So What Is Everyone Cooking/Baking/Doing For Thanksgiving?

[angus]

Thanksgiving at our friends (former next door neighbors for over 40 years). Our respective parents are all gone now so one of the "kids" hosts - he and his wife and kids are 10 minutes away. Then his sister and family come down from Boston, add an in law or two and a few friends and you have 15 for dinner. The only family sister and I have are a series of first cousins in New Jersey, New Mexico and Brooklyn. Quite frankly they are all a very high maintenance, high drama bunch - all have their own kids and reasons why they can't come together. So I am happier to have this day with the people I chose and who chose us. It is the best honor we can give to the friendship of our respective parents. On to the menu:

Turkey - one fried and one roasted
Gravy
Sausage dressing
Mashed potato casserole
Candied sweet potatoes ( I contribute that)
Glazed carrots
Peas (don't ask...)
Squash souffle
Cranberry sauce
Green bean casserole
Spinach Gratin (Mine also)
Sauteed Broccoli Rabe (mine as well)
Apricot molded salad (mine and yes it is a Jello mold - one of the two that i will eat)
Cream biscuits and Parket House rolls

Dessert - pumpkin, apple and pecan pies along with a pomegranate tangerine sorbet (yes that one is definitely mine)

And as part of the appetizers, I will provide sausage dip and roasted artichoke dip

The best part of course is that the out of towners arrive Wednesday afternoon and everyone is involved in everything from that point on. Nice to shut off the blackberry for work and focus on wholesome family activity!!!

 

[autowasherfreak]

I think I'm going to Albert's house for dinner. Lots of food and maybe just a little nip Gin.

 

[appnut]

I go to my friends house I've gone to for the last 9 years. They're kinda like my "parents". For one half of the couple, this is his 30th year of doing this. It's "everyone is invited" and can range from 5 to 10 to as many as 50+ people for dinner and they plan accordingly. It's for anyone who doesn't have a place to go for turkey day (orphaned) or do not wish to deal with the family drama and what not. I'm not an orphan, they adopted me 9 years ago lol. The standard menu that is started with is:

Roast Turkey (that's infused with Tripplesec and a couple of other "spirits" and is the best, moistest turkey I've ever eaten)
Herb Stuffing
Cornbread Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Candied Yams
Green Bean Casserole
Pineapple Fluff
Home Made Cranberry Sauce
Broccoli-Rice Casserole
Pumpkin Pie
Sweet Potatoe Pie
Chocolate Cream Pie
Coconut Cream Pie
Home made Bread and Rolls

that's just for starters, not to mention appetizers too. This doesn't include what other guests bring. Me, I'm just bringing my pumpkin dump cake. Taking it easy given I made in the last 10 days 8 loaves of bread and 5 dozen herbed pan dinner rolls for a work/department feast last Friday. Any bears in Texas needing a place to come eat, y'all come.

 

[maytagbear]

Not going to anyone

and no one is coming.

I have a lovely ribeye steak, baking potatoes, organic (they taste better!) carrots, and cinnamon shortbread cookies.

I have a stack of books and dvd's, and the company of my dear Rosa del Gata.

Most Thanksgivings, it's the family reunion, as well, but not this year. I'm sad, but ok with it.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[yogitunes]

Small Gathering this year....and sometimes its better.....just rather relax, less cleanup.....I hate spending the whole day cooking for a 30 minute meal..........

We sometimes need a thread for things were not thankful for!

for me its those little timers they put in the turkey to let you know its done...but never pop up!

I find its better to add 1 cup of popcorn to the stuffing in the bird......bake in a 400 degree oven...and when the ass blows out...it's done!

 

[michaelman2]

Appnut.....I literally just became Pavlov's Dog...I am salavating at that delicious menu.....yum!

 

[austinado16]

Doing our own thing on Wed.

Then suffering.......and I mean suffering......through yet another ruined holiday meal with my wife's family. That's about 6hrs of my life that I won't get back.

But on Wed. I think we're going to use our newly acquired propane "cabinet style" smoker, and smoke some turkey parts and/or a ham, and maybe some wild boar sausage. If you've not tried out one of these cabinet style smokers (about $150) you really ought to put one on your xmas list. We smoke everything from salmon to filet mignon, to big tri-tips, and of course, ribs!

So it'll be a fun and simple meal. My daughter and I will make an apple pie together from scratch, my wife will do her sweet potatoes. We'll only spend a couple hours cooking, enjoy a good meal and clean up won't take any more than a normal dinner.

 

[dirtybuck]

Not A Damn Thing!

Probably turkey franks and chicken noodle soup..or if I get extravagant, an Oscar Mayer turkey breast sandwich instead of the franks.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I generally feel that family gatherings should be reserved for arraingments, scheduled hearings and funerals. So we started with my mother saying "lets just have a small dinner with just us three." Last time I heard she had invited 13.

She is going to love Shady Pines.

So I am fixing a Turkey and "You'd better pick up a ham too"
Mashed Pots/Turkey gravy
Stuffing
Deviled Eggs
Cole Slaw
Green Bean Casarole
Corn
Candied Yams
Fresh Hot rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Cheese Cake

My sister is bringig a jello salad, and Ice. "I have an ice maker"
"Oh-I thought that was you that was always running out of ice"
"No sis that's you"
"Oh, so is your ice maker working?"
"Yes, it's your's that's broken"

[this post was last edited: 11/23/2010-14:49]

 

[polkanut]

Todd,

I feel that same way sometimes. My father has this thing where he feels everyone is trying to make him look like a fool. No one has to do it to him, he does it to himself. Last year he threw a tantrum, stormed out of the house, and went back home (2 blocks away). Mom was near hysterical begging us kids (2 sisters, and I) to beg him to come back. None of us did, and he came back (tail between legs) a short while later when he realized no one was going to beg him to come back. I told him that he had no right to boss anyone around in my home, and that he had better respect that fact or else he could just turn right around and go back home. Mom felt I was disrespectful to him and that I should just deal with it for 1 day. I said no, he has to know that he can't always get his way like a spoiled child. I'm ready for another scene again this year. I plan on standing up to him just like I did last year.

P.S. Tantrum was because someone interrupted him while he was talking.

 

[austinado16]

Glad I'm not the only one!

I have inlaws who have hated me from some time shortly after "our" first date. 17-1/2 years later they still don't have 2 words to say to me. I get the fake hollywood hug from my MIL, maybe (or maybe not) a "hello" from my FIL, and then silence for the rest of whatever the event is. And when there are other guests at the event, my FIL/MIL are the only ones to give me the silent treatment.

It's actually kinda funny, except during the holidays when it truely gets in the way of having a nice holiday with my wife, my daughter and myself.

So we'll enjoy tomorrow, as a family, and they can play their silly games on Thursday to their hearts content....to me it'll be just another bad meal with bad food and bad company.

 

[beekeyknee]

T/G Dinner on Thurs. Dryer work tell then.

T/G Dinner on Thurs. with the family. Came to Mom and Dad's on Sunday night to get started on my Maytag DE808 reno until then. So far so good. Will post in Imperial forum when finished.

 

[polkanut]

Todd,

Why not just boycott the whole horrid affair? If they're going to treat you like s*it anyway, why subject yourself to their idiocy? Sounds to me like they are the ones with some unknown grudge against you, not the rest of your in-laws.

 

[norgeway]

Inlaws!

Mine are wonderful,I am treated no differently than any of Donalds sisters and brother,His Dad has done tons of stuff to this house,and none of it cost us a dime, and his Mom is absolutely fantastic,She calls and says, " Honey, Ive got a bunch of green beans picked for you" or any other produce They grow, I always help cook for family dinners, and She has given me all the family recipes that Don likes,Since my family is gone,it sure is nice to feel wanted.

 

[frigilux]

I cook the entire meal for my family's get-together, which we have at my nephew's house in Bloomington, MN. I transport the food tomorrow. All of it reheats beautifully. You'd never know the turkey didn't come straight from the oven.

I took the day off work, and have been in the kitchen since 6:00 a.m.

Two large turkeys; a ham; mashed potatoes; gravy; 4 dozen dinner rolls, four pumpkin pies and a cherry pie; sweet potatoes; bread stuffing; three veg casserole (similar to the trad green bean casserole, but made with bags of frozen California Mix vegetables).

I am a strict traditionalist with Thanksgiving. There is no messing with my menu, ever, LOL.

 

[bugsyjones]

We had our large family gathering on Sunday at Mom and Dads. 22 people for dinner. I told Mom to try and prepare as much ahead of time so it's just reheating. That helped alot.

This year was the first time in several years that all the family was together.

Everything went well except I forgot about the Bar! I suppose since I'm a teetotaler and don't drink that everyone else doesn't drink. I think it just slipped my mind, but fortunately, there's always some sort of alcohol around the house. A few cans of beer, some crown royal and some cheap Missouri wine and everyone was happy.

On Thursday, my grandparents are coming for a small dinner.

~Tim

 

[joe_in_philly]

My partner needs to work until about 2pm on Thanksgiving, so I will pick him up at the hospital when he finishes and go directly to my parents house; about 75 minutes away. I am contributing appetizers, cupcakes and pumpkin muffins. For dinner, we will have turkey, sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, green beans, cranberry salad and something Italian, like stuffed shells or ravioli. Desserts will include pumpkin pie and minced meat pie.

I know I am so lucky that my parents treat my partner like their own son, and that his parents treat me the same way.

 

[austinado16]

"Ours" went off without a hitch

I bought an uncured (no nitrates/nitrites) spiral cut ham this morning, along with a half turkey breast. Tossed both into the smoker at 1:30pm. The ham was ready to come out about 2hrs later, so I wrapped it in foil and put it into the broiler side of the Wedgewood. The turkey was ready in about 1 more hour, and I did the same with it. They sat another hour before dinner was served. We started the "real" cooking at about 3:45 and were eating at about 5.

Everything turned out great, and my daughter made an apple dessert dish and that's ready to eat....as soon as we give ourselves a chance to rest up for it!!

Hope everyone has a good day tomorrow, however you celebrate.

 

[strongenough78]

Xraytech

I'm posting my Black Russian Cake recipe under the Holiday recipe thread on As The Tub Turns.

 

[maytagbear]

I got a last-minute invitation, and I am going.

I have a feeling that I might be there to balance out the Bear/twink ratio, but what the heck?

My caramel shortbread cookies are about due be taken out of the oven in a minute or so.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lawrence/Maytagbear