The holiday meal isn't complete without . . .

All of the usual turkey, dressing, etc. and the wonderful addition of Waldorf salad.

Our family Thanksgiving tradition used to be the "black and serve rolls". These are brown and serve rolls forgotten to burn in the oven accidentally while the family begins the meal. This has not happened for some time and is a tradition well remembered and laughed at, but not necessarily missed (knock on wood).

My mother "borrowed" a dish we were served at the Hotel Nauvoo (IL) of wild rice. It's what I take today when we're invited out, like our friend who brings pumpkin pie.

No "wild rice blend" will do because wild rice, actually a grass, cannot be properly cooked with genuine rice, which takes less time to cook. Buy that pure wild rice, but relax, because 4 oz. dry will make enough for 8-10 servings. To cook the rice, put it in an earthenware bowl and pur boiled water over. Drain and repeat every 30 minutes or so until about 20-25% of the grains are not only opened but curled. This is James Beard's method. Boiling it is too tricky as there's only a short time between raw and hard, and mushy and overcooked. Drain it well, then bind with some sort of sauce. My mother used cream of mushroom soup, but email me if you'd like my full recipe. Add sautéed mushrooms, pecan pieces or even bites of cooked poultry, put in a buttered casserole, cover with bread crumbs and dot with butter... the night before, then cover with foil. Take it out of the fridge in order to lose its chill, then bake until it's hot, then without the cover until the crumbs are brown and it's bubbly.

Oh, yes, wild rice is chock-full of fiber, which means it's just what your body needs. For me it's what my heart needs, even though I prepare it differently from the way my mom did, to feel like it's really the holidays.

Turnips

Deviled eggs!!!!!!!!!!

The standing rib/roast beef dinner is the traditional sunday dinner in England, which we have made our christmas dinner our entire lives.
The classic menu is the above meat, along with yorkshire pudding, gravy, oven browned potatos and parsnips, onion sauce(creamed onions),
and brussel sprouts.Dessert is plum pudding, and apple tart. However, this is not the English christmas meal- the tradtional meal for christmas in England is roast goose or turkey. We just figured that by having the roast and trimmings, we avoid eating bird for both holidays.Since my mother was born and raised in England and is a good cook, this is one fine meal!

Hmmmmmmm. So many good, on topic answers. Let me see... Oh well. I always enjoyed my visits on the holidays with Mr. Jack D. &/or Mr. Don Q. As far as eatin' goes, well, thats another story...

Or Mr. Jim B. ? And any wild turkeys near your house?

quote:

Originally posted by rmcielwain


Or Mr. Jim B. ? And any wild turkeys near your house?

Wild turkeys last sighted about 15+ years ago (in my younger era )
Got so excited that I fell into the bath tub. Wasn't planning to take a bath though (was doin' somthing else...). Oh well.