Thanksgiving 2004 plans

I'll be headed to central Oregon to have the day at my mother's. This will be the first time for a holiday at her house since my dad died -- over the years since, friends have hosted the day and now we have a new tradition of sharing the day with them.

I'll supply the newest tradition, the TurDucKen (the boneless chicken inside the boneless duck inside thye boneless turkey, with cornbread dressing from cajuncrawfish.com) another friend of my sister's is planning to bring the huge turkey he's been preparing for the day (currently 29 pounds and growing) ... (I won't be visiting him in the meantime because I still have a "if I meet 'em I don't eat 'em" policy. I'm a city kid, what can I say?)

quote:

Originally posted by Farfromhome

Every year about 3 weeks before Thanksgiving rolls around I start looking through the cookbooks and the internet recipe sites for new ideas for Thanksgiving, however any deviation from previous menus is squelched by my husband and my kids so, once more we will be having:
Early in the day the following appetizers:
deviled eggs
celery stuffed with homemade pimento cheese
chili con queso and chips
shrimp dip and crackers
And then around 4 or so Dinner of
Roasted Turkey
Cornbread Dressing (homemade of course! My grandmother in law passed on her recipe and its the best)
Giblet Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Candied Yams
Jellied Cranberry Sauce (from a can, ocean spray blech)
Green Bean Casserole (yes the one from the label of campbells mushroom soup)
Broccili, rice and cheese casserole
Frog Eyed Salad (fruit salad)
Homemade yeast rolls
pumpkin pie and whipped cream
pecan pie
strawberry cake
banana cream pie
coconut cream pie

I have tried and tried and tried to interject changes into this menu over the 24 years we have been married and have had the dinner at our house, and anytime I try substituting something new you would think I was suggesting putting forth tv dinners for the big day. One year I decided to skip the ocean spray jellied cranberry sauce and made a beautiful molded cranberry salad and my husband and my daughter went and found a store that was open and had the stuff in the can left, brought it home and stuck it in the freezer so that it would be chilled in time for dinner I've finally given up and realized that what is most important to me for Thanksgiving is not that the food I serve be the latest "in vogue" thing, but that it be what makes my family and my guests happy and this is it. So as I fantasize about wrapping fresh green beans in proscuita (sp?) I'll be working the can-opener on the cut green beans and campbells cream of mushroom soup!

I hope everyone has a Thanksgiving day that brings them joy, whatever that is

Sounds fabulous. But you got to do something about the cranberries, honey. That jellied crap is criminal.

Redtressed---you definitely put the "giving" in Thanksgiving!

So is Thanksgiving the ultimate Roadfooders holiday? Sounds like a poll to me....

Anyway, I love this holiday, based around food that it is. My mom and I alternate Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year I host Thanksgiving. I have never made a turkey in my life (though I do make a mean turkey piccata). Usually by the time my family gets to my house (we always get together the Saturday or Sunday after the big day--no conflicts with other doings, usually) they have already had turkey several times, so I always aim to make something different, but just as celebratory.

This year I am using Thanksgiving to pay a personal tribute to Julia Child. I am making the entire meal out of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" (Vol. 1). We will be having:

Potage Parmentier (Leek and Potato Soup)
Souffle' au Fromage (Cheese Souffle')
Boeuf a la Bourguignonne (Beef Braised in Wine)
Tarte Tatin (Upside Down Apple Tart)

Not too shabby, huh?

quote:

Originally posted by tsores

Sounds fabulous. But you got to do something about the cranberries, honey. That jellied crap is criminal.

My sister and I used to just love that jellied stuff. My mother would very very carefully slide it out into her finest jelly dish and my sister and I would be the first ones to the table to count all the ridges in it from the can

Although, we serve cranberry chutney now, I also always very very carefully open a can of the jellied stuff and slide it out onto my jelly dish and bring it to the table where it sort of slides around on the smooth glass bottom of the dish until the youngest child at the table has the honor of trying to slice it

The canned jellied stuff is going to live on forever!

Here's my mom's cranberry dish as I have modified it. She called it Cranberry-Orange Relish, and I call it Orange-Cranberry Relish. I make it to please my New Hampshire-born partner.

Buy 1-3 beautiful navel (seedless!) oranges, 1-2 12-oz. bags of fresh cranberries and a large box of orange gelatine. Wash produce, boil water and dissolve the gelatine in that. Now, for the fun part I remember most from my childhood! Quarter the oranges, then put all the produce into your meat grinder, skin and all--raw. I have the attachment for my KitchenAid mixer, and use its bowl for the gelatine and to catch the grindings. The cranberries will go "pop-pop-pop!" and will amuse your children, too. The proportion of oranges to cranberries is up to you. I then add about 1/4 tsp of Grand Marnier, and fold all together before placing in a glass bowl and putting in the fridge to set up. Some similar recipes call for chopped celery--no thank you.

I'm afraid I can identify with our divorced friends here. Neither my partner, John, nor I have any surviving parents. Thanksgiving is viewed as a very "family" holiday, and so many members of our gay community have been thrown out by our families that it just doesn't seem very much of a holiday to us. Our non-gay friends have never invited us to their family dinners. John is going to work that day so we can have more time when my brother (also a member of our community, and who will be alone Thanksgiving too) comes here for Christmas. I know most of you have NOT told a gay/lesbian child to take a hike, and you don't deserve a rebuke, but if you have, I take it that's what you mean by "family values."

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

quote:

Originally posted by felix4067

You could really insert just about any holiday's name here, as long as the show name was changed as well...

I'll be working the local stop of the tour of The Producers on wardrobe. They usually move the standard Thursday matinee to Sunday evening, though, so I should have plenty of time to cook if my mother decides I'm going to like she did last year (on Tuesday night).

lucky you!! I took my sister to see that when it was in our town and loved it!

Well, it's not as if I get to actually SEE any of the show. I'll be backstage helping them quick-change costumes the entire time.

Laugh I have tried to get them to give up the jellied stuff over the years but the natives get restless without it!! They are so determined to have the jellied from a can stuff that they sneak it in the house just in case I try to "get creative" as they put it with the cranberry sauce again. And its not just my husband and kids that insist on it. We always end up with about 6 - 10 extra "kids" for Thanksgiving, friends of my children who for one reason or another are going to be by themselves on Thanksgiving day because their family has either gone out of town or their parents have gone on a vacation without them. They are in ages of high school to college (didn't want anyone to think little children were being left behind). And at least a third of them will bring a can of that jellied junk

My family; Me, PP, our 3 yr old Ava, our oldest Veonn and her man Scott, our middle child Kristina and her fiancee Bobby will be having Thanksgiving at our friends and ex neighbors new house with the 3 of them.

I don't know the exact menu but turkey will be involved. I'm doing the desserts. Probably an apple pie and a coconut pie for PP.

When Granny was alive all 7 of her kids and all the G'kids and spouses and cousins would gather at her place. One bedroom was desserts, one was salads/cold foods and one was hot foods. Seating at the dinner table was reserved for Granny and her kids. Everyone else got to play musical chairs. Fortunately this was in Calif and outside on the porch was an option. No snow!

MikeS.

The wife and I doing what we should have been doing for years-avoiding all family and having a quiet Thanksgiving at home.During the afternoon we are going to help serve dinners to the homeless at our local(Buffalo,N.Y.) City Mission.I'm quite sure the people there will be more appreciative and better behaved than any of my in-laws....and we will have a much nicer Thanksgiving.

This year, I've had numerous requests to again make my Butternut Squash Ginger Soup, so I know I'll start with that. Outside of that, it'll probably be a less elaborate dinner this time. Appetizers will probably be crab-stuffed mushrooms and a relish tray-----this year I think I'm going to put green tomato pickles on it in addition to olives, carrots, radish, celery and cornichons. Roasted veggies again are on the list----last year's assortment of turnips, onions, fennel and small red and white potatoes was a real hit. The turkey is another given-----everybody really liked the brined turkey roasted with herbes d'provence. We may have an exchange student too this year so I will plan on making a side dish to reflect their country. Stuffing of course with apple, pecans and sausage. I've made my own version of cranberry-orange relish for years and really endorse it. Homemade mixed berry-rhubarb crisp and pumpkin pie will provide a nice finish.
Martinis, Claiborne and Churchill Gewurtztraminer with Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider will round out the meal.

First, some background, in the days of old my grand mother and 2 of her sister in-laws would rotate Thanksgiving every 3 years for about 40 or 50 of us...

These days my Aunt and I rotate the responsiblity but I usually end up doing most of the cooking, this year i'm at bat and so the choices are mine.

I will ask my guests to arrive about Noon and I ask them to bring nothing but themselves but I ALSO ask everyone to help with cleaning, preparing and so forth...

I will be serving three tasting courses..

Elk Tenderloin with a Rasberry Glaze

Semi Boneless breast of Quail

Baby Lamb Chop with Mint

Then the actual meal...

I roast 2-3 wild turkeys (farm raised) and serve a corn bread and sausage stuffing, roasted squash, Garlic Greens and Sweet Potato Fries.

I'll also serve home made cranberry sauce, gravy and the one dish allowed from the outside will be a mango and chili Salsa that a good friend is bringing (with prior approval of course!).

For dessert, some Choc and Vanilla ice cream, fresh fruit and Cheese Cake.

Drink wise I'll be serving an old maderia (1834) with the first course, then some oak aged blueberry wine from Bartlets in Maine. The 3rd course is TBD and the main course will be served with a selection of 15 to 20 year old Bourbon flights; soda and beer for those who wish it.

It will be the usual for me. Breakfast at the Waffle House before pheasant hunting. After returning from hunting I'll change and head back to the Waffle house for dinner.

Michael, I remember that from last year! We do the every other year with in-laws thing in our family. So all my family is scattering to the winds and my husband and kids are going to the ranch to hunt. Deer hunting bores me to death and I divorced myself from my in-laws about seven years ago so I will be alone. With the cat.

It really doesn't bother me as all during my hosptial years, I always worked Thanksgiving in order to have Christmas off.

I will enjoy the time alone and to have my house to myself. I may not even get dressed and stay in my pj's.

I might have to make myself a small dinner with a turkey breast and cornbread dressing, but I could just pick it up at Luby's.

Michaelgemmel - want to come over over to my house and have Bloody Marys and movies all day? Forget the cooking!

Well- as on most Thanksgiving mornings, I hop on a plane, as it's a great morning to fly. Most of the travellers are already at their destinations. I will fly to Dallas, pick up the boyfriend, and then continue on to a very traditional Thanksgiving in Las Vegas- ahhaahhaha. But... real people actually live there, and we will be having dinner with our close friends, who are like family to me. Of course, after dinner, who knows? Might have to frequent a casino or two. After that- just in time for a great 99 cent Midnight Steak and Eggs special at the Orleans or something. Maybe great fudge cake at the Grand Luxe? Maybe sleep? Now... that's more like it. Friday is another day. I hope to have some new reviews of places I have wanted to try including 2 southern places- Sweet Georgia Browns, and Kathy's.

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone

We’ll be going to my aunt & uncle’s house for Thanksgiving, as we usually do, along with a pile of cousins and their children and various friends and in-laws from both sides of the family. It’s sort of sad because in the last 5 years, all of their generation has died except them so there are many “ghosts” around the dinner table now. The number of guests ranges between 25 and 45. My aunt makes a turkey or two plus extra breasts to slice and take home for sandwiches, bread stuffing in the bird, a big casserole of Pa. Dutch potato filling and gravy.

Everyone else brings the rest of the meal and it varies every year. The cousin who’s coordinating the menu this year is on vacation so I’ll have to check in when she returns. Everyone makes what they want but she just makes sure 5 people don’t bring the same thing. I’m planning on bringing homemade cranberry applesauce, butters shaped like turkeys and a big dish of cooked julienned carrots and zucchini dressed with browned butter. Everybody has a job, including the younger kids doing things like putting ice cubes in the glasses. While the cooks cook, another group puts up the outside Christmas decorations and does any minor repairs on their house and yard so everybody dresses informally.

The very best part of the day is after dinner when we all gather around the biggest table and play the “Tell us” game. One person draws a slip of paper of about 75 in a box and it says something like “Tell us about a pair of shoes you really liked” or “Tell us about a time you got in trouble at school” or “Tell us about a very bad storm.” If the person doesn’t like that one, they can draw up to a total of 3 slips but then have to select one of them to tell the rest of the group about. You would be amazed at some of the stories we’ve heard over the years and it’s a good way to learn more about visitors and relatives we don’t see that often too.

P.S. The hostess is the same Aunt Betty that I talked about on page 1 of this thread.
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2625&SearchTerms=Wanamaker

(Edited because I forgot to add the link )

Ruby Rose sez: "While the cooks cook, another group puts up the outside Christmas decorations and does any minor repairs on their house and yard so everybody dresses informally."


What a great idea!

I like my own idea of making the guests help with things but asking them not to bring anything but themselves...

We're going to drive from Washington DC up to Martinsburg, WV, pick up my parents and drive to Oglebay Park, which is just north of Wheeling, WV., on Thanksgiving Day. There, we will meet my brother and his lady friend, who will be driving up from Richmond. We'll eat Thanksgiving dinner at the Lodge, and stay there until Sunday. During our visit, we'll see the Holiday Festival of Lights, which supposedly is the largest such display in the country. It's a six mile drive through over three hundred acres of land covered with holiday lighting displays. It's something that we did before, and it was a lot of fun (and no one had to cook, which, I'm sure, made my wife and mother very happy!). As the Roadfooder in my family, I've been charged with making our eating arrangements on the other days that we'll be there, so I'm really looking forward to trying Zien's in Wheeling, and I've found some other places (Abbey's in Wheeling and Mitchell's in nearby Moundsville) that sound promising. All in all, it promises to be a great way to start the holiday season!

quote:

Originally posted by michaelgemmell

Here's my mom's cranberry dish as I have modified it. She called it Cranberry-Orange Relish, and I call it Orange-Cranberry Relish. I make it to please my New Hampshire-born partner.

Buy 1-3 beautiful navel (seedless!) oranges, 1-2 12-oz. bags of fresh cranberries and a large box of orange gelatine. Wash produce, boil water and dissolve the gelatine in that. Now, for the fun part I remember most from my childhood! Quarter the oranges, then put all the produce into your meat grinder, skin and all--raw. I have the attachment for my KitchenAid mixer, and use its bowl for the gelatine and to catch the grindings. The cranberries will go "pop-pop-pop!" and will amuse your children, too. The proportion of oranges to cranberries is up to you. I then add about 1/4 tsp of Grand Marnier, and fold all together before placing in a glass bowl and putting in the fridge to set up. Some similar recipes call for chopped celery--no thank you.

I'm afraid I can identify with our divorced friends here. Neither my partner, John, nor I have any surviving parents. Thanksgiving is viewed as a very "family" holiday, and so many members of our gay community have been thrown out by our families that it just doesn't seem very much of a holiday to us. Our non-gay friends have never invited us to their family dinners. John is going to work that day so we can have more time when my brother (also a member of our community, and who will be alone Thanksgiving too) comes here for Christmas. I know most of you have NOT told a gay/lesbian child to take a hike, and you don't deserve a rebuke, but if you have, I take it that's what you mean by "family values."

Michael, you, John, and your brother would be invited to my Thanksgiving dinner ANYTIME! I know you're on the West coast and I'm in the Philly area, but you all would be welcome. I have little patience for the treatment you have endured especially with regards to this day of thanks.
Please know that JaneDough and I will be thinking of you Thanksgiving and hope to meet you on our next trip to the Bay area.

Thank you all for your kindness and consideration.

You really got me misty with the relatives checking over the house to make needed repairs and put up the outdoor decorations. Please allow me one reminder that someone needs to promise to take them down, but you're making sure your aged relatives go into the holiday season ready. I find myself remembering my aunt saying in 2001 at home in Galesburg IL that they probably wouldn't put up their tabletop artificial tree again "because it's getting to be too much work,"--but did it one more time so their nephews and someone they had never met would enjoy their tree, just like when my brother and I were little boys. You've quite hit the nail on the head because thankfulness is not demonstrated by the prayers we mumble over the bird but by taking care of those who welcomed us into their arms when we were childen, in my own case by my very own fairy godmother. I just wish she and my uncle weren't 1800 miles away.

I go to Stuttgart, Arkansas duck hunting every year (since the '80s) during Thanksgiving, so I'll probably have dinner at the "Cajun Bistro". Hot and spicy shrimp, blackened catfish with crawfish etoufee, dirty rice, cheesecake, etc.. Looking forward to it!

Buckshot

quote:

Originally posted by chezkatie

quote:

Originally posted by cedwin

We will be eating at my sisters with a large crowd, and will have the usual turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, wild rice, sweet potatoes, fresh cranberry sauce, Brunswick stew, and my special pumpkin pie.

The most important thing about Thanksgiving is my girlfriend and I will be announcing our engagement that day, however, to our respective families(!)

Oh wow what a great day to make such a wonderful announcement. Congratulations to both of you and may it be a very special day!

This Thanksgiving will mark the six anniversary of my engagement to my wife. We head to south Florida every year for Thanksgiving with my in laws, my sister in law and her family. And then, the day after Thanksgiving, we celebrate birthdays (every adult in the equation other than me has a birthday within days of each other, so we throw one big celebration. I get a few gifts anywhere, just because.)

I really, really enjoy going to see my wife's family. But, I must admit that I don't particularly like Thanksgiving in south Florida. I know who you're with is the most important thing, but it's literally one day a year I prefer cooler weather and a little homier feeling than is the case there.

Meanwhile, let's hope that Redtressed is up and able to deliver her turkeys to the women's shelter this year.

I am really wondering....how do you carve a turducken? Does each guest get a slice of each meat, or is each part carved separately?

quote:

Originally posted by michaelgemmell

Thank you all for your kindness and consideration.

You really got me misty with the relatives checking over the house to make needed repairs and put up the outdoor decorations. Please allow me one reminder that someone needs to promise to take them down, but you're making sure your aged relatives go into the holiday season ready. I find myself remembering my aunt saying in 2001 at home in Galesburg IL that they probably wouldn't put up their tabletop artificial tree again "because it's getting to be too much work,"--but did it one more time so their nephews and someone they had never met would enjoy their tree, just like when my brother and I were little boys. You've quite hit the nail on the head because thankfulness is not demonstrated by the prayers we mumble over the bird but by taking care of those who welcomed us into their arms when we were childen, in my own case by my very own fairy godmother. I just wish she and my uncle weren't 1800 miles away.

Michael, not to worry. We all meet there the third Sunday in January (unless there's a big snowstorm; then it's the folllowing Sunday) for a soup, salad and bread tasting lunch and take all the decorations down and put them away.

I'd much rather plan and cook the whole Thanksgiving dinner but I think the rollicking, everyone's welcome and who knows what we'll be eating this year concept has kept them going the last couple of years.

quote:

Originally posted by Lone Star

Michael, I remember that from last year! We do the every other year with in-laws thing in our family. So all my family is scattering to the winds and my husband and kids are going to the ranch to hunt. Deer hunting bores me to death and I divorced myself from my in-laws about seven years ago so I will be alone. With the cat.

It really doesn't bother me as all during my hosptial years, I always worked Thanksgiving in order to have Christmas off.

I will enjoy the time alone and to have my house to myself. I may not even get dressed and stay in my pj's.

I might have to make myself a small dinner with a turkey breast and cornbread dressing, but I could just pick it up at Luby's.

Michaelgemmel - want to come over over to my house and have Bloody Marys and movies all day? Forget the cooking!

We've been bowhunting since early last month, but our gun season for deer doesn't get underway till the Monday after Thanksgiving. My grandson took a really nice buck just the other day from one of the tree stands on my property. But Thanksgiving has always been a pheasant hunting day. My wife used to hunt with me, and then we'd rush home to get the turkey and stuff ready for a late afternoon dinner. The secret was to prepare everything ahead of time, except for the actual cooking.

I don't know, though, the idea of not even having to get dressed doesn't sound too hard to take.

Been looking forward to Thanksgiving as my family drives from VA to southern Indiana (Salem) to visit my favorite cousin who would be alone otherwise. My daughter and I plan to make dinner with my cousin delivering on the turkey and his marvelous white half runner beans (a taste I've loved from eastern KY...I grow them out here and they just don't have the same taste). We'll have the traditional stuff but the side trip to Gnaw Bone, IN for one of those fabulous pork tenderloin sandwiches (thank you Major Al!) is calling me as well as a butter burger from Culvers (which my cousin says is close enough to do also).

So, all my reading the Roadfood posts will enable me to sample some more good grub as well.

Enjoyed reading this thread and wish all a day of memories and good
eats! Judy

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by Lone Star

Michael, I remember that from last year! We do the every other year with in-laws thing in our family. So all my family is scattering to the winds and my husband and kids are going to the ranch to hunt. Deer hunting bores me to death and I divorced myself from my in-laws about seven years ago so I will be alone. With the cat.

It really doesn't bother me as all during my hosptial years, I always worked Thanksgiving in order to have Christmas off.

I will enjoy the time alone and to have my house to myself. I may not even get dressed and stay in my pj's.

I might have to make myself a small dinner with a turkey breast and cornbread dressing, but I could just pick it up at Luby's.

Michaelgemmel - want to come over over to my house and have Bloody Marys and movies all day? Forget the cooking!

We've been bowhunting since early last month, but our gun season for deer doesn't get underway till the Monday after Thanksgiving. My grandson took a really nice buck just the other day from one of the tree stands on my property. But Thanksgiving has always been a pheasant hunting day. My wife used to hunt with me, and then we'd rush home to get the turkey and stuff ready for a late afternoon dinner. The secret was to prepare everything ahead of time, except for the actual cooking.

I don't know, though, the idea of not even having to get dressed doesn't sound too hard to take.

I have never been pheasant hunting, but I think I would enjoy it. I admire you bowhunters - I could never keep that still or keep my mind on what I was supposed to be doing for that long! One of my boys went on a goose hunt down at Matagorda Bay last weekend, but they were flying too high. They had a lot of fun though. I think the best part is for the boys to be out there on their own. My conscience may get the best of me and I will go on out to the "Superfeast" held here and volunteer to bus tables or something.

quote:

Originally posted by Lone Star

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by Lone Star

Michael, I remember that from last year! We do the every other year with in-laws thing in our family. So all my family is scattering to the winds and my husband and kids are going to the ranch to hunt. Deer hunting bores me to death and I divorced myself from my in-laws about seven years ago so I will be alone. With the cat.

It really doesn't bother me as all during my hosptial years, I always worked Thanksgiving in order to have Christmas off.

I will enjoy the time alone and to have my house to myself. I may not even get dressed and stay in my pj's.

I might have to make myself a small dinner with a turkey breast and cornbread dressing, but I could just pick it up at Luby's.

Michaelgemmel - want to come over over to my house and have Bloody Marys and movies all day? Forget the cooking!

We've been bowhunting since early last month, but our gun season for deer doesn't get underway till the Monday after Thanksgiving. My grandson took a really nice buck just the other day from one of the tree stands on my property. But Thanksgiving has always been a pheasant hunting day. My wife used to hunt with me, and then we'd rush home to get the turkey and stuff ready for a late afternoon dinner. The secret was to prepare everything ahead of time, except for the actual cooking.

I don't know, though, the idea of not even having to get dressed doesn't sound too hard to take.

I have never been pheasant hunting, but I think I would enjoy it. I admire you bowhunters - I could never keep that still or keep my mind on what I was supposed to be doing for that long! One of my boys went on a goose hunt down at Matagorda Bay last weekend, but they were flying too high. They had a lot of fun though. I think the best part is for the boys to be out there on their own. My conscience may get the best of me and I will go on out to the "Superfeast" held here and volunteer to bus tables or something.

My favorite pheasant hunting memories center on firsts. My wife's first pheasant, the first ones of my daughters, and the first one of my grandson. Then there's the dog work, and the companionship of each of my hunting dogs over the years. Sit-down time after working a large field, with the packing of my pipe, even more than the smoking of it, a cheerished memory. (I haven't smoked since January, 1993.) And then there are the salami and cheese sandwiches I share with the dog.

I haven't been to Matagorda Bay since the 1950s, and I never got to hunt there.