I'm hosting Thanksgiving dinner

Tenzing N.

Seriously- you need to grill the turkey in a charcoal grill. It's not easy, it's time consuming, and takes some planning but it's totally worth it. PM me if you want to know how to do it right.

chime

I grew up in Scotland ... Scottish dessert I would recommend is cranachan. Quick, easy and contains whisky

... or just make shortbread ... or millionaire shortbread

or both :shock:

intodeep

that is really cool. I had to spend thanksgiving alone lastyear for the first time, but it gave me an opportunity to cook my thanksgivign meal with all my favorites. It was fun.

As frustrating as it is going to be for you try to enjoy it

pandora

Tenzing N. wrote:

Seriously- you need to grill the turkey in a charcoal grill. It's not easy, it's time consuming, and takes some planning but it's totally worth it. PM me if you want to know how to do it right.

My father always did the turkey this way ... yum!

this thread is great!

so many good ideas

butternut squash ... great recipe
the little dumpling squash is good too and turns a pretty color when baked ...
we found one that looks like a big colorful turban! thats on the menu this weekend
the smell of squash cooking in the house is fall time for us
we have it a few times a week

it is a magnificent time of year!

markymark550

Definitely agree with deep frying the turkey. Sucks that you don't have enough room for that. This will be the third year in a row that my brother-in-law and I are deep frying a turkey. We've pretty much got it down to an art. If a lot of people are coming, we will do a second meat as well. Last year we rotisseried a pork loin.

For sides, can't go wrong with the staples like mac and cheese, mashed potatos, etc. I love pineapple casserole. Basically it's pineapple chunks, butter/margarine, and cheese topped off with Ritz crackers then baked in the oven. Can't get enough of that stuff. Also like a cranberry dish my mom found. Cranberries, apples, and walnuts with a little cinnamon sprinkled on top and baked in the oven. There might be more to that one though (I'm thinking it also has some butter -- I am in Paula Deen territory after all ).

Green Circle

GivenToLukinKP wrote:

...and I am SO excited!

I have always wanted to host, and finally this year I have my shot! I LOVE to cook for people, but I have never roasted a turkey before...I am actually kind of considering getting a small one to practice next week or so I think I am a pretty good cook, so it should be no problem...

Every year, thanksgiving is had at my fathers house and cooked (mostly) by my stepmother...words can not express my excitement that I not only get to do the cooking in MY house, BUT I get to skip the dry turkey, the pre-packaged side dishes, and the attitude that 99% of thanksgiving dinner needs to be starches.

This is what I DO know:
1- The turkey will be brined
2- I will not be making stove-fucking-top stuffing
3- I will have vegetables other than green bean casserole
4- I am going to attempt a traditional Scottish dish (undecided--either a dessert or a side...no haggis)
5- its going to be ridiculously awesome

Any tips from the peanut gallery here on turkey brining/roasting? Anyone have a great recipe for an easy side dish? Healthy stuff gets extra points, as does anything that can be started or prepared completely the day before (I am a one-woman-show in a relatively small kitchen)

I need to start working on my menu!

Tips? Hell, I want an invite and I'll bring some homemade pies!

davidtrios

i dont care what anyone says, the canned cranberry is better than homemade

rick1zoo2

I will not eat any dish that has marshmallows as an ingredient

or jello

davidtrios

rick1zoo2 wrote:

I will not eat any dish that has marshmallows as an ingredient

or jello

what??? smellows in the yams are the best part..they get all carmelized and gooooood

rick1zoo2

RKCNDY wrote:

don't forget to take the neck and giblets/livers out of the cavity first.

and if you have a good hummus recipe...add avocado, yum.

green bean casserole...I use fresh green beans, and add cheddar cheese, cottage cheese and bacon.

what about whipped cream?

polaris_x

tips:

if you have access to a smoker ... smoke a turkey ... it will be near impossible to cook it as moist in the oven ... but a brine is definitely a good start ... i would make a rub for it as well ... put your typical rub seasonings you would use on poultry ... also, herbs are your friend ...

buy the turkey fresh and have one sourced for your dinner ... also, if you do buy frozen ... give it time to thaw ...

homemade cranberry sauce is real easy and much better i say ...

pandora

rick1zoo2 wrote:

I will not eat any dish that has marshmallows as an ingredient

or jello

yeah marshmallows in food ... yuk o

now mini marshmallows that come in the hot chocolate mix ...
those are kind of cool

well except when you wipe out on some ice and lose them all over the driveway
wait that belongs in the drunk stories thread ...
peppermint schnapps + hot chocolate = Peppermint Patty's = holiday fun!

rick1zoo2

pandora wrote:

rick1zoo2 wrote:

I will not eat any dish that has marshmallows as an ingredient

or jello

yeah marshmallows in food ... yuk o

now mini marshmallows that come in the hot chocolate mix ...
those are kind of cool

well except when you wipe out on some ice and lose them all over the driveway
wait that belongs in the drunk stories thread ...
peppermint schnapps + hot chocolate = Peppermint Patty's = holiday fun!

I think yams and sweet potatoes are sweet enough as they are and don't need anything like marshmallows, syrup, ect.

I think I am finding that I like things better with minimal spices or extra flavoring

Get_Right

This is killer and a winner each time I make it. Add more or less horseradish or extra cranberries. I add a little extra gelatin so it holds up to all the hot food. I suggest the blender, no big chunks of fruit.

Mamasan23

To me, the hardest part is making sure that everything is ready at the same time. Wish I had a double oven, it would make things so much easier!

I know you said that you are looking for healthy recipes, but this is something I tried last year and everyone loved it:

http://www.whitecastle.com/food/recipes/view/7-white-castle-turkey-stuffing

No nasty slider affects either

Good luck on your first Thanksgiving!!!!

chadwick

Tenzing N. wrote:

Seriously- you need to grill the turkey in a charcoal grill. It's not easy, it's time consuming, and takes some planning but it's totally worth it. PM me if you want to know how to do it right.

winner...ding ding ding

smoked turkey?

davidtrios

pandora wrote:

rick1zoo2 wrote:

I will not eat any dish that has marshmallows as an ingredient

or jello

yeah marshmallows in food ... yuk o

now mini marshmallows that come in the hot chocolate mix ...
those are kind of cool

well except when you wipe out on some ice and lose them all over the driveway
wait that belongs in the drunk stories thread ...
peppermint schnapps + hot chocolate = Peppermint Patty's = holiday fun!

i think i read about this in the things that do not interest me thread...am i right?

pandora

Davidtrios wrote:

pandora wrote:

rick1zoo2 wrote:

I will not eat any dish that has marshmallows as an ingredient

or jello

yeah marshmallows in food ... yuk o

now mini marshmallows that come in the hot chocolate mix ...
those are kind of cool

well except when you wipe out on some ice and lose them all over the driveway
wait that belongs in the drunk stories thread ...
peppermint schnapps + hot chocolate = Peppermint Patty's = holiday fun!

i think i read about this in the things that do not interest me thread...am i right?

I know you are interested in Taco Bell but I'm not tellin

davidtrios

"pandora wrote:

I know you are interested in Taco Bell but I'm not tellin

ShimmyMommy

Kelly, my only suggestion is be sure to ask for help that day. If someone is good at making certain dishes, have them help you with it. That way you can enjoy some of the time, instead of working the whole time. I hope it all goes smoothly.