Favorite Thanksgiving Foods?

[JBDuke]

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday on the calendar. My extended family all live within two hours of each other - all 32 of us - so every year we congregate at a cousin's or aunt's house and have a big family meal. Several family favorites make their appearance every year, and I always look forward to them. It has gotten to the point that it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them!

My list of Thanksgiving "must-haves":

Turkey
Ham
Cornbread dressing with turkey gravy
Corn pudding (a heavenly Southern concoction)
Oyster casserole
Potato salad (made with mustard and celery seed and onion)
Gelatin salad with sour cream topping
Sweet potato casserole
And, of course, sweet iced tea

Not exactly a nutritionally-balanced meal, but Thanksgiving isn't a time I worry too much about diet.

So, how about other folks out there? Anything you're particular looking forward to making and/or consuming later this month?

[hc5duke]

everything you mentioned minus {oyster, sweet tea, gelatin salad} plus pecan pie

oh and I don't know what corn pudding is but I'll take some

[JBDuke]

everything you mentioned minus {oyster, sweet tea, gelatin salad} plus pecan pie

oh and I don't know what corn pudding is but I'll take some

I don't have my mom's recipe, but this sounds pretty close: http://kidscooking.about.com/od/sidedishes/r/corn_pudding.htm

You can make it with creamed corn or evaporated milk and it comes out sweeter/creamier. Personally, I like it better with regular corn and regular milk - for a truer corn taste. (Kind of like if you like your cornbread sweet or savory...)

[2535Miles]

Pecan Pie
Sausage Stuffing
Jeremy's Whisky Gravy
Whisky

[CameronBornAndBred]

Cranberry
Pumpkin pie
french green bean casserole

I've started buying some of the food already when I see it at the store. I love Thanksgiving. Spending from 6am in the kitchen to eating time is the best day, surrounded by family, completely relaxing. Only 4 of us, but I'll probably be cooking for 8!

[DukeUsul]

Whole cranberry sauce
My grandma's stuffing
Pumpkin pie

[weezie]

Turkey gravy,mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[devildeac]

Just about anything in the buffet line with an extra plate for the desserts.

[CathyCA]

My son is coming from California for Thanksgiving, and he called me last night with his menu request:

Roasted Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli
Salad (tossed)
Cranberry Relish
Crescent Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Sparkling Apple Cider (Martinelli's)


There will also be sweet tea, squash casserole, green bean casserole and pecan pie.

I can't wait to cook for him!

[EarlJam]

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday on the calendar. My extended family all live within two hours of each other - all 32 of us - so every year we congregate at a cousin's or aunt's house and have a big family meal. Several family favorites make their appearance every year, and I always look forward to them. It has gotten to the point that it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them!

My list of Thanksgiving "must-haves":

Turkey
Ham
Cornbread dressing with turkey gravy
Corn pudding (a heavenly Southern concoction)
Oyster casserole
Potato salad (made with mustard and celery seed and onion)
Gelatin salad with sour cream topping
Sweet potato casserole
And, of course, sweet iced tea

Not exactly a nutritionally-balanced meal, but Thanksgiving isn't a time I worry too much about diet.

So, how about other folks out there? Anything you're particular looking forward to making and/or consuming later this month?

Oyster casserole? Interesting. I've never had it but would try it in a heartbeat.

For me, it's all the normal stuff: Turkey, tons of gravy and stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, ham (with mustard), and pumpkin pie with Whip Cream on top. Oh and yes, sweet iced tea baby!

Then it's off to watch the Detroit Lions lose a football game.

-EJ

[CameronBornAndBred]

Then it's off to watch the Detroit Lions lose a football game.


Not only do those guys HAVE to work on Thanksgiving, they have to do their jobs badly in front of a television audience.

[2535Miles]

Not only do those guys HAVE to work on Thanksgiving, they have to do their jobs badly in front of a television audience.
And get paid ridiculous amounts of money to do so. :)

[EarlJam]

And get paid ridiculous amounts of money to do so. :)

Are we talking about the Detroit Lions or the media hacks that "call" the Thanksgiving parade?

[2535Miles]

Are we talking about the Detroit Lions or the media hacks that "call" the Thanksgiving parade?
Both :D

[blazindw]

Being from Detroit, watching the Lions lose has become a tradition. Also growing up for a few years in Dallas/Fort Worth, watching the Cowboys is an equal tradition, as well as Texas-Texas A&M, which is on Thanksgiving this year. Nothing beats appearing on national TV 6 times because your seats are in the first row in the endzone where 6 Indianapolis TDs were scored against the Lions.

Also, in more happier Lions memories, Barry Sanders on Thanksgiving games were some of the best performances ever. I still get goosebumps remembering the entire stadium chanting "Ba-rry!" as loud as humanly possible.

[Turk]

Standard turkey fare in our house: turkey, mashed spuds w/ gravy, beans, corn, etc. etc. My faves:

Stuffing, stuffing, and stuffing
sweet potatoes
punkin pie

To me, those are really Thanksgiving foods... And then there is rooting for whomever is playing the Cryboys.... :D

But I have yet to experience deep fried turkey - my brother says it's to die for, so he and I are trying to cut some sort of deal with Momma Turk, but she's set in her ways...

And then of course there is the TurDuckEn... :eek::eek:

[aimo]

creamed onions and sweet potato pie

Don't know if I'll get to bake the persimmon pudding for Thanksgiving or if I'll hold off until Christmas. Oh, and we do two turkeys, one in the oven and one smoked on the grill. YUM!

Didn't we do this same thread last year?

[roywhite]

Anyone with personal experience (preparing and/or consuming) a deep-fried turkey?

Curious, but a little wary. There's not much wrong with a good roasted bird.

[TNTDevil]

Anyone with personal experience (preparing and/or consuming) a deep-fried turkey?

Curious, but a little wary. There's not much wrong with a good roasted bird.Yeah, I've done it, numerous times, and WADR, it's over-rated.

[dukegirlinsc]

Anyone with personal experience (preparing and/or consuming) a deep-fried turkey?

Curious, but a little wary. There's not much wrong with a good roasted bird.

My dad has fixed one for the past 5 or 6 thanksgivings. I won't have it any other way, it's delishhhh. I, however, have nothing to do with the preperation of it, only the consumption. I can ask him for some tips, though and report back. :D

[CameronBornAndBred]

Anyone with personal experience (preparing and/or consuming) a deep-fried turkey?

Curious, but a little wary. There's not much wrong with a good roasted bird.

Done it here as well. Besides the novelty of it, I think part of the tradition of cooking all day is totally lost when your bird is done in like 15 minutes. It is tasty, but no better than roasting. The one benefit is it's pretty hard to wind up with dry meat.

[2535Miles]

Anyone with personal experience (preparing and/or consuming) a deep-fried turkey?

Curious, but a little wary. There's not much wrong with a good roasted bird.
I think it's yummy but to echo CBAB, it's a poor substitute for a Thanksgiving Turkey. I love the tradition of roasting a turkey, and I love the gravy.

[weezie]

Being from Detroit, watching the Lions lose has become a tradition. Nothing beats appearing on national TV 6 times because your seats are in the first row in the endzone where 6 Indianapolis TDs were scored against the Lions.



Geez, I was at that game, too. Yep, the lot of the Lions "fan" is a sorry one. balzeindw, howse about you and me go up there and take over the organization?
We can give these fine DBRers some excellent seats and then show them a good time at Chelios.

[JBDuke]

Oyster casserole? Interesting. I've never had it but would try it in a heartbeat.

For me, it's all the normal stuff: Turkey, tons of gravy and stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, ham (with mustard), and pumpkin pie with Whip Cream on top. Oh and yes, sweet iced tea baby!

Then it's off to watch the Detroit Lions lose a football game.

-EJ

Again, the oyster casserole is a family recipe, but this sounds pretty close: http://southernfood.about.com/od/oysterrecipes/r/bln499.htm

[dukemomLA]

I've tried and done a Fried Turkey...and yes it's delicious....but I'm someone who LOVES to eat the skin -- and Fried turkey just doesn't 'fit the bill.'

In my house, I love the following:

A large turkey which I fill with bread stuffing (..not a great fan of cornbread)

An additional bowl of bread stuffing with apples and sausage.

Of course, the traditional green bean/onion caserole.

Cranberry sauce -- GREAT from Trader Joe's

Mashed potatoes and gravy -- OF COURSE -- (my favorite thing in the world, except clams, anytime anyway) -- although...not appropriate on this day.

Yams, cooked ahead of time, then re-heated with brown sugar and marshmallows -- for those who want a sweet thing.

Rolls and butter/margarine.

Pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake.

And LOTS OF FOOTBALL.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

When the extended family comes to my house for Thanksgiving, much of the menu reflects my affinity for New Orleans. I take care of most of the food:

Roasted turkey basted according to my favorite family cookbook... always turns out moist, browned on the outside and tasty because of the garlic, black pepper and extra virgin olive oil used to baste it.

Whipped sweet potatoes flavored with nutmeg and orange juice

Baked oysters... as close to Mosca's as I can make them.

Homemade cranberry relish with fresh bits of orange

Justin Wilson's garlic bread... French bread buttered with garlic, a little pepper, fresh parsley and a light sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese

Family members supply whatever they want for the rest of the menu. (One of my nieces makes a killer pumpkin pie with bourbon.)