Thanksgiving!

[kimikaw]

Going to a friend's house and they always have a TON of food. I will be taking the beer

Sounds like my plan. Spending the week in Nashville with my brother, and having dinner at his ultra hostess Aunt-in-laws. Great food, great company. And for this meal all we have to do is bring the beer (and wine and spirits). Both hubby and I work in different bits of the bev alcohol biz, so a natural for us.

Last year the spread was incredible. Looking forward to seeing what's in store this year.

Oh, anyone see the Bobby Flay/Pioneer Woman Thanksgiving Throwdown. Dying to try the Brussels sprouts with pomegranate recipe. Ditto the pumpkin bread pudding. Maybe as part of Christmas feast.

[bmccasland]

Will be wandering across the street to a neighbor's. Was supposed to drive to a friend's around Puget Sound (hour drive), but with our icy weather, I'm reluctant to drive anywhere. And since I'm still in the kitchen restocking process, I'm not cooking anything. But I will take over some homemade jam that survived the move. Think I have jars of blueberry and blackberry (separate) worth sharing.

Everyone's menus sound good. I'm hoping for some good mashed potatoes, and a stuffing that doesn't have mushrooms or oysters in it. Blech. I've never had chestnut stuffing / dressing, that sounds interesting.

My Louisiana grandmother would make a cornbread - in a cast iron skillet a day or two before, and let it get stale, to make her stuffing. Or is it dressing?

[Crankin]

Here's my menu... well, not mine, but the friends' we are going to. I would never send a printed menu!

Thanks giving 2010 Menu

Appetizer cheese and crackers
Appetizer Salad of mixed greens, walnuts, and goat
cheese
Main course
Herb roasted turkey with shallot pan gravy
Corn bread, apricot and toasted pumpkin seeds stuffing
Sweet potato and apple butter casserole
Cranberry sauce from Verrill Farm
Broccoli with fennel and red pepper sautéed with shallots
Dessert Tofu cheese cake with fresh strawberries
Blueberry pie from Helen’s with ice cream

Hosts will have: Wines- plenty of red & white; Beer- Corona

[tangentgirl]

Has anyone ever gotten a turkey without giblets? I washed up my turkey today to get it brining, found the turkey neck, found something in turkey skin that seems like the heart (?) but no bag of giblets. I'm rather confused.

Crankin, shallot pan gravy sounds mmmmmm.

[kacie tri-ing]

Not debbie downer. It's ok to discuss the truth, but I think even more important to discuss all year long.

I personally love a holiday that is all about a shared meal where we spend time being thankful and grateful. It is a lovely holiday.

So, after a day of cooking, I actually made:

Spinach Balls (to be baked after my half marathon and before we go to the in-laws)
Brown/Wild rice with onions, mushrooms, cranberries, and almonds
Whipped Sweet Potato--they could use a few nuts on top.....
Pumpkin Bread (I couldn't leave half a can of pumpkin sitting out!)
And...the pumpkin butterscotch cheesecake.

I am really excited to eat my dessert. I have been training really hard, tracking my nutrition, and skipping desserts....thus, I can't wait to sink my teeth into a good dessert (post race of course!) I will let you know how it turns out!

Looking forward to hear how some of the recipes go for everyone!

[OakLeaf]

Has anyone ever gotten a turkey without giblets?

Chickens, but not turkeys.

You got no giblets, I got two necks. Boiled 'em up (with some of the permanent supply of vegetable trimmings in the freezer) for stock for gravy.

[tangentgirl]

You got no giblets, I got two necks.

[OakLeaf]

MomonBike, your cranberry relish was delicious, and a hit with my husband too. That recipe is a keeper! Thank you.