Thanksgiving Day menus and traditions

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

My MIL makes it every year. I hate it.

Amen. The worst are the Funyun things that they put on the top. Green Bean Casserole truly is one of the most disgusting dishes in Western Cuisine. It's what you would give to a foreigner to freak them out.

[FarrahWaters]

Originally Posted by YOhio

It's what you would give to a foreigner to freak them out.

That reminds me when my in-laws had a Japanese family over for their first Thanksgiving dinner. They tolerated the turkey, and seemed confused by the gravy and especially the stuffing. Their kids wolfed down the steamed broccoli though.

[landpoke]

Originally Posted by YOhio

Amen. The worst are the Funyun things that they put on the top. Green Bean Casserole truly is one of the most disgusting dishes in Western Cuisine. It's what you would give to a foreigner to freak them out.

French fried onions, cut green beans, a can of cream of mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce and pepper to taste. Creamy. crunchy, beany perfection in a casserole dish.

It's even better the next day, cold on a turkey sandwich with stuffing and yellow mustard. The soup and milk congeal a bit forming a savory green bean custard. Man I can't wait.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by landpoke

It's even better the next day, cold on a turkey sandwich with stuffing and yellow mustard. The soup and milk congeal a bit forming a savory green bean custard. Man I can't wait.

You should cut the cold casserole into squares, bread it and deep fry it the next day. It couldn't possibly make it taste any worse. That's the kind of thing that would kill at the Wyo State Fair.

[landpoke]

Originally Posted by YOhio

You should cut the cold casserole into squares, bread it and deep fry it the next day. It couldn't possibly make it taste any worse. That's the kind of thing that would kill at the Wyo State Fair.

Green Bean Casserole is a delicate melody of tastes and textures. While I'm usually in favor of deep fat frying most anything, GBC is far too elegant for the fryer.

[landpoke]

The other major menu item for clan landpoke is, surprise surprise, booze. It's become a competition between my dad, brother and me to see who can come up with the most interesting libation. Fall is a brown liquor season so it generally ends up being rare bourbon or scotch. This is in addition to the assorted wines pre and during dinner and the port, muscat and ice wine with dessert.

Post dinner scotch/bourbons and cigars are also part of the rotation.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Leg of lamb (medium rare with garlic cloves embedded;

red potatos roasted with garlic and olive oil;

brussel sprouts lightly steamed, split and sateed with bacon bits (real), a little bacon fat, butter, cider vinegar, and a spot of sugar and onions;

a good cab.

This is a menu I could get behind.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by YOhio

This is a menu I could get behind.

Even the cab?

My mom smokes the whole turkey. If you do it right, it's superb.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

Even the cab?

No Barbara. I don't drink, but I thought it was unnecessary to make that point when complimenting SU on his menu. Thank you for giving me the chance to clarify.

[mpfunk]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

OK folks, looking for interesting ideas for the upcoming feast and holiday. Food is a BIG deal in my family....a HUGE deal. So Thanksgiving is almost like my Christmas, truthfully. The entire weekend is dedicated to gorging myself.

Also, T-Day weekend is always for traditional activities.

Everyone please feel free to comment or share your T-Day menu and planned gigs. I am sure we have a nice variety here.

For menu, my grandmother is....er....ethnic, so we have always grown up eating some non-traditional side dishes as part of our holiday meals.

Menu

1. Turkey
2. homemade stuffing: lately we are doing a sausage, apple, cranberry recipe that is de-lish!
3. mashed potatoes: has to be real, not instant. We use cream cheese, chopped eggs, and hints of green onions in ours. lovely.
4. Gravy from pan drippings.....very low-fat, indeed
5. homemade rolls
6. cranberry sauce: made from real cranberries. We do not do the canned goo.
7. Corn on the cob
8. Red rice
9. pinto beans (don't ask)
10. Salad: my wife makes different kinds, but lately our favorite is this really yummy spinach salad with strawberries, carmelized almonds and other stuff.
11. Deviled eggs for apps......we always make egg boats as apps for any family get-together
12. homemade bean dip and chips as apps....again, don't ask, just tradition
13. Dessert: pies, pies and more pies.....pumpkin, peach, banana cream and coconut cream, and pecan are the usual faves, but I love all pies except the chocolate pudding crap. Any fruit pies are ok by me. Also, mince. Yum! truthfully, pumpkin is great, but not my first choice. I would rather have others first, but pumpkin is a must for T-Day.

Activities

1. At some point over the weekend we take in a new movie. This time it looks like we have all agreed on Quantum of Solace. Excited for that one. We are taking the kids to the sneak of Bolt this weekend, so that won't be on the manu for T-Day weekend.
2. Turkey Bowl at the stake center or local park. I try to go, depends on whether my wife needs my help at 7AM.
3. My family ALWAYS plays trivia games after the meal.....trivial pursuit, you dont know jack, etc....whatever the latest trivia game is, we wind up playing it. One of us is in charge of buying the latest and greatest before the get-together and bringing it with us. This is always lots of fun.
4. Football......depends on who is playing that weekend. This year, Notre Dame is playing at SC, so my brother and I will be heading off to that most of Saturday. We are taking my mom, but it is a surprise right now. It is an all-day tailgate, so most of the fam will show up at one point or another during the day.
5. Thanksgiving night ice cream: that night, we have root beer floats, sundaes, whatever you want. Lots of ice cream, toppings, etc.. tradition.

Can't wait. Only a few weeks away.

How can you possibly wait for Thanksgiving to see Quantum of Solace?