Thanksgiving!

[moroccangirl]

What are you cooking? Are you cooking anything that can be done a day or two ahead of time? Or even earlier and frozen?

We love Thanksgiving food, and for the past few years I have cooked us a little thanksgiving dinner. This year my due date is on the 20th. Dinner will be at my step-sister's house but we're not going. I told DH that if I don't have a c-section, we can still do something for us, maybe even the weekend after thanksgiving. A lot of it is easy so he can do the hard work and I can help with a few prep things. He doesn't like turkey so we'd just roast a whole chicken. Easy.
Of course, this all depends on how I deliver and how I feel.

[diablita]

I can't believe you're so close!

I'll be out of town the weekend before Thanksgiving and we're having friends over for dinner who really wanted to bring a smoked turkey so we're letting them.  It will be odd not cooking a turkey for the first time in many year but kind of great.  Not sure what else I'll make yet, but will definitely have the usual cranberry sauce (w/ apricots), mashed potatoes of some kind and definitely brussels sprouts.

[OldBaldHippie]

No plans, but I want to smoke a turkey...

[caribougrrl]

quick, someone post their sweet potatoes with marshmallows and green been casserole recipes so we can get it over with.

[merigayle]

last year we went to the vegan buffet restaurant and it was great. Got to love Chinese vegans making Thanksgiving dinner I loved not having to cook and clean and dealing with leftovers. Unless we go to DH's cousin's, i think we are going back to the restaurant again.

[Magic Microbe]

I am cooking for the first time this year. Antags mom and stodad are coming as are my parents and brother. I think I will go traditional with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, and pie.

[moroccangirl]

quick, someone post their sweet potatoes with marshmallows and green been casserole recipes so we can get it over with.

 
I made sweet potato casserole with the marshmallows on top the first year I cooked. I just thought that's what I was supposed to make. We have graduated from marshmallows to toasted pecans on top.

[crazypants]

I am cooking for the first time this year. Antags mom and stodad are coming as are my parents and brother. I think I will go traditional with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, and pie.

Can I come? 

[diablita]

I just received the new SmittenKitten cookbook and there's a recipe in it for a swirled pumpkin cheesecake.  It's kind of a half cheesecake, half pumpkin pie thing and sounds very balanced and tasty.
I'm definitely giving it a try.

[moroccangirl]

I just received the new SmittenKitten cookbook and there's a recipe in it for a swirled pumpkin cheesecake.  It's kind of a half cheesecake, half pumpkin pie thing and sounds very balanced and tasty.
I'm definitely giving it a try.

That sounds good!

[merigayle]

I just received the new SmittenKitten cookbook and there's a recipe in it for a swirled pumpkin cheesecake.  It's kind of a half cheesecake, half pumpkin pie thing and sounds very balanced and tasty.
I'm definitely giving it a try.

I made a vegan one and it was really good. theppk.com has a great vegan brownie pumpkin pie that anyone would love AWESOME.

My favorite dessert is Cooking Light's pumpkin pie cake, it is a layer cake (pumpkin) with a delicious cream cheese frosting. Always a winner. We do no nuts on it.

[Magic Microbe]

Can I come? 

It's a long way to come for some turkey.

[LilyLily]

I am cooking for the first time this year. Antags mom and stodad are coming as are my parents and brother. I think I will go traditional with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, and pie.

There's a great make-ahead recipe for Mashed Potatoes on the Pioneer Woman website.  I made them last year and they were amazing.  Not that you are looking for that, but it may help make the actual day less stressful.

[moroccangirl]

There's a great make-ahead recipe for Mashed Potatoes on the Pioneer Woman website.  I made them last year and they were amazing.  Not that you are looking for that, but it may help make the actual day less stressful.

Is that the one with cream cheese? I think I made something like that and OMG they were good!!

[Luckylily]

I love cooking thanksgiving dinner with all the goodies, but... No company this year. It seems like too much for four people.

[moroccangirl]

I love cooking thanksgiving dinner with all the goodies, but... No company this year. It seems like too much for four people.

Aww, do it. I do it for 2 people. Not even for Adam anymore because he won't eat any of it. When he was 1 I think, the first time I cooked, he ate a little of everything. Now I'm sure he wouldn't touch any of it except for the bread.

[merigayle]

I love cooking thanksgiving dinner with all the goodies, but... No company this year. It seems like too much for four people.

we've done it for three and DH is the only one who eats turkey Go out to dinner, it is DA BOMB!

[cgraz]

Doing it for 2-4 people means you get all the leftovers! Woo!

[Magic Microbe]

I love cooking thanksgiving dinner with all the goodies, but... No company this year. It seems like too much for four people.

Its not...just do a small turkey.

I once made a full thanksgiving dinner for just myself.

[moroccangirl]

Doing it for 2-4 people means you get all the leftovers! Woo!

Yes!!

[ecodork]

Being a vegetarian, the only thing I really care about are the mashed potatoes.

[merigayle]

Being a vegetarian, the only thing I really care about are the mashed potatoes.

too bad you don't live closer to come to the vegan restaurant Already drooling. They had a mashed potato platter shaped like a turkey with tofu skin and eyes made out of olives and a carrot beak, i was about to take a pic but then a guy came and scooped the head off

[moroccangirl]

Being a vegetarian, the only thing I really care about are the mashed potatoes.

What about dressing and sweet potatoes and pie??

[merigayle]

sweet potatoes are not vegetarian when you throw marshmellows on top and my mother just could not understand that  Stuffing (dressing, right?) is not vegetarian if cooked in the bird or with chicken stock, but i always make my own cause i like it crispy on top

[moroccangirl]

sweet potatoes are not vegetarian when you throw marshmellows on top and my mother just could not understand that  Stuffing (dressing, right?) is not vegetarian if cooked in the bird or with chicken stock, but i always make my own cause i like it crispy on top

Well I meant those things cooked with veg products. Can you make dressing with veg broth?

[diablita]

you definitely can, MG

[cgraz]

I have made an amazing vegetarian stuffing (not cooked in the bird obviously). And I love to make savory roasted sweet potatoes and onions - no marshmallows required. Plus, green bean casserole is vegetarian!

[nadra24]

I am in charge of the vegetable and the pie this year.  My parents are coming out to Utah and my sister is making dinner.  My mom broke her elbow 7 weeks ago and still has really limited mobility, so she can't help.  My sister is making the turkey, stuffing, yams and apples, and rolls.  She'll probably have my dad do the mashed potatoes, and he is always in charge of our family's traditional pomegranate salad. 

I'm making chocolate cream pie and a blueberry pie for kenyan.  Not sure what I'll do for a veggie.  I'd love to do roasted brussels sprouts, but I kind of think I'm the only person who will like that.  Any suggestions?

[The Turtle Whisperer]

Is that the one with cream cheese? I think I made something like that and OMG they were good!!

It probably is... it's been around a while and it freezes well and it's great!

I'll do that, some kind of sweet potato recipe that will freeze, and the dressing I make freezes well uncooked. 

I'll use my favorite felons recipe for green beans... except I throw a lot of garlic in with the shallots...

http://www.marthastewart.com/317075/green-beans-with-shallots-and-breadcrumb

And I'll make somebody else bring a corn dish.   

Looks like I'm feeding around 20 people.   

[The Turtle Whisperer]

And I love to make savory roasted sweet potatoes and onions -

Care to share?   

[merigayle]

Well I meant those things cooked with veg products. Can you make dressing with veg broth?

yes!!!!!! but a traditional meal won't cause it's cooked in the bird. my mother is a nasty woman, we all know this by now. my last Thanksgiving (first one and only DH came to my house) with them, my mother went out of her way to make EVERYTHING not vegetarian except asparagus. I had been vegetarian for 10 years at that point. Even when we do Xmas with my friends, they do a 7 fishes dinner and always have veg options for us.

[cgraz]

Care to share?   

Sure - cut up some sweet potatoes & vidalia onions into good-sized chunks. Toss with olive oil. Put on sheet pan or casserole dish - single layer is best for optimum browning. Sprinkle liberally with salt, pepper, garlic, whatever floats your boat. Roast in oven until brown and delicious. Easy! 

[merigayle]

i am pretty sure any vegetable roasted is divine.

[moroccangirl]

yes!!!!!! but a traditional meal won't cause it's cooked in the bird. my mother is a nasty woman, we all know this by now. my last Thanksgiving (first one and only DH came to my house) with them, my mother went out of her way to make EVERYTHING not vegetarian except asparagus. I had been vegetarian for 10 years at that point. Even when we do Xmas with my friends, they do a 7 fishes dinner and always have veg options for us.

Goodness, that's not nice. About 4 years ago we were in Tampa during Thanksgiving. DH's dad was stationed there. They had something like retired officers would invite current officers to their home for dinner. We went to these people's house and they were so lovely, and there wasn't a pork dish in sight. She also said she made sure not to cook with pork or put bacon in anything.

And I think the stuffing cooked inside the turkey is gross. I don't like anything that's been stuffed into a turkey or whole chicken. It looks pretty but I can't eat it.

[moroccangirl]

It probably is... it's been around a while and it freezes well and it's great!

I'll do that, some kind of sweet potato recipe that will freeze, and the dressing I make freezes well uncooked. 

I'll use my favorite felons recipe for green beans... except I throw a lot of garlic in with the shallots...

http://www.marthastewart.com/317075/green-beans-with-shallots-and-breadcrumb

And I'll make somebody else bring a corn dish.   

Looks like I'm feeding around 20 people.   

You can freeze mashed potatoes?

[cgraz]

Yeah, you can pretty much just insert any root vegetable or most other vegetables into that equation and it is delicious. I have roasted cauliflower, broccoli, summer squash & zucchini, carrots, Brussels sprouts...you name it. Yum-O. The trick is matching up the the size and cooking time if you are mixing vegetables - some things take longer than others, but cutting them up smaller helps.

[The Turtle Whisperer]

Sure - cut up some sweet potatoes & vidalia onions into good-sized chunks. Toss with olive oil. Put on sheet pan or casserole dish - single layer is best for optimum browning. Sprinkle liberally with salt, pepper, garlic, whatever floats your boat. Roast in oven until brown and delicious. Easy! 

Thanks!

[The Turtle Whisperer]

You can freeze mashed potatoes?

Yeah, and they're very good!

I used something like this, except I don't use butter. 

http://beautyandbedlam.com/make-ahead-mashed-potatoes-freezer-mashed-potatoes/

[merigayle]

this is a kinda ingredient heavy recipe (if you do not have these ingredients) but i love this broccoli, i never use that much broccoli, because more marinade on the roasted broccoli, the better You could probably alter this with just soy sauce, oil and maple syrup. I use water instead of oil 

http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2010/10/roasted-cheezy-broccoli-over-golden.html

[The Turtle Whisperer]

this is a kinda ingredient heavy recipe (if you do not have these ingredients) but i love this broccoli, i never use that much broccoli, because more marinade on the roasted broccoli, the better You could probably alter this with just soy sauce, oil and maple syrup. I use water instead of oil 

http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2010/10/roasted-cheezy-broccoli-over-golden.html

Are the yeast flakes there for flavor or something else? 

[mango]

I once made a full thanksgiving dinner for just myself.

Nice.
What did you make?

One of these years, I might try that for me and myself.

[witchypoo]

I once made a full thanksgiving dinner for just myself.

1.  several times.

[Magic Microbe]

Nice.
What did you make?

One of these years, I might try that for me and myself.

I used cornish game hen instead of turkey
stuffing
mashed potatoes
Gravy
cranberry sauce
green beans
rolls
and pie

[nadra24]

Two years ago I roasted a turkey for myself.  I always go to dinner at a relative's house, so I only get a little bit of leftovers.  I wanted my own turkey leftovers!  So I picked up the smallest bird I could find, roasted it, and then put half of the meat in the freezer to use later. 

[witchypoo]

my brother is hosting this year; i've been asked to provide a side featuring mushrooms, and to procure the bevvies.

[merigayle]

Are the yeast flakes there for flavor or something else?

for flavor. They have a nutty/cheezy taste.

[The Turtle Whisperer]

for flavor. They have a nutty/cheezy taste.

Interesting, thanks!

I guess one who isn't following a veggie lifestyle could sub Parmesan or something similar? 

[debbatx]

The year Reid was born, my niece was only 6 weeks old, and I couldn't travel to my parents', so they did a traveling Thanksgiving. They cooked everything at their house the night before, then drove up that morning for lunch with me and DH, left us some leftovers (not NEARLY enough for someone who was 39 weeks and 5 days pregnant), and then took the rest to Houston for dinner with my sister, BIL, and the baby. My dad had the cooler totally ready to go - our servings were on one side, and my sister's were on the other. It was pretty damn awesome. On Friday and Saturday, they helped my sister and BIL move to their new house, and then headed back to SA on Saturday afternoon - just in time to get the call that we were at the hospital. DH called again after Reid was born, and mom said that they were literally a mile from a cutoff that allowed them to get to Austin MUCH faster, rather than going all the way to SA and then up to Austin. It worked out beautifully.

[Run Amok]

Are the yeast flakes there for flavor or something else? 

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/broccoli-rice-casserole-51402.aspx

 

[The Turtle Whisperer]

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/broccoli-rice-casserole-51402.aspx

 

 

[Run Amok]

Ok, how about this instead? Bonita introduced it to me a few tg's ago. Amazing! http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Butternut-Squash-and-Creamed-Spinach-Gratin-236374

This looks fantastic http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cauliflower-and-Broccoli-Flan-with-Spinach-Bechamel-232078

[merigayle]

Interesting, thanks!

I guess one who isn't following a veggie lifestyle could sub Parmesan or something similar?

maybe, but maybe not w this recipe. It is a unique taste. Our natural food store sells it in bulk so you can buy a little or a lot to try. We put it on popcorn

[ecodork]

too bad you don't live closer to come to the vegan restaurant Already drooling. They had a mashed potato platter shaped like a turkey with tofu skin and eyes made out of olives and a carrot beak, i was about to take a pic but then a guy came and scooped the head off

Oooh, that does sound fun! Not sure what my veggie option will be this year, but two years ago we smoked some tofu for me, which was tasty.

What about dressing and sweet potatoes and pie??

Even when I ate meat I wasn't a big fan of stuffing.

Pie is good. I definitely like pie. Especially if there is whipped cream involved!

[Run Amok]

we usually have several veggie sides - roasted veggies, gbc, stuffing, cranberries, maybe salad, I even make gravy. The only nonveg thing is usually the turkey. 

[The Turtle Whisperer]

Ok, how about this instead? Bonita introduced it to me a few tg's ago. Amazing! http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Butternut-Squash-and-Creamed-Spinach-Gratin-236374

This looks fantastic http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cauliflower-and-Broccoli-Flan-with-Spinach-Bechamel-232078

 

I'm just kidding... The first one you posted is probably good...  I have heart disease so all the ones with butter and cream and cheeze whiz  , etc are persona non grata at su casa. 

[diablita]

we usually have several veggie sides - roasted veggies, gbc, stuffing, cranberries, maybe salad, I even make gravy. The only nonveg thing is usually the turkey. 

yup yup

and I make double the amount of apricot-cranberry sauce.  because it always tastes so good with all the roasted veggies, I alone can eat a huge amount.

[merigayle]

saw on Pinterest that Trader Joes is selling a vegan thanksgiving feast thing (like a tofurkey), since i know there is a TJs near you Ecodork.