Turkey Day Must Haves
Nov 16th 2007
Julia LondonWhen Goddesses Fall To Earth
I am supposed to make something for Thanksgiving day. I asked my sister what that should be, and she said, “think of something.” I asked if the usual dishes were going to be there: Mother’s fruit salad with little marshmallows that no one every touches, the crudite tray that no one ever touches, the canned cranberry that no one ever touches. She said yes. She said, “think of something GOOD.” I think she felt the need to say that because I have been known to attempt to make something new and different. Once, I used tofu. There was a vote, and I was voted into bringing bread units for life (including this year).
An aside: Where does tofu come from, anyway, and who thought it was edible? I made tofu enchiladas just the other night (weight watchers, remember?) and my husband said, “please never do that again.” I pretended to be indignant, but I was secretly relieved. I am working at it, but I think tofu enchiladas are above and beyond the call to skinny.
ANYWAY. So my sister told me to bring something GOOD and she said it with bit of a tone, so now I feel like she’s thrown down the gauntlet. So I thought today you could all fill out your Top Five Turkey Day Must Haves, and maybe I’ll get some inspiration. Maybe we can all be inspired. And if you don’t feel like writing down five things — tell us the most unusual dish you have ever had at Thanksgiving!
Here’s mine:
Turkey (haha! But sometimes we have ham)
Sour cream mashed potatoes (probably not for me this year)
Scalloped potatoes (because what is Turkey day without loads of starch?)
Green Bean Casserole (duh)
Pumpkin Pie (double duh)
Dallas Cowboys
What’s your top five must haves? And what’s the most unusual dish you’ve ever had at Thanksgiving?
69 Comments »
69 Responses to “Turkey Day Must Haves”
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 12:05 am #
Does anyone notice I asked for five then listed six? That’s why i am a writer and not an accountant, thank the Lord!
ladydawgfan on 16 Nov 2007 at 12:57 am #
Top 5 (or 6) must haves??
Turkey (of course!) with traditional sage dressing
My mom’s homemade cole slaw
Mom’s cranberry sauce (made from fresh cranberries, NOT from a can)
My sister’s Apple and Sweet Potato cassarole (YUM!!)
Homemade pumpkin pies with whipped cream
and finally
The guys out in the kitchen cleaning up while the ladies sit in the living room sipping wine (Diet Coke in my case) and watching football!
Kim on 16 Nov 2007 at 1:02 am #
Julia–does your mom’s fruit salad have cream cheese and cool whip? My mom makes creamy fruit with mini marshmallows and we fight over it!
My top 5:
avoidance of family (rarely happens. Now we’re up to 3 t-day dinners this year)
Creamy fruit dessert
pumpkin roll (not happening this year. I’m on baking strike)
leftovers
good movies to lounge around to
Santa on 16 Nov 2007 at 1:41 am #
At the Out-Laws:
Turkey
Sausage and breadcrumb dressing
Creamed Pearl Onions
Spinach Casserole w/sour cream and water chestnuts
Salad
Cranberry Dressing from a can
Some form of muffin
Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Mashed Sweet Potatoes w/Marshmellow Topping
My mil tried to ban legs and wings because no ate them. Her sons insisted and kept putting the plate near her, so they’d have to ask her to pass it to them. The brats!
My mom’s:
Antipasto
Hot Artichoke Dip
Cranberry/Pineapple Dressing with Candied Ginger
Turkey
Chestnut Stuffing
Shopshire Blue Cheese Portobello Poppers
Steamed Broccoli w/Hollandaise Sauce
All right. My mom isn’t most of that. It’s off our Fixin’s Menu at the store and so we get to have it on Thanksgiving!
evlqn on 16 Nov 2007 at 2:46 am #
Last year ,along with the requisite turkey and fixings ,we had pasta alfredo with mushrooms. A very dear friend has gone over to the dark side and become a vegetarion, but we still love her.
We also had cranberries - whole and jellied
green beans with almonds
corn
mom’s coleslaw - best on the planet!!
candied yams
pies - pumpkin, apple, chocolate walnut, pecan
chocolate peppermint schnappes cake
french dinner rolls
martinelli’s sparkling apple cider
This year it will probably be about the same but without mom’s coleslaw, USPS will not guarantee delivery!
Aspen on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:07 am #
Turkey (White meat PLEASE!)
Mashed potatoes! Gravys a must
Fresh homeade bread. (My mom is the best) salavating already!
Good salad with candied nuts. /good mix of sugar and greens.
candied yams…why not?
Hey I am so excited I will be marching with the writers guild tomorrow! Join me! I will be the one carrying the sign.
Judy F on 16 Nov 2007 at 5:35 am #
Top 5:
Turkey
Fresh made Cranberries (do not like the can stuff)
Pumkin Pie with whip cream
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Stuffing (dressing)
Buffie on 16 Nov 2007 at 7:09 am #
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I never make anything for Thanksgiving. My mother in law loves to do it all. Mind you, I have asked every year and she says “nothing.” I must tell you that she has had my cooking and does enjoy it, so I know that’s not it.
So here’s the top 5 must haves at my MILs.
1) Turkey
2) Sweet Potato Suffle
3) Homemade corn bread dressing
4) Homemade banana pudding, right out of the oven
5) the best sweet tea in the world
I have a great mother in law and I am thankful for her every day!
Karen Rose on 16 Nov 2007 at 7:23 am #
Hey Julia, coming out of the travel mist because this hotel has reliable internet. Yay!
Turkey, green bean casserole, candied yams (with pecans, yum), some token veggie that nobody eats and potato stuffing which is like a thick mashed potato dish with lots of other good stuff in it. Hubby makes the dinner, so it’s delish. Pecan pie for dessert.
One year we had leftover potato stuffing and took it to our neighbors’ house. They had chitlins and dared DH to try them. I got out of it because I was pregnant and feigned fragility. DH ate the chitlins while the neighbors looked on and they all had a hoot when he gagged like he was dying. So that was unusual, but normally we have just good normal food.
freshechelle on 16 Nov 2007 at 8:05 am #
Must haves for thankgsgiving:
Canned cranberry sauce - the ridges mean it’s fresh!
Patience to tolerate the disturbing polictical views of my family
A family story bingo card bcause you just know Aunt Joan will tell the same 5-7 stories as if we don’t know them by heart.BINGO!!
A good joke to compete with my cousin who always has a great story which she sometimes enhances by taking Vicodin.
A plan to get the hell out of there early.
Aemelia on 16 Nov 2007 at 8:08 am #
these are MY favorites
1) homemade mac ‘n’ cheese
2) sweet potatoes topped w/marshmellows
3) my homemade Cranberry Chutney
4) my pumpkin rolls
5) green been casserole
Michellynn on 16 Nov 2007 at 8:19 am #
Yikes! It is way too early in the morning to be getting this hungry! LOL These lists have me drooling!
Kim, your list is hysterical. My personal faves are 1 and 5. LOL
freshchelle, your list had me cracking up as well! *g*
OK…my very conventional list;
1. Turkey (brined or honey butter glazed)
2. Sweet Potato Casserole
3. Green Bean Casserole
4. Pineapple Bread Casserole
5. Caramel Pecan Cheesecake
Ummm…obviously I like the casseroles (sooooo easy to prep ahead of time…love that!)
Emmiebee on 16 Nov 2007 at 8:36 am #
My biggest concern this year is that, for the first time, my husband and I will be by ourselves for Thanksgiving. The usual family is too far away, including my parents and grandmother who retired to Spain this past year! I am on call for work, so I can not travel very far. Brother, SIL, neice are with SIL’s side, best friends have moved or are divorcing. We considered going out and making it a night on the town, but it felt wierd. Also, when there was so much variety with food for more people, my husband and I could each have things we enjoyed- light foods for me, traditional fare for him.
So, it will be: greens salad with pomegranate seeds, small turkey breast with maple glaze & gravy, peas, corn, mashed potatoes/butternut squash, fat-free stuffing/reg. stuffing, fat free bread pudding/pumpkin pie.
How do other people handle singles/couples/small familes or having family members with very different eating habits?
-Emmiebee
amy1242 on 16 Nov 2007 at 8:55 am #
My fave’s…turkey, dressing, mom’s doctored up potatoes, cranberry orange relish, various wines and my grandmothers ghost (she died in that house and always makes her presence known on Thanksgiving). I also like the green bean casserole and sweet potatoes with marshmallows, but that’s listing more than 6, my bad. I was a vegan for almost 5 full years and brought some “interesting” things to Thanksgiving dinner. Some good, some not so good. Finally, one summer, I quit the vegan thing and just became a vegetarian for a year. Those summer pasta salads were hard to refuse, with their animal product mayo and cheese’s. I finally gave it up altogether because, after all, I AM from Wisconsin and we are known for our cheeses and bratwurst. OH, another addition to Thanksgiving…Packer v Lions game! A must!
Emmiebee on 16 Nov 2007 at 8:57 am #
Oh, and the wierdest request this year came out of my own mouth. I asked if (gasp) we could use sugar-free maple syrup as the turkey glaze. I received one of the most the most disgusted looks I can remember. As Julia described above, some things are just not intended to be light- they just become gross, instead.
-Emmiebee
Lisa H on 16 Nov 2007 at 8:58 am #
Julia - I have a recipe for Sweet Potato Cassarole that will leave all other dishes begging for mercy.
It has a topping that tastes like candy, made up of walnuts, brown sugar, crushed cornflakes and lots of real butter.
Trust me on this. If you(or anyone) would like the recipe, I’ll post it here or on the forum.
KariE on 16 Nov 2007 at 8:58 am #
I get the same speech every year a week or two before Thanksgiving:”Don’t bother uless you make the following,”
1. Turkey (should be on list by default)
2. MIL’s homemade stuffing/dressing
3. Stuffed Mushrooms
4. Deviled Eggs
5. Mashed Potatoes (mashed by dh becuse, evidently, no one else knows how to mash a pot of potatoes)
BUT this year my girlfriend and he daughter are going to join us, we are switching it up a notch. We have decided on the following:
1. Turkey (again, by default)
2. MIL’s homemade stuffing (because who wants an angry MIL?)
3. Bacon wrapped lil’ smokies w/ brown sugar on top
4. Green bean casserole (because it is MY all time favorite)
5. Butternut squash, mashed, by ME.
What is the worst that will happen? They not eat? That ain’t gonna happen!!
Goes without saying that I am the cook of this feast. I dont know that we have ever had an unusual dish.
SuzyQ on 16 Nov 2007 at 9:09 am #
Here’s my list minus the turkey. The turkey is my favorite part of the meal but I thought I’d exclude it anyway since it’s on almost everyone else’s list.
1. Stuffing or dressing
2. Stuffed Mushrooms (Kari - I though I would be the only one with this one - LOL)
3. Glazed Carrots
4. Mashed Pototoes with Gravy
5. Pumpkin Pie
Fresh - I’m right there with ya on the Cranberry sauce ridges!
LisaH - I think there already is a post for sharing your favorite recipes in the forum.
doglady on 16 Nov 2007 at 9:34 am #
Okay, I am going to copy Suzy Q. Turkey is a given at my Mom’s.
1. Nana’s Corn Bread Stuffing (that is what everyone calls my Mom)
2. Chicken and dumplings (also by Nana by order of my baby brother and I who fight over who gets to take the leftovers home. The tupperware container in which they are packed spends all day being hidden and rehidden until one of us leaves.)
3. My SIL’s Italian cream cake.
4. Nana’s homemade mac n cheese (grandkids special order)
5. Nana’s fresh field peas from the magical freezer that ALWAYS has vegetables in it.
6. Yorkshire pudding and Bisto gravy
The other tradition is my Mom makes Japanese Fruit Cake and Lane Cake every holiday season - one for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas. She used to do both for each holiday, but as she uses a very old family recipe and does the whole thing from scratch it is too much work since she is over 70 now.
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 9:53 am #
Sweet potato casserole! You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had it. Lisa H, I will take you up on that offer to post the recipe in the forum. I’ll try it! I won’t even use tofu!
Doglady, I need Nana to come make my dish.
Ladydawgfan, we are not quite as inventive as you in getting the guys to do the dishes. That’s the one thing about holidays that really chaps my ass, frankly. Year after year, the men come to eat and veg and think nothing of it. I told my mother it was HER fault, that she encouraged it all these years by jumping up and running to the kitchen every time one of them grunted. She just smiles and continues on — she learned to ignore me many moons ago.
But it IS her fault…
cail on 16 Nov 2007 at 10:01 am #
as long as i have my dads mushroom dressing (stuffing) and grandma’s pumpkin pie i’m a happy girl.
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 10:09 am #
Oh, I forgot to mention! I can’t remember who it was that recommended the pumpkin and spice cake. I made that this weekend — The spice cake mix, a can of pumpkin (not pie filling, just pumpkin) and a cup of water.
My stepson ate half of it before it was even cool. He begged me to make it for Thanksgiving and said it was the best pumpkin cake he’d ever eaten. It really was good! And its 1 WW point per serving!
dbrown3400 on 16 Nov 2007 at 11:01 am #
I’m hoping for at least one of these since my daughter and I are going to an Italian houselold next Thursday, but we always have:
1) Turkey with Grandma Logan’s stuffing
2) Mashed potatoes with tons of Keller’s butter (yup, must be that brand)
3) Green bean casserole made with fresh green beans, not canned
4) Pumpkin pie with not too much spice (I think it’s the ginger or maybe cloves)
5) Homemade butterscotch pie
I hope they at least make the turkey although I’m afraid the stuffing might have something foreign in it like mushrooms or sausage. Those just weren’t in Grandma’s recipe.
It’s a challenge each year to see if #5 pie is going to set. The Florida daughter gets it right every time, but sometimes I apparently don’t let it boil long enough.
Mia Rose on 16 Nov 2007 at 11:04 am #
I’m considering mentioning that pumpkin cake to my MIL this year for Thanksgiving… it definitely sounds like a winner (and pretty festive, maybe in lieu of pie.)
Anyways, top 5… or 6 if you’re Julia…
* I personally prefer Ham to Turkey and include it with a champagne mustard on the side to dip it in. Fantastic.
* Stuffing is a must! Regular stuffing though, nothing fancy or too creative. I’m a simple kind of girl.
* Mashed Potatoes & Gravy of course (extra gravy)
* The Pinwheels that have become a holiday staple (Ham/Baby Spinach Leaves/Herb Cream Cheese baked into a crescent roll… YUM)
* And lots of alcohol. Wine, Port, Beer, Whiskey… something to drink while we’re playing games
(The game of the year is Catch Phrase, we’re all addicted…)
dbrown3400 on 16 Nov 2007 at 11:06 am #
Julia, is that 1 WW point for the other half of the cake? That recipe sounds yummy.
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 11:41 am #
I wish! It was someone here who told me about it — but its a point a serving (like 1/16th of a cake) and it really was delicious. I didn’t put the whipped cream on it, and the kid still devoured it.
Susan K on 16 Nov 2007 at 11:48 am #
My 5 are:
* Turkey (obviously)
* Mashed Potatoes
* Stuffing
* Baked Corn (which I make every year for Thanksgiving as well as Christmas)
* Green Bean Casserole (which I also make every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 12:19 pm #
Susan K — baked corn sounds right up my alley. What do you do?
zambonigirl on 16 Nov 2007 at 12:29 pm #
Am I the only one who looks forward mostly to the night being over?
Sorry, family subscriptions. I mean, issues.
I like the cranberry sauce and the stuffing mixed together with gravy poured over it, and I like the sweet potatoes when they are prepared with garlic and crumbly gingerbread topping. Apple pie and ice cream. Leftover sandwiches the next day. These are a few of my favorite things…
And then on Saturday, we clean out the closet and on Sunday, we put up the tree!
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 12:35 pm #
No, Zamboni, you are not alone. but it depends on which family we are seeing. Mine, I don’t mind. His…that’s another story :-).
Kim, my mom’s fruit salad has canned fruit, marshamallows and whipped cream. It is right out of the 50s.
SuzyQ on 16 Nov 2007 at 1:32 pm #
OMG! I can’t believe I forgot to put wine on my list. Sheesh!
Ronlyn on 16 Nov 2007 at 1:39 pm #
ok, top must haves are:
turkey
“smashed” potatoes
green bean casserole
“super duper” sweet potatoes
& the spinach/apple/cranberry salad I made up.
YUM!
I’m not big on the pies, which is great for everyone in my family as they always try to claim my piece. LOL.
Marva on 16 Nov 2007 at 2:23 pm #
My top five (or six)
1 turkey with celery and onion in the cavity (no stuffing)
2 mashed potatoes and gravy
3 sweet potatoes with sherry orange sauce
4 deviled eggs
5 pumpkin pie
6 my sil noodles
Although I probably won’t get #6 this year. I’m glad you guys made me list, otherwise I would have forgotten the eggs and my dh would have freaked.
Claudia Dain on 16 Nov 2007 at 2:35 pm #
Yes, Zambonigirl! I love it when the cranberries mix with the stuffing and gravy. Discovered it by accident and now do it on purpose every year. Yum!
As long as there’s pumpkin pie with loads of whipped cream, the rest of the meal is negotiable. I do love my leftovers. Everything tastes better as a leftover, one of the mysteries of the refrigerator.
Sweet potatoes, dark meat turkey, tossed green salad, and cider round off the list. Don’t forget the apple cider, Julia! Nothing says Pilgrim like apple cider.
Ellen on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:04 pm #
Let’s see. What is a “must have” when I get together with 12 little kids with runny noses, six teens with bad attitudes and 10 adults who all have opposing opinions and suffer from carbohydrate overload before 2pm.
This is a no brainer…
1. Wine
2. More Wine
3. Excessive Amount of Wine
4. Escape Plan
5. Designated Driver
6. (I studied same math as Juzie) A bottle of wine waiting at home for me.
SnikWhite on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:08 pm #
My musts!
1. Spinach Dip - my mom makes the most amazing spinach dip and yes its from the back of the hidden valley ranch powdered salad dressing container, but when i make it myself its just not the same…figure that one out.
2. Cherry Cheesecake - This is one of my mom’s specialities and the only “baking” she technically does. The fun part? The only thing she bakes is the most amazing pecan crust you’ve ever consumed…seriously to die for.
3. MY mashed potatoes. I’m sorry, but KariE your dh has NOTHING on my potatoes and if he tries to mess with me he might get a fork in a fun place.
4. A tree to decorate
5. A place to nap after dinner
Strangest thing ever consumed was sushi served at thanksgiving. It has its time and place, but thanksgiving is about comfort food, not worrying about if the tuna rolls were kept cool enough to avoid salmanila.
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:13 pm #
Ellen, you studied more than the same math as me, LOL. That’s pretty much my plan for the day.
SnikWhite — SUSHI at Thanksgiving??? ick ick ick
Claudia, what does one do with apple cider?
Ellen on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:14 pm #
And just so all the wine doesn’t make me a sloppy drunk; I also need the following food.
1. Mashed Potatoes with butter and gravy
2. Green bean casserole
3. Mom’s sausage stuffing
4. Black olives
5. Mom’s graham cracker brownies with walnuts and chocolate chips.
6. mushrooms marinated in Ceasars Dressing.
KariE on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:18 pm #
SnikWhite,
I almost peed my pants!! I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how you could stick the fork there, then I read your name. Now I know you can, and will. hahaha
Don’t think MY Spinach Dip isn’t going to be made now.
Ellen on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:18 pm #
My DH made THE BEST day after sandwich for us.
Toasted white bread with thin layer of mayo on both pieces
Thin slices of white meat with salt and pepper
Thin layer of stuffing
Thin layer of cranberry sause
Thought I would share it with those of you who like to “mix it up.”
Ellen on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:23 pm #
Is Apple Cider something you drink instead of wine? ew gross
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:23 pm #
In the “They Speak” section of the Forum, post your favorite recipes under the thread for this blog. Lisa H, I am hoping you will post your sweet potato casserole. I hear it calling my name
Ellen on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:25 pm #
Karen Rose…how do you make your potatoes? Ooops. Sorry. I meant, how does your DH make them.
Ellen on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:27 pm #
Geez, Julia. This is brilliant on your part. Now if you can just get the culinary goddesses to actually make the dish for you, your day will be set!
Claudia Dain on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:35 pm #
Julia, you drink it. I know you can do it. You must have years of experience at drinking. Years. LOL
Seriously, you people have never heard of apple cider? What are you, aliens? This is THE drink for Thanksgiving. What do you think those Pilgrims drank? French wine?
Apple cider, especially as it’s made in New England (home of the 1st Thanksgiving) is amazing stuff. You can get good cider at Fresh Market, btw.
zambonigirl on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:37 pm #
I want to know what was done to the sweet potatoes to make them “Super Duper”, Ronlyn.
SnikWhite on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:39 pm #
LOL Bring it on Girl!! I hope that you do!! Because once again it will be I that reaps all the benefits HAHAHA You are too many things!! PS…MIL isn’t allowed in the kitchen either. She can keep her skinny butt on the couch.
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:41 pm #
I’ve heard of it, Claudia. I just didn’t realize people actually drank it. With what — vodka? Surely there is something in there besides cider. Surely.
Kim on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:51 pm #
Ellen–thanks! I was just going to ask if anyone made leftover sandwiches. Remember the episode of Friends where Ross goes psycho because someone ate his sandwich? LOL
Julia–I have a baked corn recipe. Not sure if its the same as Susan K’s but I’ll put it up. Its yummy.
Weirdest thing we’ve had. Mole. Not an underground creature either. Its a Mexican brown grave you put over poultry. Its pretty good just not on Thanksgiving. One time my mom made pizza. Jiffy mix biscuit crust, velveeta cheese and burned beyond recognition.
Claudia–I lurve apple cider! We have an orchard here that makes it fresh all the time. Yum!
Michellynn on 16 Nov 2007 at 4:08 pm #
Oh yes! I LOVE apple cider too. It is absolutely wonderful heated up with a cinnamon stick thrown in.
Michellynn on 16 Nov 2007 at 4:11 pm #
or….maybe some cinnamon schnapps could warm up that apple cider too.. LOL
Kasey on 16 Nov 2007 at 4:26 pm #
My top five (or six)
1. Turkey
2. Mashed potatoes with gravy
3. Corn
4. Apple Pie or my mom’s Apple Cake
5. Minnesota Vikings
6. A good book for when I go home and am so stuffed I can’t move.
Sabrina Jeffries on 16 Nov 2007 at 4:43 pm #
>How do other people handle singles/couples/small familes or having family members with very different eating habits?
Emmiebee, this is a good question, and I sympathize. My dh and I are often alone for Thanksgiving or Christmas. My son is with us, but the only holiday food he’ll eat is rolls, which makes it hard, since I hate messing up the kitchen and cooking a huge meal for just two of us.
In the past, we’ve done any or all of the following:
Gone out to eat
Made something we both love that’s not really holiday
Ordered a turkey from Popeyes (they have pre-cooked Cajun ones you just heat–they’re very good)
Ordered other pre-made foods that are gourmet or exotic, to make it special.
This year, if I hadn’t decided to join my family out of town, we would probably have invited some singles friends and other couples over. I never mind cooking for a crowd.
Ladytink_534 on 16 Nov 2007 at 5:25 pm #
1. Turkey (oven-baked)
2. Dressing (without onions)
3. Cranberry Sauce (out of a can)
4. Fried White Corn
5. Mashed Potatoes
The oddest (and yummiest) thing I’ve ever had at Thanksgiving was a coffee cake my aunt made. It’s called a Peachy Cinnamon Coffeecake. You wouldn’t think Cinnamon and peaches would go well together but they do!
I still prefer her sweet potato biscuits more though (which is odd because I don’t usually like sweet potatoes)!
Ellen on 16 Nov 2007 at 5:32 pm #
JULIE SAID: “I’ve heard of it, Claudia. I just didn’t realize people actually drank it. With what — vodka? Surely there is something in there besides cider. Surely.”
Okay, Julia. You win. I laughed so hard, Phil, the dog, looked at me with sympathy.
Suzanne Enoch on 16 Nov 2007 at 5:55 pm #
1) A clean house. Check. *g*
2) No revisions to do over the holiday.
3) Turkey. Check.
4) A game of Pictionary with all the relations. Likely check.
5) Stuffing. Check.
Well, 4 out of 5 isn’t bad. Sigh.
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 8:49 pm #
Oh, Suzanne. I feel you, sister. I have a deadline right after Thanksgiving. you would think after years of doing this I would learn not agree to deadlines around the holidays. SIGH
Lisa H on 16 Nov 2007 at 9:50 pm #
Hi Julia—I am sorry, I haven’t been on much today. Just found out I have pnemonia! Yech! Anyway, I posted my Sweet Potato Recipe under “Off Mount Olympus” Sorry, I read your post too late!
Susan K on 16 Nov 2007 at 10:19 pm #
Hi Julia- the baked corn is pretty much cream corn, condensed milk, crumbled up crackers and eggs baked in the oven. It’s my absolute favorite! One year my mom wasn’t going to make it and I threw a fit! So now I get to make it every year. If you want the recipe let me know and I’ll post it in the forum.
lisa on 16 Nov 2007 at 10:30 pm #
I guess I must have mashed potatoes. I’m a fairly new vegetarian so I won’t be eating turkey this year. I saw some Tofurkey in the health food store, and yes, it IS what it sounds like, tofu turkey. I passed on it–permanently. I have also had every conceivable kind of green bean casserole so I don’t care if I ever have it again. I’m making some side dishes and the MIL is doing everything else. I’ll do sauteed spinach and mushrooms with toasted pine nuts and a carrot soup that I need to experiment with this weekend.
I haven’t had anything really unusual for Thanksgiving. It’s a fairly traditional menu most of the time.
Kelly Ann on 16 Nov 2007 at 10:33 pm #
I love Thanksgiving, even getting together with all the family. We play games, eat to much & sometimes there’s a little family drama. As long as I’m not involved I’m good. I sit back with some wine or a nice glass of port or brandy and enjoy the show! Because everyone knows there is nothing better than dinner & a show!
My favorite must haves on Thanksgiving are pretty traditional:
*Spinach dip in a bread bowl or my nacho dip
*turkey - white & dark please with gravy
*My sweet potato casserole with a hint of cinnamon that makes everyone say, “What is that, it’s soooo wonderful!” It’s a family favorite and I’m asked to make it up to 3 times a year!
*Cornbread stuffing
*Green Bean Casserole
Oh wait, I have 7 -
*Rolls &
*Pumpkin Pie
I love to get the hams or turkey breasts from the Honey Baked Ham Company - they are the best, though I usually get them for Christmas!
Julia London on 16 Nov 2007 at 10:54 pm #
Thanks Lisa H — so sorry about the pnumonia! That really sucks! I had it in college and slept like the dead. Wait…I slept like the dead when I was healthy, too.. But thanks for posting the recipe
Susan, just tell me how long to bake and I’m good. I think I’ve got it. It sounds DELICIOUS
Sabrina Jeffries on 17 Nov 2007 at 12:29 am #
I don’t know what happened to my first post (it showed up, then disappeared mysteriously), and no, it’s not in spam, because I checked. Ah, well. I’m not typing it again. I’m too tired! Just trust me when I say it was brilliant. Brilliant, I tell you!
Susan K on 17 Nov 2007 at 10:47 am #
Julia- Take 2 cans of cream corn, two eggs, salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 cup evaporated milk (I was wrong about the condensed milk), 1/2 cup of cracker crumbs and mix it in a bowl. Pour in baking dish, I usually use a loaf pan. Then take a stick of butter and put dabs on top. Sprinkle more crushed cracker crumbs to cover the top and sprinkle paprika over it. Then bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour. It’s delicious!
darkshire007 on 18 Nov 2007 at 11:02 am #
My top five must have’s are: turkey, my mothers sage dressing w/gibblets, home made cream corn (this has cream cheese, butter, milk and onion powder), sweet and sour greenbeans and yeast rolls. The strangest thing I’ve ever had for Thanksgiving was turkey franks. I was about 8 and that year was a hard year in our house. We had turkey franks and mac-n-cheese, but we were together; and we were thankful.
Dot C on 18 Nov 2007 at 12:15 pm #
Probably too late with this but here goes…..
Thanksgiving actually boasts many great healthy foods. I substituted a tricolor garlic potato mash one year for plain white potatoes. Chicken broth is FREE points btw (or at least used to be) and makes everything taste just as yummy as butter. So, sweet potatoe, yukon gold, and baby reds….cut them in large squares, mix with pan roasted garlic, salt, pepper, bit of thyme, bit of paprika and parsley. Add a 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of chicken broth, mix losely with potatoes and seasonings, then mash it a bit, but not too much. The beauty is in the lumps. DON”T skin the potatoes…that adds fiber to the dish.
Our feast is Turkey, traditional stove top stuffing, a pork stuffing, a canadienne tradition called Torquiere (it’s a pork/spice and potato pie), carrots, potatos, corn and peas. A crudite platter, chips and dip, and other assorted appetizers. Then Desert. My sister’s double layer strawberry cheesecake is always center stage. Then
Dot C on 18 Nov 2007 at 12:19 pm #
we make an “ice box cake” whipped heavy cream mixed with chocolate syrup and layered between graham crackers. Coconut syrup and fluff cake. Sheet Cake (a to die for thin sheet fudge cake made with fudge icing. Pumpkin pie, apple pie, custard pie, pecan pie.
One tip a weight watcher leader gave me years ago was to enjoy the holidays, but set a limit to how much you could allow yourself to gain. In other words, indulge where it counts, and not all the time. Some people chose 10 pounds. I chose 5, and THAT year, I actually didn’t gain any. It was the best because I enjoyed the bullshit out of myself foodwise, and didn’t have the blues and feel like a bloated marshmallow.
Happy holidays to all on this board, and many more wonderful, tasty holidays to come!
Dot
Julia London on 18 Nov 2007 at 2:28 pm #
Dot, that’s a great tip about the chicken broth. I had never thought of it — but I will definitely do that!
My goal is just not to gain, because–drum roll, please–I lost 3 pounds the second week! Woo-hooo, its finally moving!
KariE on 20 Nov 2007 at 9:22 am #
Congrats Julia!!!! I’d say keep it up, but I think keep it going down would be more appropriate. Haha