sounds like my ideal T-day to me...

[ltljohn]

Haricots verts with bacon and chestnuts

Oh, are you eschewing the traditional cocotte en terre d'haricot vert avec la soupe à champignons et les oignons frits français de Durkee?

 

Quel Snob, Jan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laughing too hard

 

 

 

[90%angel]

What's for dinner:

 

Roast Turkey with a Thyme butter rub and pan gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Corn bread stuffing (although we don't actually "stuff" the bird with it)

Tossed salad with spinach salad dressing and cheese garlic croutons

Cranberry Sauce

Green Been Casserole with French's Cheddar fried onions

Corn Casserole (basically, creamy, buttery (fattening) corn)

Fresh baked dinner rolls

 

What's for Dessert:

Homemade Pecan Pie a la mode

Lemon Meruenge (sp?) pie

Peach Cobbler

Fudge

 

Who's over for Dinner:

Russell's family from TX this year.

 

Traditions:

Russell's family watches the big UT vs A&M game

 

When we go up to my family's house we usually take the nieces to a Christmas Tree farm the day after Thanksgiving and cut down a fresh tree and decorate for Christmas!

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

[dewtwo]

I enjoyed reading all your traditions! Some of your recipes might need to be shared!

 

To each of you I wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

[BFish]

It's a bugger to light and keep lit but the taste is worth it.

 

Try different papers. Maybe if you can get it rolled tighter it'll stay lit better...

 

ROFLMFAO!

[RichEdwards]

since i pretty much cook almost everything 'cept dessert we do the following:

 

-cupla birds so the guests can take some LO's home and killer gravy

-no stuffing

-sour cream infused mashed taters (good)

-green bean casserole

-sweet tater casserole

-homemade cranberries (daughter makes it)

-homemade bread

-corn

 

a host of desserts

 

Brian---I think next year BikeTurkeyFest should be held at your house on Thanksgiving. Can you absorb 20 or 30 more guests?

[BFish]

i would love to do that. still have to be the weekend before as the outlaws take up turkey day.

[Twisties]

Haricots verts with bacon and chestnuts

Oh, are you eschewing the traditional cocotte en terre d'haricot vert avec la soupe à cremé de champignons et les oignons frits français de Durkee?

 

Quel Snob, Jan.

 

There, fixed it for you, I think.

 

After, ROFLMAO, then consideration:

 

My neighbor makes that pretty good, now you mention it. But really, you are putting up cream of mushroom soup and canned french fries against BACON? Are you MAD?

 

[Fugu]

But really, you are putting up cream of mushroom soup and canned french fries against BACON? Are you MAD?

 

No, of course not. I'm just picking on you like usual. You know me. Have a great Thanksgiving.

 

Now that you mention it I think I'm going to make bacon and pecan brittle.... My sister's handling all the real cooking.

 

 

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup water

1 Tbsp. unsalted butter

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. salt

Good pinch of cayenne pepper to your preference (I like some kick)

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1 cup crispy cooked bacon, in bits (about 12 oz. uncooked bacon)

Grease or butter a large nonstick baking sheet, or line with a Silpat mat. In a heavy medium-sized saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the syrup comes to a boil. Attach a candy thermometer to the pan, increase the heat to high, and cook without stirring until the mixture reaches 290 degrees. Immediately remove from the heat. Stir in the butter, vanilla, baking soda, salt, pecans, and bacon bits. The mixture will foam quite a bit. When the foam subsides, pour the hot mixture out onto the prepared baking sheet and, working quickly, spread thin using a silicone spatula or two forks. If the brittle starts to set up before you have spread it out thin, set the baking sheet in a hot oven until the candy softens and continue to spread. Cool at least 10 minutes before breaking into pieces. Store in a covered container.

 

 

Bacon dessert!

 

[marcopolo]

Now that you mention it I think I'm going to make bacon and pecan brittle....

 

Bacon dessert!

 

Wow, who would have thunk it. Sounds great, though I don't think it would help in my current efforts to lose 10 lbs.

[Tank]

Thursday, a few of us will start cooking turkeys and at 12noon I'll open the doors at the Harbor Firehall...... we will feed 60 to a 75 people potluck at 2pm. If you are on the coast in Brookings Oregon, come on down and Give Thanks.

This event was started as a Friends of Bill W...... but over the years it has attracted all who are in need of a meal and good cheer.