It's my wife and I's turn to host Thanksgiving and Christmas...

[angus]

Back to the topic. There is no law that says you have to have turkey or ham on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Is there anything whose cooking smell isn't as offensive? I would NOT offer up lamb - even I can't stand the smell of cooking lamb (heresy for an italian, but my parents were not big meat eaters coming from poor immigrant families.

Many friends have pot roast, brisket, meat loaf, lasagne or even stuffed cabbage on major holidays. The food writer Craig Claiborne used to write that his mother served a family favorite - Spaghetti Casserole on holidays when he was growing up in the South.

You could always grill roast a beef tenderloin (cooks illustrated/americas test kitchen offers some good recipes for that). Serve with horseradish sauce and people will be thrilled.

Just a thought!!

 

[westingguelph]

Turkey Smells

I agree with the folks that are suggesting cooking it outside in a garage or maybe on the barbecue. I would even suggest a deep fryer. Some rental companies have these units. I recently saw an episode of Valerie's Home Cooking I think it was the first year's episode were she had an indoor deep fryer and she cooked a whole turkey. She said there was a special filter that trapped all of the smell.

 

[vacerator]

Some find lamb, turkey, etc.

gamy smelling, tasting, and offensive. With some foods, it's texture.
To me, mutton is sheep, not spring lamb. Big difference. A young deer is better than an older one too.

Turkey I love. The smell while roasting, and taste.

I brine my fresh farm turkey in apple cider, oranges, cloves, or star anise, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, salt and pepper corns.
I make fresh sage dressing with fresh turkey stock, butter, celery, onion, apple, and sausage, and it roasts in the bird. What will fit inside of course.
All those aromas while roasting is pure bliss to me.
We're not huge yam with sweet stuff fans though. I make a fresh squash casserole
with butter, walnuts, allspice, a bit of dark brown sugar, a touch of cream or half and half. I also like parsnips with leeks roasted in a light wine, cream and butter sauce with nutmeg. Salt & pepper in all of course.
Also halved roasted brussels sprouts with well rendered bacon.
Cranberry sauce of course, and apple and pumpkin pies.

Of course fix what ever pleases your selves and guests.

 

[yogitunes]

the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one........

in other words, this is a day that is ALL about your guests...and accomodating them....

no matter what you cook, who, how, or where!!!

besides, sounds like your wonderful saint of a wife is having to do all the cooking, prep, and cleanup.....

enjoy the day with good cheer for all....and when they leave, break out the can of FeBreeze.....

when I have dinner gatherings, parties, or wash-in events.....it is ALL ABOUT THE GUESTS!!!....

no matter what is being cooked for dinner, people enjoy the traditions of good food cooking, plenty of food and drink, and great conversation.....

its just for one day......

 

[lordkenmore]

It may be "just one day" and maybe "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one." (Although I honestly wouldn't consider having turkey for dinner a "need.") BUT this may well be considerably worse than minor inconvenience based on what I read in the first post, which mentions he has OCD, and that what he perceives as bad smells are triggers.


 

 

 

 

 

[mattl]

You know...

...sometimes being and adult and spouse means you have to do things and experience things that you may not want to do.  Mitigate the smell the best you can, but remember there are others around you that day who do not share your issues with the smell.  They are coming to your home with certain expectations, a good host puts the guests first...