What's your Thanksgiving menu this year?

[slag]

All those recipes and ideas look good. Thanks for starting this Kaido!

 

[OutHouse]

That actually sounds pretty good...my secret is pickle juice. I mix that in with the filling & it makes the flavor pop.

yup, this is the difference between a average deviled egg, and a awesome deviled egg.

 

[OutHouse]

I don't know, but for the first time in 4 years the dinner will NOT be at my house - yay!

I'll probably make creamy mashed potatoes which is what I make in most of these family meals. My wife usually does a veggie dip tray and a vegetable casserole.

if you want to bring it up a notch, mash up purple potatoes and take with you. the flavor is like a potato but the color will add some flair to the dinner. nearly all the chain grocery stores around me carry purple potatoes now.

 

[Humpy]

I'll be inside a massive barn in a strange city eating whatever lukewarm food off a paper plate that the caterers bring. It's Oklahoma so I'm guessing mac 'n cheese, potato chips, gravy, and a 72oz hunk of cow.

 

[Linflas]

We do Thanksgiving at my Aunt and Uncles every year and it is pretty much the same every year:
Baked turkey
Baked ham
Turkey dressing
Oyster dressing
Baked yams
Mashed potatoes
Corn
Green beans
Deviled eggs
Assorted pickles and olives
Cranberry sauce
Pumpkin, chocolate cream, coconut cream, and apple pies
Various cakes and cookies

 

[OutHouse]

I'll be inside a massive barn in a strange city eating whatever lukewarm food off a paper plate that the caterers bring. It's Oklahoma so I'm guessing mac 'n cheese, potato chips, gravy, and a 72oz hunk of cow.

followed by square dancing and charades.

sounds like a fun time to me. can i go with you?

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Nobody love me [and the wife] to invite us over. Being that we're empty-nesters, we will likely dine on canned or frozen dinners. Sad, true, but that is reality of life unless someone can recommend a nice restaurant in Atlanta that serves a good holiday meal (money isn't a problem).

 

[Leyawiin]

Whatever my big sister decides to cook at her house.

 

[ponyo]

Nobody love me [and the wife] to invite us over. Being that we're empty-nesters, we will likely dine on canned or frozen dinners. Sad, true, but that is reality of life unless someone can recommend a nice restaurant in Atlanta that serves a good holiday meal (money isn't a problem).

There are lot of restaurants that offer special Thanksgiving dinner or do buffets that day. One of my relatives eat at Maggiano's every year. The Capital Grille, Ray's on the River, Morton's, Ruth's Chris, Palms, McCormick's, Ritz Carlton, etc all offer special Thanksgiving menu. http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid=1&m=16

 

[adairusmc]

Probably some jerky, gatorade, and maybe some of those blue diamond smokehouse almonds. I am going snowmobiling since we are finally getting some snow. Priorities.

 

[Kaido]

Nobody love me [and the wife] to invite us over. Being that we're empty-nesters, we will likely dine on canned or frozen dinners. Sad, true, but that is reality of life unless someone can recommend a nice restaurant in Atlanta that serves a good holiday meal (money isn't a problem).

See if this place does Thanksgiving dinners:

http://www.sweetgeorgiasjukejoint.com/

 

[Thebobo]

Cant wait!

 

[Kaido]

Cant wait!

Dude if that's what you are eating give me your address and I will send you better food

 

[madoka]

Nobody love me [and the wife] to invite us over. Being that we're empty-nesters, we will likely dine on canned or frozen dinners.

I'm so sad that I was never able to track this down:

 

[Kaido]

I'm so sad that I was never able to track this down:

 

[BarkingGhostar]

See if this place does Thanksgiving dinners:

http://www.sweetgeorgiasjukejoint.com/

Website says they are closed. Maybe I should kidnap a cook to make me food and release them 48-hours after digestion to insure no poisoning.

 

[Geekbabe]

I have to work on Thanksgiving this year & have chemo the day after. Will probably put together some Cornish game hens, plus I ordered several delicious pies. Make my day as easy as I can.

 

[mrblotto]

Going to someone's house,

This .......woohoo!

 

[Xstatic1]

I have the 6-quart Instant Pot model, which can fit a 7" springform pan. Lots of recipes out there such as this one:

http://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/pressure-cooker-samoa-cheesecake/

If you're looking for an electric model, they're on sale for $120:

http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-IP-DUO60-Programmable-Generation/dp/B00FLYWNYQ/

The pan I got seems out of stock from the normal retailer ($13), but here it is:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000237FS0

I use a water bath to bake my cheesecakes for 55-60 minutes, and that Instant Pot pretty much does the same thing. :thumbsup:

That actually sounds pretty good...my secret is pickle juice. I mix that in with the filling & it makes the flavor pop.

How much pickle juice do you use? (I'm willing to try it)

 

[Xstatic1]

Some of you cookin' a spread/feast, please post pics of it! :biggrin:

 

[Kaido]

How much pickle juice do you use? (I'm willing to try it)

Basically, it can vary by jar to jar depending on the flavor of the juice (i.e. by brand, flavor, and how many pickles are left affect the strength of the flavor). So what I do is just mix up a big bowl of the filling, then start pouring the pickle juice in, stirring, and tasting it until it gets where you want it. Oddly enough, you sometimes have to add more salt to make the flavor pop. Sometimes I combine that with smoked paprika if the pickle juice itself is weak. The pickle juice doesn't affect the color or anything, but adds a nice savory zing when you eat it.

 

[kn51]

Basically, it can vary by jar to jar depending on the flavor of the juice (i.e. by brand, flavor, and how many pickles are left affect the strength of the flavor). So what I do is just mix up a big bowl of the filling, then start pouring the pickle juice in, stirring, and tasting it until it gets where you want it. Oddly enough, you sometimes have to add more salt to make the flavor pop. Sometimes I combine that with smoked paprika if the pickle juice itself is weak. The pickle juice doesn't affect the color or anything, but adds a nice savory zing when you eat it.

Smoked paprika. Gift of the gods.

Thanks for all the ideas.

I'm leaning towards...

1) Smoking a turkey
2) Mashed potatoes. I usually toss in a stick of cream cheese and use whipping cream for this occasion.
3) Think I'll steal the Alton Brown green bean casserole
4) Think I'll steal the devil eggs idea with the pickle juice
5) Yeast rolls
6) Giblet gravy
7) Pumpkin cheesecake
8) A couple other sides.
9) Consuming a crap load of booze to keep me warm during smoking the turkey and being numb to the chaos in the house. I'm expecting temps in the 40's that day.

 

[Bubblehappy]

Not making thanksgiving dinner this year for the first time in a long time. Going to go out to a nice place and enjoy dinner solo.

 

[Kaido]

Smoked paprika. Gift of the gods.

Thanks for all the ideas.

I'm leaning towards...

1) Smoking a turkey
2) Mashed potatoes. I usually toss in a stick of cream cheese and use whipping cream for this occasion.
3) Think I'll steal the Alton Brown green bean casserole
4) Think I'll steal the devil eggs idea with the pickle juice
5) Yeast rolls
6) Giblet gravy
7) Pumpkin cheesecake
8) A couple other sides.
9) Consuming a crap load of booze to keep me warm during smoking the turkey and being numb to the chaos in the house. I'm expecting temps in the 40's that day.

I've smoked a turkey a couple of times, came out awesome! Very tasty stuff. One year we just did the turkey "loaf" (the tube one) & it came out awesome. Didn't look as nice on the table but was a lot less hassle to deal with!

I'm considering doing a pumpkin cheesecake as well, since pumpkin pie doesn't do it for me. I'm doing some test-runs on the cheesecakes tonight, so maybe I'll try it out & let my coworkers rate it haha.