Thanksgiving Ideas

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JohnVee

JohnVee

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Ignoring the standard traditional stuff, what's on y'alls menus this year? Or how do you treat the standard stuff to make it your own?

I'm not involved in planning or cooking this year in our little world. It'll be nice to keep all those people out of my house but it'll mean a bland experience put on by people who think S&P are exotic spices.

:cheers: in advance.

--john
 
John,

It is just the :princess: and I this year and we are banning the traditional bird, ham, cranberry sauce, cornbread dressing, candied yams...

We are going to order in lobsters and have a dish called "naked" lobster. I had it on a trip a few years back. Lobster meat sauteed in a sherry cream sauce, roasted tomato risotto, whipped pecan sweet potatoes and grilled asparagus and zucchini. With a Kistler Chardonnay.

Dessert will be a Kahlua and dark chocolate brownie with homemade vanilla bean ice cream with red raspberry whiskey sauce.

Leftovers will include lobster rolls, a tomato and lobster bisque, jicama and cranberry slaw and steamed red potatoes and corn.. with a few beers.

Now I'm hungry... Thanks JOHN....

J
 
If you are ordering live lobsters and you like sashimi you flat out have to sample raw lobster! Be careful...it's that good ;)
 
Going to be fairly traditional for us this year. My 'sis is coming down from Oregon to hang with us so no need for a whole turkey; having it sliced in half...1/2 goes in the freezer.

Inspired by a first year of Chile Pepper Magazine's publication, some 20+ years ago, I'll do a chile paste marinated treatment to 1/2 turkey...then rotiss'd on the komodo over pecan or apple...have't decided...not heavily smoked per se...just a kiss of wood.

During my 5-year stint as a vegetarian back in the 70's/80's one of many recipes that became a permanent fixture for us: Cashew Gravy courtesy of Laurel's Kitchen vol. 1. That's a must have for us any time gravy is called for; the upcoming Thanksgiving Day dinner included.

Probably wedged roasted Delicata squash, mashed russets and a fresh cranberry-orange side...maybe a persimmon/apple/fresh mozzarella salad we do...just for one twist to tradition ;)

Something pumpkin for dessert. And of course uber-good Pinot Noir...probably Benovia Cohn Vineyard...maybe a Merry Edwards or something from Willamette Valley.
 
We usually go to my sisters house. Luckily the BIL cooks a mean Turkey. We always buy a turkey while they are on sale, and like Spresso we get it sawn in half before it goes into the freezer.

Sent via the ether from my candy bar running ginger bread
 
I've stated in other posts that I love but don't cook duck. Guess what the trusty Harris Teeter had on sale tonight? Fresh freaking duck. I've never seen it there before, and it was on sale, so I bought one. I think I'll cook some for dinner Thursday night after returning from wherever the hell we're going. And I'll get my sweet, sweet duck fat jar refilled! Why, it's a happy Thanksgiving after all!!!

Although I'm also really digging the lobster idea...

--john
 
One of the most fun that I had with Thanksgiving food was the year that I smoked the legs and wings. It was great. Most of the family who are mostly traditional did not go for it. But the next morning I put together a fantastic smoked turkey and sweet potato hash with poached eggs. The sweet potatoes were also left over from the big dinner. They were not can sweet potatoes. I simply cut them into wedges, bigger than a steak fry, tossed them in oil salt pepper, and garlic and roasted. Any way it was a great breakfast and a new twist on all the left overs.

Another thing I have made was a braised rabbit. One whole rabbit two diced apples, 1 cup apple cider, 1 cup white wine or can or beer and 1 sliced fennel bulb. Good stuff. Eat well.
 
60Man said:
One of the most fun that I had with Thanksgiving food was the year that I smoked the legs and wings.
Click to expand...

My first year frying I was nervous that it wouldn't turn out right so I smoked some legs and a couple whole chickens just in case. None of the 12 at our house had ever had fried turkey...it went 50/50 for fried vs smoked - good arguments that made me proud either way. Worst thing was that the chicken was the best I have ever cooked and it wasn't needed.

--john
 
So the wife is sick. That made it easier for me to boycott the family meal. We still made some stuff and sent it over but that left me all day to cook for myself. I replenished my chicken stock supply and smoked a duck. First duck ever. I debated the cooking method until I decided that I'd just buy another tomorrow and do it a different way.

I went simple: Trimmed the fat, dried it for a couple hours, salt and a little Tony Cachere's in/out then onto the EGG with a mix of apple and cherry wood at 225-250 until 165*. Took about 2.5hrs. Next time I'll remember to prick the skin to drain the fat a little better. I'll probably also try loosening the skin all around first. I loved it. The wife still couldn't taste from her sore throat so that was kinda wasted but she was happy to see me so excited. Did I mention how much I love duck? I served it with carrots and potatoes that I cooked in the chicken stock.

Last pic is the rendered fat from the smoker. I still have a lot of fat that I trimmed to render down. It might be nice to blend them and have a smokey fat.

Ugghh...pics aren't loading - security token something...

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We went straight traditional this year, kept three ovens full all morning. The only thing I was able to slip in it if the usual was acorn squash stuffed with a creamed corn custard. Way better than it had any right to be.
 
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