Thanksgiving Dinner

[Farah]

I'm not sure how I end up getting myself into this, but I'm making my first Thanksgiving dinner this year. Usually we go to our friend's house for dinner, but this year because we have two kids we decided to have it at our house...except now I have to cook dinner.

Here's the catch.... These people are total foodies and LOVE to cook and live on the Food Network. Me....not so much.

So....what the heck do I make? How do I make it so that they think I'm an awesome cook? :hehe:

Posted from my BlackBerry using BerryBlab (http://www.BerryBlab.com)

[Paula]

For a really moist turkey, I rub mayo under the skin. I add a little poultry seasoning to it...
It is really good and even people who don't like mayo like it.

For cranberry, I've found nothing beats the canned. People make fancy cranberry dishes but the canned stuff is always the stuff people eat.

If you want something a little different, this potato filling is really good...
http://thanksgiving.food.com/recipe/amish-mashed-potato-filling-dressing-59137

I really tend to stick with traditional, easy food for Thanksgiving...

[Jojo]

Yeah, I do traditional too.

Stuffing-- http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/sage-sausage-and-apple-dressing-recipe/index.html

Cornbread muffins--I use the jiffy box :hehe:

Turkey--I brine my turkey--any brine will do. I buy those plastic bags from Reynolds( to cook a turkey in) and then brine it the day before.

Mashed Potatoes--potatoes, sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, chives

Mixed vegetables--I like to make shredded brussel sprouts with bacon, roasted broccoli, sweet potato and apples http://southernfood.about.com/od/sweetpotatocasseroles/r/bln521.htm

[Erin]

Yeah, I do traditional too.

Stuffing-- http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/sage-sausage-and-apple-dressing-recipe/index.html

Cornbread muffins--I use the jiffy box :hehe:

Turkey--I brine my turkey--any brine will do. I buy those plastic bags from Reynolds( to cook a turkey in) and then brine it the day before.

Mashed Potatoes--potatoes, sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, chives

Mixed vegetables--I like to make shredded brussel sprouts with bacon, roasted broccoli, sweet potato and apples http://southernfood.about.com/od/sweetpotatocasseroles/r/bln521.htm

Do you mind sharing how?

[Jojo]

I don't add pine nuts but this is what I do:

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/shredded-brussels-sprouts/Detail.aspx

Again I omit the pine nuts/lemon juice

http://www.food.com/recipe/parmesan-roasted-broccoli-ina-garten-333744

[Sam I Am]

order it from a fancy restaurant?? LOL!!! :D

[Farah]

Yeah, I do traditional too.

Stuffing-- http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/sage-sausage-and-apple-dressing-recipe/index.html

Cornbread muffins--I use the jiffy box :hehe:

Turkey--I brine my turkey--any brine will do. I buy those plastic bags from Reynolds( to cook a turkey in) and then brine it the day before.

Mashed Potatoes--potatoes, sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, chives

Mixed vegetables--I like to make shredded brussel sprouts with bacon, roasted broccoli, sweet potato and apples http://southernfood.about.com/od/sweetpotatocasseroles/r/bln521.htm

:scared:

[AmsterDamsel]

For cranberry, I've found nothing beats the canned. People make fancy cranberry dishes but the canned stuff is always the stuff people eat.



I respectfully disagree my friend. I love my homemade cranberry sauce. :) Don't get me wrong, the canned stuff is really good, but I do like homemade for T-day. :)

I also use a copycat recipe for Boston Market's sweet potato casserole that is always a HUGE, HUGE hit.

I'm not a huge pie fan so I also always make a chocolate cheesecake for dessert.

[Paula]

For cranberry, I've found nothing beats the canned. People make fancy cranberry dishes but the canned stuff is always the stuff people eat.



I respectfully disagree my friend. I love my homemade cranberry sauce. :) Don't get me wrong, the canned stuff is really good, but I do like homemade for T-day. :)



I have research to back me up! There are numerous FB pages devoted to canned cranberry sauce but not one to homemade cranberry sauce!

[Jojo]

For cranberry, I've found nothing beats the canned. People make fancy cranberry dishes but the canned stuff is always the stuff people eat.



I respectfully disagree my friend. I love my homemade cranberry sauce. :) Don't get me wrong, the canned stuff is really good, but I do like homemade for T-day. :)



I have research to back me up! There are numerous FB pages devoted to canned cranberry sauce but not one to homemade cranberry sauce!


I'll squash this right here and say that cranberry sauce sucks either way! :hehe:

[Paula]

No, cranberry sauce is yummy. The canned kind is at least.

[futureMrsF]

I grew up poor...my Mom made thanksgiving out of boxed stuffing, canned cranberry sauce, canned green beans, canned corn and mashed potatoes from a box....and thats what I like now. The past few years we went to Gf's parents house for dinner...and her Dad goes all crazy gourmet...and I end up barely eating anything because I don't like fancy food!

[Elaine]

For cranberry, I've found nothing beats the canned. People make fancy cranberry dishes but the canned stuff is always the stuff people eat.



I respectfully disagree my friend. I love my homemade cranberry sauce. :) Don't get me wrong, the canned stuff is really good, but I do like homemade for T-day. :)



I have research to back me up! There are numerous FB pages devoted to canned cranberry sauce but not one to homemade cranberry sauce!
I have to agree with Cathy. I know when my mom uses canned instead of her homemade cranberry sauce. Hers is much, much better. :twothumbs:

[Paula]

For cranberry, I've found nothing beats the canned. People make fancy cranberry dishes but the canned stuff is always the stuff people eat.



I respectfully disagree my friend. I love my homemade cranberry sauce. :) Don't get me wrong, the canned stuff is really good, but I do like homemade for T-day. :)



I have research to back me up! There are numerous FB pages devoted to canned cranberry sauce but not one to homemade cranberry sauce!
I have to agree with Cathy. I know when my mom uses canned instead of her homemade cranberry sauce. Hers is much, much better. :twothumbs:

Of course you do, it is shaped like a can :p

[Jenni]

The VERY BEST tip I can offer you (and I read this a looonnnggg time ago and somehow retained the knowledge) cook your turkey on a bed of celery. The first year I made turkey I was incredibly hungover and have no idea how I pulled it together - I did use celery and it was incredible moist. Over the years I've added a brine too.

My menu usually consists of turkey/stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, salad, a corn dish of some sort, cranberry sauce from scratch (easy, easy), a salad, one other veggie, mac and cheese for the girls, a pumpkin pecan pie and homemade apple pie. And yes, anal me, I save all the recipes I use for holidays in a sleeve for reference the next year so I'm happy to share.

I'd like to add I'm still learning to be a "foodie" so none of it is too extravagant.

[Jenni]

Sorry girls, I won't touch the canned crap. I found an easy and super delish cranberry sauce recipe that even I like.



For cranberry, I've found nothing beats the canned. People make fancy cranberry dishes but the canned stuff is always the stuff people eat.



I respectfully disagree my friend. I love my homemade cranberry sauce. :) Don't get me wrong, the canned stuff is really good, but I do like homemade for T-day. :)



I have research to back me up! There are numerous FB pages devoted to canned cranberry sauce but not one to homemade cranberry sauce!
I have to agree with Cathy. I know when my mom uses canned instead of her homemade cranberry sauce. Hers is much, much better. :twothumbs:

[Caitlin]

The VERY BEST tip I can offer you (and I read this a looonnnggg time ago and somehow retained the knowledge) cook your turkey on a bed of celery. The first year I made turkey I was incredibly hungover and have no idea how I pulled it together - I did use celery and it was incredible moist. Over the years I've added a brine too.

My menu usually consists of turkey/stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, salad, a corn dish of some sort, cranberry sauce from scratch (easy, easy), a salad, one other veggie, mac and cheese for the girls, a pumpkin pecan pie and homemade apple pie. And yes, anal me, I save all the recipes I use for holidays in a sleeve for reference the next year so I'm happy to share.

I'd like to add I'm still learning to be a "foodie" so none of it is too extravagant.

Please share your turkey recipe! I'm cooking my first thanksgiving at our new house! I'm terrified of screwing up a turkey.

[theWrap]

I would like to join Jo's team and say, canned or homemade, cranberry sauce is gross.

My husband is a cook-from-scratch dude. He does an injection of something into the turkey with an injector syringe, and he rubs vegetable shortening on the skin. I don't know the specifics because I don't pay a darn bit of attention.

His stuffing is cranberries, raisins, celery, onions, homemade bread crumbs, spices, and chicken broth, baked together.

I have a family recipe for a sweet potato souffle (whipped sweet potatoes) with a brown sugared pecan topping. I have converted sweet potato haters into lovers of my souffle. If anyone wants the recipe, I will type it out.

We make other stuff, but these are the easiest to provide recipes for. If anyone wants them, let me know...

Or perhaps we should make a "Thanksgiving Recipes" thread where we can all post our holiday meal recipes??

[Jojo]

I would like to join Jo's team and say, canned or homemade, cranberry sauce is gross.

My husband is a cook-from-scratch dude. He does an injection of something into the turkey with an injector syringe, and he rubs vegetable shortening on the skin. I don't know the specifics because I don't pay a darn bit of attention.

His stuffing is cranberries, raisins, celery, onions, homemade bread crumbs, spices, and chicken broth, baked together.

I have a family recipe for a sweet potato souffle (whipped sweet potatoes) with a brown sugared pecan topping. I have converted sweet potato haters into lovers of my souffle. If anyone wants the recipe, I will type it out.

We make other stuff, but these are the easiest to provide recipes for. If anyone wants them, let me know...

Or perhaps we should make a "Thanksgiving Recipes" thread where we can all post our holiday meal recipes??


Love this idea! Maybe you can start it and someone can sticky it ;)

[theWrap]

Jo, you're just agreeing with me because I hate cranberry sauce, aren't you? ;)

[Elaine]

For cranberry, I've found nothing beats the canned. People make fancy cranberry dishes but the canned stuff is always the stuff people eat.



I respectfully disagree my friend. I love my homemade cranberry sauce. :) Don't get me wrong, the canned stuff is really good, but I do like homemade for T-day. :)



I have research to back me up! There are numerous FB pages devoted to canned cranberry sauce but not one to homemade cranberry sauce!
I have to agree with Cathy. I know when my mom uses canned instead of her homemade cranberry sauce. Hers is much, much better. :twothumbs:

Of course you do, it is shaped like a can :p
:rolleyes: :hehe:

(There's no groaning smilie so I had to go with rolling eyes and a giggle ;))

[Jenni]

Listen, I loathed (and I mean LOATHED) the cranberry crude. Seriously. I found this recipe and made it from scratch last year and to my dismay it was delicious. I'm not lying.