View Full Version : Thanksgiving meals
Greetings. Was curious if anyone wanted to share what they will be eating on Thanksgiving? Special recipies, traditions, types of food?:)
A continuation of this thread from '05:
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8937&highlight=Thanksgiving
We usually have tradtional turkey dinner, but make gooseberry ice for desert.
Holly
Our church has a number of single elderly women who are alone during the Holiday.
Last year our church decided to have Thanksgiving Day in the Church Fellowship Hall. The Fellowship committee sets up the room and provides the small, odd things. Everybody else signs up for the main foods.
It went over real well.
This way I get plenty of choices from special family recipies.
Down side - no leftovers.
Jack Moroney (RIP)
11-18-2007, 12:29
Traditional meal, unless of course something real special gets run over the night before:D
We will fry 3 turkeys Thanksgiving mornig, my wife will make the dressing that my family has used before the 1850's. We will have all of our neighbors and our children and grandchildren over and eat lunch at our equipment barn, should be about 35 people and when everyone wakes from their nap we will have a late afternoon deer hunt.
Life does not get much.
We have so much to be thankful for.
clapdoc sends.
Traditional meal, unless of course something real special gets run over the night before:D
Col. Sir,
Oh my indeed! :D
Pete Sir, we have leftovers, and will send! ;)
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Here is my dish:
Easy Greenbean Caserole:
This is very easy and tasty, and has a crunchy texture.
Ingredients:
2 cans frech cut greenbeans, drained
1-2 pounds fresh mushrooms, sliced and sauteed
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cups finely shredded mild cheddar
1 can "french fried onions"
Okay, now stop and have a favorite beverage.
In a bowl, combine drained greenbeans with mushroom soup and 1 cup of cheese.
Pour into caserole dish, and spread evenly.
On top, layer remaining cheese and sauteed mushrooms.
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 min.
Now stop and have another beverage.
Take out and add french fried onions on top.
Bake/Broil for another 10 min.
While baking, stop and enjoy another holiday beverage. :o
Take out, and enjoy!
Holly
one of the biggest mistakes when making stuffing is to use dried croutons. They dehydrate the bird. If you use fresh bread, cut in cubes, its moisture produces steam internally as the bird roast. This helps keep the breast moist. The following is a roasting process that has worked really well for our clan.
After you have stuffed your bird, don’t waste time trying to tie the cavity. Just take a 10"x18" piece of foil. fold it over so that you have a four fold thickness. Place in the cavity over the stuffing. Secure it by tucking it into the insides of the bird. The pressure of expansion will also help keep it in place as the bird cooks.
What I do is, I cook the bird @ 500^F until it is golden brown, Then I lower the temp to say 400^F for about and hr, then to 350 for another 40 minutes or so, the to 300^ for ˝ hr. then to 250^ until I remove it from the oven. Once removed I let it stand for a good 20 minutes before cutting it.
Doneness can be felt. When you cook anything, the more cooked it is; the harder it is to the touch.
Make a fist. Squeeze the heel of your palm. That hardness is well done. Loosen it a bit, and that is medium, relaxed, that is rare. Once you trust your sense of feel, everything you cook should be right at the desired temp.
When cooking any kind of bird, you use your index finger and thumb to gage the breast. What your looking for is the slightest give to pressure as you apply it. I pull the bird when the I think it is medium well on the breast plate. It finishes cooking as it rests.
I make a Walnut apple sausage stuffing with fresh bread. Tarragon and thyme. When I cook the sausage I pour all the grease on the bread and cut the sausages into small bit size pieces.
I also dice an onion, a few stalks of celery, and a carrot. I sweat and season(S&P) this prior to combining it with the rest. I also use roasted garlic.
Sorry no measurements.
Am curious if being in a different part of the U.S. or world has any significance on the "Thanksgiving meal."
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Holly
Firebeef
11-20-2007, 20:41
I'm on duty this Thanksgiving, and the thing to be thankul for is, I won't be overseas away from the family or pullin watch on 50% security in a wet, nasty patrol base like in years past. Our crew decided to do something completely different. My boss went out and bought us a nice hunk o Prime rib, that I'm gonna cook up (the duty of cook falls on my shoulders this year). Some hugmongous baked potatoes, sour cream chives...the works, green bean casserole (my Grammas recipe) and of course Punkim Pie!!
Hope everyone enjoys theirs!
Be safe!
Abu Jack
11-21-2007, 13:21
Doug
Happy Thanksgiving!
Mike
Jack Moroney (RIP)
11-21-2007, 14:10
Am curious if being in a different part of the U.S. or world has any significance on the "Thanksgiving meal."
Well actually many folks (tribes) have versions of a Thanksgiving Meal. Now this is not a turkey, but he will be slaughtered, cooked, and served over great fanfare to appease the Lightning God.
Since this old thread is full of great posts, thought I would bump it for this year's Turkey-day!
Here is hoping that all those serving our nation in unifrom have a peaceful day tomorrow,
and know that we here at home are giving Our Thanks, To You All!
Holly
Our house is always a traditional meal,, Turkey and all the fixing,,
We start with my in-laws mushroom soup. It's nothing fancy,, put the shruns in a blender with some water,, cook on low(no boiling),, 30 minutes,, add evaporated milk, a little salt & pepper, & a stick of butter.
Actual my wife is very rigid about Thanksgiving,,
IT WILL HAVE:
- Roast Turkey
- Stuffing, both in the turkey and extra
- White Mashed Tatars
- Baked Candied Sweet-Tatars
- Green-bean Casserole
- Cranberry Jelly & Sauce
- Rolls
- Creamed Onions
- Parsnips/Rutabaga
- Gravy,, NO NEVER gizzard or liver or hart
Then Pies,, Apple, Pumpkin, Pecan with whipped-cream
and she insists she does it all,,
I be very very lucky fellow...
Our big thing is the crowd,, We have had up to 36 to a sit down meal with four(4) turkeys.. This year it is going to be a small crowd, only four extra, total 7.
Our oldest is staying put in DC with the new G-daughter and friends,,
and our youngest is staying in London with her fiancé & friends,,
and our neighbors are all out of town..
Don't feel bad,,
All is not lost,,
I think I get left-overs this year... :D:D:D
ZonieDiver
11-26-2008, 15:14
I'm a litte 'non-traditional' and am having:
Bone-in Ribeye steaks -
Lobster tail - halved, and brushed with butter
Large, dry scallops - wrapped in prosciuto
Asparagus Bundles -
blanched, bundled in 4 or 5's.wrapped in prosciuto
(I like good Italian proscuito)
All of the above will be grilled outside on the BBQ
Cauliflower "mashed potatoes" (yes, Dan Quayle WAS right - there is an E in 'tater'! At least if you are from Illinois/Indiana as he and I were.)
A nice salad with spinach, arugula, and mixed greens from the garden and a homemade dressing - my friend's "secret" recipe. (Maybe I can pry it out of her.
Caprese Salad as an appetizer - with Heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil from the garden, and delicious fresh mozzarella (from the same Italian deli as the proscuito)
Red wine in copious quantities!
Happy Thanksgiving, all. Let us remember those not so fortunate as to be home with loved ones.
Roguish Lawyer
11-26-2008, 15:16
I'm a litte 'non-traditional' and am having:
Bone-in Ribeye steaks -
Lobster tail - halved, and brushed with butter
Large, dry scallops - wrapped in prosciuto
Asparagus Bundles -
blanched, bundled in 4 or 5's.wrapped in prosciuto
(I like good Italian proscuito)
All of the above will be grilled outside on the BBQ
Cauliflower "mashed potatoes" (yes, Dan Quayle WAS right - there is an E in 'tater'! At least if you are from Illinois/Indiana as he and I were.)
A nice salad with spinach, argula, and mixed greens from the garden and a homemade dressing - my friend's "secret" recipe. (Maybe I can pry it out of her.
Caprese Salad as an appetizer - with Heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil from the garden, and delicious fresh mozzarella (from the same Italian deli as the proscuito)
Red wine in copious quantities!
Happy Thanksgiving, all. Let us remember those not so fortunate as to be home with loved ones.
Blasphemy!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to all, especially those who can't spend it with family.
Dozer523
11-26-2008, 15:34
Well I get to cook the Turkey this year. Mother-in-law asked me too (Sell my clothes; I'm going to heaven!) Actually, On Friday we have a wedding for one of here grand-daughters so this is really just "Priotity of Work". Oh well. It is a big bird about 22 pounds. I make a stuffing that has evolved over the years and shows the thinking of the children (sous chefs). There are lots of dried fruits in it since the kids figured the pilgrims would have been gathering and drying fruits all summer long. There is also toasted pine nuts, porcini mushrooms and procuito ham. I rub the meat (under the skin) with butter mixed with procuito ham and finely chopped hazelnuts. Then we do the traditional stuff -- taters , sweet and irish, cranberry sauce, vegs . . . .
Thanks for renewing this thread. It was nice to see the posts from Col Moroney, even if he is "off line". Happy Thanksgiving to all. Son #1 is back home from Iraq with his family. Lots to be thankful for in the Dozer home. Yes, best wishes to all (ESPECIALLY if you are dining in a Mess Hall far from home.) Happy Thanksgiving to all.
deep fried turkey
green bean casserole
sweet potato casserole
cornbread stuffing (baked - not cooked with the deep fried turkey of course)
banana pudding
"black and tans" to wash it all down
This 18 lb. turkey is currently bathing in a five-gallon bucket full of beer brine. Tomorrow, it is headed for a pot of hot canola oil (one of my nephews has severe peanut allergy). We suggested baking a turkey this year for a change of pace and were shouted down.
1 six-pack of Budweiser
Lots of sea salt
Paprika
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Couple shakes of MSG (Accent)
Couple shakes of ginger powder
Couple shakes of cayenne pepper
Couple of bay leaves
Dried oregano
Dried thyme
Dried basil
Cracked black pepper
Water to fill until the bird is covered
While I was prepping I roasted a chicken for dinner. I don't know what I was thinking.
Happy Thanksgiving to all, especially those far from home.
Puertoland
11-27-2008, 17:54
Oh man, I had myself a traditional Turkey feast.
Turkey was succulent and delicious, had some Roman bread, took a decent piece and poured gravy over it, had cranberry sauce, stuffing, collard greens and hamhock meat, Sweet potatoes (marshmallows and Chocolate Syrup on it of course :D), Baked Ziti, Pecan Pie (whipped cream on top, not the light kind), Pork, and a good slab of Mashed potatoes (my sister's secret recipe).
That was what was on my plate, finished by an ice cold glass of Coquito. I'm not sure what everything else we had was, but I'm sure it was great, I loved my own dish.
VSVO: Thats probably the most delicious recipe for Turkey I have ever witnessed in my life, I thought our family had some good techniques and recipes, but beer+Paprika+cayenne pepper on Turkey? Instant win man, right up my taste bud alley.
dmgedgoods
11-27-2008, 22:04
#
VSVO: Thats probably the most delicious recipe for Turkey I have ever witnessed in my life, I thought our family had some good techniques and recipes, but beer+Paprika+cayenne pepper on Turkey? Instant win man, right up my taste bud alley.
Thanks. Here's a picture of the turkey minutes after coming out of the pot. Not the most flattering pic, as I was reminded, but I was still giddy from having escaped another hot pot of oil.:) I overcooked it a little this year, hit 185 deg. F. in the thigh, but the meat was still succulent and tasty.
Since this old thread is full of great posts, thought I would bump it for this year's Turkey-day!
Here is hoping that all those serving our nation in unifrom have a peaceful day tomorrow,
and know that we here at home are giving Our Thanks, To You All!
Holly
Had to bump this thread...as this Thanksgiving, am thankful to Our brave soldiers. Though some of the posts in this thread are from those no longer with us, they are thought of by my camp this time of year in viewing all the brilliant scenery, and changing foliage in the lanscape.
Happy Thanksgiving from a guest here!:)
Squash Pie:
Peel and boil 4 cups of Butternut squash
Put in food processor
Add 2 cups of heavy cream, and a mixture of 1 teaspoon: cloves, cinnimon and ginger
Add 1/2 cup corn syrup, and 2 tablespoons of butter
Blend well
Return mixture to the stove, and heat throughly
Pour hot mixture in to pie crust, and set
Top with whipped cream and candied walnuts
Enjoy.
Holly
ZonieDiver
11-25-2009, 14:35
Despite the economic downturn, a house worth 1/4 of what it was in 2005, a power-grasping national government, a school district budget override failure, a state budget in free-fall with accompanying educational meat-ax cuts, and a meeting with our superintendent next Monday to find who will have jobs next year and who won't - I have much to be thankful for this year.
Tomorrow, I'll be with people I care for deeply, and probably won't get to PS.com. Therefore, Happy Thanksgiving to all. I'll be eating small top sirloin steaks (marinating as I type), large butterflied shrimp, small Australian lobster tails, a great salad with garden-grown veggies, and some great red wine - probably a Chilean Malbec (to start).
I am verrrry thankful for the good-health of my pregnant daughter - and my grandson-in-waiting (who both discovered the joys of automatic weapons last weekend).
BMT (RIP)
11-25-2009, 15:30
May your stuffing be
tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and
gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
Happy
Thanksgiving!
BMT
I am thankful that I am still above ground and breathing. I have a wonderful girlfriend, with whom I was at the grocery with last night, purchasing the ingredients for a Thanksgiving Dinner...it will be the second meal she's cooked for me in eleven months of dating...:eek: Thank God I was a Boy Scout and own an LL Bean Game cookbook...
I have an interview next week for my third job of the Obama presidency and suspect things will go well...I have pumpkin pies in the oven and a dog that puts up with me....
Things are as good as they can be and I'm pretty happy about most things...
The menu for tomorrow is a traditional turkey with mashed potatoes, yams, green beans, salad, cranberry sauce, home-made rolls, sweet potatoes (my recipe), pumpkin pies (her recipe and mine), cherry pie and some other stuff...lol..
Dont know if I'll make it here tomorrow, so I do wish everyone a Happy and blessed Thanksgiving...these are hard times, but we'll survive them, inspite of the idiots running amok...
dirtyshirt
11-25-2009, 15:48
Swanson Turkey T.V. Dinner (mostly white meat) with all the fixins, tea, a walmart "individual sized" little cherry pie,with extra walmart brand cherry pie filling (cuz there's never enuff good stuff in the little pies) .
Actually,it's prett good. I used to LIVE on cherry pie filling and saltines,with whatever kinda booze there was.......that booze gets 'spensive,and it makes everyone do stupid sh*t,but I was prone to do some extra stupid things.
and since some of ya' wont be on here tomorrow because you have family and all,let me say now......"HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!! "
I am thankful that I am still above ground and breathing. I have a wonderful girlfriend, with whom I was at the grocery with last night, purchasing the ingredients for a Thanksgiving Dinner...it will be the second meal she's cooked for me in eleven months of dating...:eek: Thank God I was a Boy Scout and own an LL Bean Game cookbook...
I have an interview next week for my third job of the Obama presidency and suspect things will go well...I have pumpkin pies in the oven and a dog that puts up with me....
Things are as good as they can be and I'm pretty happy about most things...
The menu for tomorrow is a traditional turkey with mashed potatoes, yams, green beans, salad, cranberry sauce, home-made rolls, sweet potatoes (my recipe), pumpkin pies (her recipe and mine), cherry pie and some other stuff...lol..
Dont know if I'll make it here tomorrow, so I do wish everyone a Happy and blessed Thanksgiving...these are hard times, but we'll survive them, inspite of the idiots running amok...
BMT, Sir, Great menu!!!:lifter
L.K. Sir,
These are indeed hard times, but am so glad to see that those that can have a holiday meal, are having such a good meal!!!:) Your menu sounds great!!! And how about that sweet potato recipe??? Yum!
Holly
And how about that sweet potato recipe??? boil the sweet potatoes with the skin on until tender...two choices, here...option #1...split the sweet potatoes...cut a cross pattern in the flesh of the potato and apply butter, cinammon and brown sugar to taste...put the halves on a baking sheet and 15 or so minutes before the rolls are done, put them in the oven, bake until the sugar and butter form a crust...
Option #2, scoop the flesh out of the skin of the potato, mix with brown sugar, cinammon or any other spices, butter...some folks will add marshmallows, put the filling back in the skin and bake with the rolls as above...the only place I've encountered sweet potatoes cooked according to option #1 is the Blue Ridge or in my house...
boil the sweet potatoes with the skin on until tender...two choices, here...option #1...split the sweet potatoes...cut a cross pattern in the flesh of the potato and apply butter, cinammon and brown sugar to taste...put the halves on a baking sheet and 15 or so minutes before the rolls are done, put them in the oven, bake until the sugar and butter form a crust...
Option #2, scoop the flesh out of the skin of the potato, mix with brown sugar, cinammon or any other spices, butter...some folks will add marshmallows, put the filling back in the skin and bake with the rolls as above...the only place I've encountered sweet potatoes cooked according to option #1 is the Blue Ridge or in my house...
In honor of you, think I will try option #2...! :)
Thank You Sir!
Holly
In honor of you, think I will try option #2...!
The girlfriend liked option #2...I prefer option #1...#2 is nothing more than a twice-baked potato made from a yam or sweet potato...enjoy...:cool:
HAPPY THANKGIVING Y'ALL
We will fry 3 turkey tomorrow morning for family and neighbors. My wife will make the following:
cornbread dressing
sweet potato casserole
pink eye purple hull peas
giblet gravy
yeast rolls
pecan pie
These recipes have been in our family since the 1850's.
Times are hard, but remember, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and it will all work out.
kimberly
11-25-2009, 23:36
Along with turkey, etc., we always have peanut brittle:
1/2 pint whipping cream, whipped with vanilla and sugar
1 box crushed peanut brittle
1/2 bag mini marshmallows
Best the next day since the brittle carmelizes.
Double that and have some with leftovers.
Happy Thanksgiving all, especially those away from home.