Thanksgiving

A lot of members here, I'm sure, are going to be working on Turkey day; others are in areas that don't celebrate it at all, while our Canadian folks have it on a different day (I think). Those differences aside, what has to be on the table or the day is a flop? At our house, along with the turkey, there has to be sausage stuffing! Since my daughter married a guy from Pennsylvania, we've substituted potato filling for mashed potatoes and in order to maintain my Maryland residency, we have to have sauerkraut as well. We vary other veggies from year to year, but brussel sprouts with chesnuts are a necessity for my daughter and me, and we always have a pumpkin pie, a fudge-pecan tart, and a mince-meat pie.

Okay, guys, it's time to share more naughty secrets . . . what do you cook at home?

[Chef David Simpson]

I have to work, but past has-to-be's for my parents table were candied yams, corn bread dressing, sweet butter carrots, cranberry sauce, lima beans, black-eyed peas, turkey, and chicken and dumplins.
This was our southern tradition. In Beaumont, Texas
I know I'm forgetting something

[shroomgirl]

turkey, cranberries,stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie
How many starches can you combine in one meal? Other veg dishes vary

[lynne]

Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, lima beans, sausage stuffing, crusty rolls, cranberry sauce, homemade applesauce, pumpkin pie, apple pie, tossed green salad and black cherry jello (which should go under favourites from the box...) The jello is made with bing cherries stuffed with cream cheese and black cherry jello made with the cherry juice. Have to admit its a family favourite -- it's also mandatory for Christmas!

Because we have family friends from Hong Kong that join us every thanksgiving, oriental style green beans and shui mai have also become a tradition!

It's neat to add on their traditional celebratory foods.

Yum - we should have a virtual T-giving feast!

[Nicko]

We always have turkey and Ham on the bone, but being a Greek family we also have to have roast leg of lamb. Another big feature of our household is the brussel spouts with fresh butter.

Bacon and Wild Mushroom stuffing, green beans with carmelized onions, bbq'd turkey (frees the oven for me) with brown sugar mustard glaze, (garlic) mashed potatoes, apple cranberry pie, triple cranberry sauce (fresh cranberries, frozen cran juice, dried cranberries). I finally ditched the fruit salad I'd carried on because none of us really liked it...was tradition from my mom (fruit with a lemon type dressing and...mini marshmellows!).

[KyleW]

My brother insists on being able to see the ring indentations in the cranberry sauce. We're thinking of trading him in.

[m brown]

High temp roasted sage rubbed turkey with chestnut, wild mushroom and prune stuffing, cognac gravy. Roasted brussel sprouts, fresh cranberry dressing. Creamed onions, big baby greens salad, cheese course, flourless chocolate cake fresh homemade vanilla bean ice cream
champagne, wine, coffee, lemon water.
This year I will be the guest, so who knows.

We've agreed to go to hubby's grandmother's house for the day...she's a terrible cook. I have been "allowed" to bring the dressing and pumpkin pie, both specialties of mine. I will cook the weekend after so we don't feel cheated.

I love roasting my turkey with fresh herbs and I make my mashed potatoes a few days before and then bake them...they're sort of like a souffle and very tasty....mmmmm!

This is going to be the weirdest T-giving on record. My son and his family moved into my late father's house this past summer and we're having dinner there. This is setting the stage for a circus. It's a small, three bedroom modular home . . . with one "facility." They've invited 17 people, including religious fundamentalists, drama queens and kings, and an extremely (4'7") diminutive relative that my daughter refers to as "Magically Delicious Uncle Bob." That sounds unkind, I know, but it's hard to be sensitive with someone who's concept of hygiene is "you only need to take care of the dirt that other people can see when you're fully clothed." My son once helped him clean his house; they needed to start with a snow-shovel. I can't wait to see what he brings. So I can avoid it. The last time my daughter-in-law did a turkey, I watched in absolute horror as she basted it with a nasal aspirator. I'm buying her a baster this year. (meaow!)

I'm taking the pies (pumpkin, mince and apple) and herb-sausage stuffing, along with PA Dutch potato filling for my most excellent son-in-law. I think I might take some liquor as well. A lot of liquor.

Next year, Thanksgiving is moving back to MY house!!

I hate to say it, MaryeO, but I think everyone will agree with me here: Booze is the answer. I feel a lot better about my freakish relatives after hearing your story...can't wait to hear how it goes!

PS I'll be working on turkey day which is good because I'm not a huge fan of turkey (just the skin) so my husband and I are thinking of celebrating the following Sunday with Maine Lobster. I've only cooked it in school so I'm pretty excited. I'm open to suggestions for side-dish alternatives. Everyone out their has contributed such great ideas in the past! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

[David Jones]

Or pills, pills are good.... Just double check on the reaction between turkey and benzodiazapines!!

MaryeO, I will be telling that basting story for sure!

Actually, I'm thinking of thorazine in the sausage/cheese balls, washed down with a lovely Merlot. I'll take two, please, and Magically Delicious Uncle Bob will have four. I'm ashamed to say that I told my daughter (who is the dearest, sweetest, most gullible soul in the world and has never had the pleasure of meeting the diminutive Uncle B.) that after he has a couple of drinks he starts to expose himself . . . I told her to look in his eyes, not his lap. It's not true (I don't think), but I have to have some fun here. This will definitely be a holiday to remember . . .

Actually, I'm thinking of thorazine in the sausage/cheese balls, washed down with a lovely Merlot. I'll take two, please, and Magically Delicious Uncle Bob will have four. I'm ashamed to say that I told my daughter (who is the dearest, sweetest, most gullible soul in the world and has never had the pleasure of meeting the diminutive Uncle B.) that after he has a couple of drinks he starts to expose himself . . . I told her to look in his eyes, not his lap. It's not true (I don't think), but I have to have some fun here. This will definitely be a holiday to remember . . .