Thanksgiving Menus and Recipes

[kwanfan1818]

I wish it were like the last pre-cv Thanksgiving, which I spent in Vancouver, and where I had the prix fixe American Thanksgiving Dinner at one of the hotels near the waterfront.

But, that not being realistic, I just put everything in the oven to slow cook for a couple of hours -- it's a chicken, not a turkey -- until it's time to crank up the temperature to get some crispy-ish skin. And, in the meantime, I get to to the aromas...

 

[aka_gerbil]

I’m not eating until 7:30, but I can add the rolls being done. I also did the prep work for the Mac and cheese. Green beans are easy, and the chicken isn’t hard either.

 

[Aceon6]

We are fini. We went to my niece’s for dessert. The choices were apple pie, pecan pie, and triple chocolate cookies. I was really hoping for my niece in law’s trifle, but they didn’t arrive until this morning and proper trifle takes 2-3 days. She promised one for Christmas,

 

[maatTheViking]

My in-laws are visiting, and I think somewhat puzzled by the whole thing. I was not excited about planning and cooking the whole thing, so we split it up.

Mr. viking is doing the turkey - he got an heritage one and spent a long time researching how to cook it (apparently no brining, less time at higher heat), and the sauce. I'm doing a cranberry chutney (done yesterday) with ginger and orange - it tastes more gingery but it's good, and a stuffing with ciabatta, pecans, bacon and cranberries. Baby-viking and I did a double cornbread.

My in-laws were sent to buy a pie, but didn't like the look of any of them, so my MIL made an apple tart/pie. She's also making a salad and a veggie dish.

We're not big turkey people, but mini-viking REALLY wanted a turkey. He doesn't really usually eat meat unless it's ground meat, so I'm perplexed, but we will see how it goes. My FIL is a fairly big meat eater so that's good.

Soon we will see how the heritage turkey turned out! Happy thanksgiving everyone!

 

[genevieve]

A friend that I have spent most of the last 20 Thanksgivingses with came over and we had:

Roast turkey (I managed to score a bone-in breast instead of having to buy a whole bird! WIN) - I will still have tons of leftovers.
Stuffing - sadly, my favorite stuffing brand has been MIA the last 2 years, I hope C19 didn't close them down for good. Got another brand that had pre-seasoned bread cubes that I didn't love, but I added some other stuff. Cooked separately just because of timing and due to not having a whole bird.
Green beans - an Asian-style dish sauteed with ginger, garlic and soy sauce, with tofu cubes breaded with nutritional yeast. Not a tradditional T-Day dish, but we hate green bean casserole.
Apple Pie!

Friend brought a simple green salad, some mandarins, and a cheese board. I also had some hot cider for after.

We did an afternoon meal - I killed my kitchen but also did the clean-as-you-go, so it really wasn't that bad for clean up.

It was such a good day that the crummy weather is kind of soothing.

 

[jeffisjeff]

I was making a side of green beans and zucchini sauteed with some garlic and onions, and rather spontaneously decided to add some of this*, which I had leftover from something else I had made recently. Boy was it yummy!

*It is called a relish, but is more like a sauce, and I had already kicked up the spice level a bit.

 

[aka_gerbil]

I wanted to eat at 7:30, but it ended up being 8:15.

My kitchen is a disaster, but I’ll worry about it tomorrow. I did wash the sharp knives before I started in on the wine.

 

[Matryeshka]

First off, I love this thread. A few days ago, a "friend" on FB posted some meme about how no one needs to see your T-day picks, it's the same thing. BAH. My favorite posts are always food ones. I need to see some pics of birds and STUFFING. The wrong things y'all do to stuffing fascinate me. It's just me and my mom this year--my younger brother decided he'd rather take all of his time off for Christmas, and my older brother invited us, but he and his children and their children's politics are...interesting and extreme and not based in reality or facts in at least the nearest ten parallel universes.

On the rare occasions it's been just the two of us before, we've gone to the casino but neither of us are quite ready for that ready of return to normal. Neither of us likes turkey and even though I now have a house, the kitchen is small and our dining room table is still covered in random crap from moving (even though that was September. I blame Ida ).

So, menu:
Rock Cornish game hens. I made a brine with water, sugar, peppercorns, garlic, salt, and I put butter under the skin and basted it. I read about that on food network. Sunny Anderson told me to do it and she was right.

My mom's stuffing (homemade cornbread, sage, celery, onion, thyme, an egg, and and gravy, which is AMAZING and I feel sorry that all of you can't eat it.

Asparagus with olive oil, lemon, and seasoned salt.

Corn, cause we like corn.

Homemade cranberry sauce.

Caramel apple martinis

Prosecco

The whole thing was soooo gooood--I have no idea why anyone would cook turkey unless you have a huge crowd--the hens make such a dramatic presentation too. Everyone gets a whole freaking bird. A WHOLE BIRD. No fighting over the white/dark meat. No leftovers. No huge turkey taking over the fridge for three days and even then you hope that it is actually defrosted. I brined those things for two hours only. And it was so pretty and brown from the constant butter basting, and it made enough drippings to make gravy. Plus, they were on sale because everyone was buying nasty turkeys. Plus, no leftovers, except the stuffing.

The only downside is Wal-Mart was out of key lime pie and apple pie from our pick-up order and there was no dessert. On Wednesday, we decided we were fine with it, we have candy if we want something sweet. But today we realized...we need pie. We have chocolate chips, Milky Ways, and even chocolate truffles from Trader Joe's, but NONE OF THAT IS PIE. I NEED PIE. PIIIEEEEEE. A friend of mine is a baker and I shared my lament with her. She lives literally two miles away. She did not bring me pie. She is a bad friend.

But seriously y'all, rock Cornish game hens are where it's at.

I just finished maxing out my Kohl's credit card so now big Christmas shopping is done, and am watching The Bracebridge Dinner episode of Gilmore Girls and adding extra lights and garland to the tree to get into the spirit of things. And more Prosecco cause that also helps with the spirit of things.

 

[Japanfan]

How to cook a perfect turkey.

This Thanksgiving, let science help you roast a tastier turkey

Cooking your bird to a safe 165 F often just results in a dry, boring plate of meat. Luckily, food scientists have studied this problem. Learn their techniques to roast your tastiest bird yet.

www.npr.org

We always cook a wonderful turkey - after brining the bird.

No spatchooking (spatchcocking? SP?). There is a never an issue with the white meat being overdone or the dark meat underdone, not that I've noticed.

 

[maatTheViking]

Heritage turkey turned out amazing.

Mr viking and family is very diligent cleaning up along the way so the kitchen looks great.

Had a bunch of rum with the apple pie.

Will not be up in the am for skating.

 

[Vagabond]

It was just another beautiful day here. I went on a walk, took photographs, conversed via text messages with a friend in Berlin, and cooked for one while listening to classical music on BBC Radio 3. I enjoyed cooking new things. The pheasant was delicious, as was my mixed salad with roasted cranberries and chestnuts. I will have leftovers tomorrow evening and still have enough fresh cranberries to make Mama Stamberg's cranberry relish as a topping for fritters for Chanukkah.

 

[Spun Silver]

Hubby and I had our little Thanksgiving dinner. He was happy with his turkey loaf. My popovers stuck to the pan and I have no idea why. Otherwise they were tasty but not as delectable as I remembered them. My big achievement, and I do mean big, was the carrot cake, my first one and a total success. We each had a slice and then I thought, What the hell? I wanted to do something lavish, but what am I going to do with a whole cake? But then I went to Adoration at midnight as per usual on Thursday nights. The person who relieves me at 1 am is a young father with three kids, so upon ascertaining that all his family like raisins, walnuts, and carrot cake, I dashed home, packed up half the cake, and dashed back to the chapel. Problem solved to our mutual delight.

Hope everyone had a good holiday. I'm enjoying your menus and may borrow some of your ideas and methods in the future. I've slid out of the habit of real cooking (as opposed to quick stir-fries and such) and was surprised to find it quite fun.

 

[Sarah]

We had a really simple thanksgiving at my mom’s house. Casual, eat in the kitchen affair. It was really nice and stress free.

Turkey
Rice stuffing (gluten and dairy free — really good)
Regular stuffing
Mashed potatoes (vegan and I’m happy to say everyone said you could not tell the difference)
Asparagus
Cranberries

In addition to making the potatoes, I made a gluten free, vegan Boston cream pie for dessert. I’m thrilled how it turned out!

 

[Judy]

Are most people in a food coma? I always am with our thanksgiving and Christmas is insane. All I want to do is eat salads for a week afterwards . Seriously my family is insane with food..

 

[Aceon6]

Are most people in a food coma? I always am with our thanksgiving and Christmas is insane. All I want to do is eat salads for a week afterwards . Seriously my family is insane with food..

I was craving salt and acid today, but I will limit my eating to a turkey sandwich at supper time.

 

[Judy]

I was craving salt and acid today, but I will limit my eating to a turkey sandwich at supper time.

I always swear that I will never eat again .

turkey sandwiches though are the best.

 

[Parsley Sage]

I always swear that I will never eat again .

turkey sandwiches though are the best.

Turkey sandwiches with stuffing and cranberry sauce.

 

[Judy]

Turkey sandwiches with stuffing and cranberry sauce.

Turkey, mayo and salt and pepper. Stuffing is a bonus. Love cranberries but like them on the side. Yum yum yum.

 

[Aceon6]

Turkey, meat stuffing, smashed boiled onion on light wheat.

 

[Parsley Sage]

there used to be a place in the food court of one of the local malls that did a turkey, apple, brie and arugula sandwich.

 

[once_upon]

there used to be a place in the food court of one of the local malls that did a turkey, apple, brie and arugula sandwich.

I made a turkey, apple, brie sandwich in my airfryer last week.

 

[Japanfan]

The whole thing was soooo gooood--I have no idea why anyone would cook turkey unless you have a huge crowd--the hens make such a dramatic presentation too.

We do a 12-14 pound dinner for two. We get two dinners out of it, and I love the chicken legs cold. The rest goes to the freezer for sandwiches at some point.

Also, we cook the chicken in a wine/chicken stock/garlic/spice broth bath. It makes wonderful gravy, and there is lots left over to freeze for a soup base.

But I like cornish hen too. Haven't had that for years and years, should cook one up soon.

 

[Aceon6]

I did a 6+ lb. breast for two. We had sandwiches on Saturday and the first breast is 100% gone. The other is in the freezer with cooked bread and meat stuffings, ready for Christmas!

 

[kwanfan1818]

I went to friends' house last night for turkey/cranberry sauce/green beans/dressing Thanksgiving leftovers, but the highlights were the desserts: a beautiful apple tart and a creamy blood orange mixture in a glass. He-friend kept apologizing for it not setting or something, but it was so, so good...

 

[Stefanie]

After attending a Friendsgiving last night (along with another Friendsgiving earlier in the month with a different group of friends and then Thanksgiving with family), I think I am done with turkey for a long while. Well, after I finish the leftovers the hostess sent me home with last night.

 

[Parsley Sage]

I cooked a boneless turkey breast last month for Canadian Thanksgiving.
It was delicious and easy. I might do it again at Christmas.

Roast Turkey Breast

This Roast Turkey Breast is a fast and easy holiday turkey recipe that's juicy & full of flavour - perfect for a small holiday dinner!

thebusybaker.ca

 

[Sylvia]

Bumping up this thread from 3 years ago in case anyone feels like sharing their 2024 U.S. Thankgiving menus and recipes.

 

[Judy]

Happy Thanksgiving to my U.S. peeps. Canada thanksgiving for us was back in Oct.

I’m so not a cook so it’s always at either my sisters’ or sister-in-laws’ place lol. I always bring freshly baked bread since I’m within a short walking distance to the bakery lol. We all bring something.

 

[rfisher]

What are you having for Thanksgiving this year?

My menu so far:

Maple-juniper roast pheasant
Polenta
Artichoke, broccoli, or squash (?)
Mixed salad
Chestnut ice cream

Any brilliant suggestions for (1) a Thanksgiving cocktail and (2) a cooked vegetable would be appreciated, as I am game for trying something new this year.

Roast some brussel sprouts with your pheasant. You could put them in the same pan. In fact, the maple-juniper sauce you're using would be delicious with them. I just realized this was a 2021 post. Still, maple-juniper glazed brussel sprouts would be really good.

 

[Kasey]

pumpkin pie is in baking right now. So that will just leave the Dutch apple pie for me to bake on Thursday (I work today through Wednesday night). My brother-in-law does the heavy lifting of cooking, with my mom bringing the homemade cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes, and I do the pies.