Thanksgiving General

[Anonymous No.13183424]

Thread for questions, stories, and discussion of Thanksgiving holiday cooking.

What's /ck/ doing for the holidays? Cooking, being cooked for, or avoiding the debacle entirely?

I'm in charge of the the kitchen this year for my extended family gathering of 20 or so people. My planned menu consists of:

>Turkey
>Ham
>Stuffing
>Green beans (style tbd, fuck doing that nasty casserole)
>Mashed potatoes
>Sweet potatoes (roasted or mashed, still undecided)
>Butternut Squash risotto
>Turkey gravy
>Cranberry Sauce
>Salad with mixed greens, apple, pecan, dried cranberries and blue cheese
>Assorted pies and ice cream for dessert

What does /ck/ think of this spread? Anything missing?

[Anonymous No.13183590]

>>13183424
Great thread, anon. I usually try to make one of these threads around this time each year because I am also in charge of the kitchen this year, just as I have been for the last 3 Thanksgivings. Last year I actually did the turkey for both mine and my wife's side of the family.

For me, Thanksgiving is such a cozy little break from things. This year, I should be off work the entire week. I usually do a wet brine on my turkeys and last year I finally took the plunge and went with a nice stuffing in my turkey. The drippings from the turkey made the stuffing AMAZING so if you haven't actually tried stuffing inside the turkey I would recommend it. I fucking love it. Football in the background, the smell of the fireplace, family beginning to arrive with their various casseroles and what not. But for me, I do the turkey, the mashed potatoes, the gravy, the stuffing, the green beans, and sometimes I'll do a mac and cheese.

Your spread looks great! Hopefully we can keep this thread alive. A few years back I posted a thread like this about two weeks ahead of Thanksgiving and it kept going all the way through Turkey Day.

[Anonymous No.13183594]

>>13183424
dinner rolls or some kind of bread

[Anonymous No.13183603]

>>13183424
>>13183590

Also, whereabouts in the USA are you, OP? I'm in northeast Georgia. The butternut squash risotto is a great idea. We did a pumpkin risotto with goat cheese and cranberries a couple of weeks ago. Also, the green beans thing...I'm right there with you about the nasty casserole. I usually just use some of the fat from the turkey and sauté them with some shallots, garlic, and lemon zest. I will probably also do sweet potatoes, but I like to roast them. Also fuck adding marshmallows to sweet potatoes; they're already sweet. Still trying to figure out a good salad but I'd probably do one similar to the autumnal one you've described. I'll probably also roast some brussel sprouts.

[Anonymous No.13183664]

>>13183424
OP i kinda hate Thanksgiving food, most of it meh at best.
Turkey even a good one that's been properly cooked is nothing special
green beans are commons as fuck
Cranberry Sauce...is nasty

i'd rather cook a nice pot roast or even just eat a turkey sub and some potato salad but i get shunned for even mentioning the idea.

[Anonymous No.13183684]

sweat potato pie>pumpkin pie

[Anonymous No.13183742]

>>13183664
>my family sucks at cooking turkeys and the main ingredients for our side dishes come from a can of Campbell's soup

[Anonymous No.13183764]

>>13183742
do you even know when turkey season is? i'll give you a hint; its not November.
t. also grow most of my fruits and veggies except things like cranberries and potatoes ffs

[Anonymous No.13183809]

>>13183590
>croissants (to say nothing of what they look like... awful)
>pumpkins as a decoration
>dessert on the table throughout
>salad with the rest of that food
What is wrong with Americans? serious question

[Anonymous No.13183810]

>>13183424
>be me, guest at gfs house
>ask me to cut turkey
>sure, since im the only guy there out of 3 sisters, mom and grandma
>like the idea of being the man of the house
>feels good man.jpg
>--------the time is now
>MFW they hand me a bread knife that is about as sharp as a butter knife
>absolutely mutilate the turkey
>feels bad man.exe
>looks of disdain from a room full of woman
>TFW i realize they only let me cut the turkey because they were throwing me a bone and trying to make me feel useful

[Anonymous No.13183813]

>>13183424
tiny hands connoisseurs in this thread

[Anonymous No.13183824]

>>13183813
The first Scary Movie was the only remotely watchable one. And even then it was mostly because that one girl was really cute.

[Anonymous No.13183837]

>Grandmother cooks the fuck out of the Turkey
>doesn't know how to make gravy so it's store bought trash
>frozen meatballs in a crockpot
>packaged stuffing
> at least the ham is okay
I hate Thanksgiving bros. How do I suggest my grandmother fix things without telling her that she sucks at cooking?

[Anonymous No.13183857]

My uncle's hosting it this year at his new house. He and his girlfriend are both experienced cooks, so anytime they handle food it's worth the drive. Last time he we had sirloin, turkey, and pork chops as the main choices. All the side dishes and desserts were too numerous to count. Plus he's always got some nice whiskey on hand.

[Anonymous No.13183884]

>>13183810
should've just asked for a sharper knife
>>13183837
offer to help her

[Anonymous No.13183895]

>>13183837
>How do I suggest my grandmother fix things
nothing you can do unfortunately, the more you try to remedy the situation the more she'll dig her heels in and the cooking will actually get worse because she'll become more sure of herself which will lead to her making overly confident decisions like eyeballing measurements where she previously wouldn't.

[Anonymous No.13183982]

How do I cook the wings and legs evenly with the rest of the meat?

[Anonymous No.13184171]

>>13183764
Yes I know when turkey season is...I turkey hunt every year. Also growing your own produce has nothing to do with my comment. Just because you know turkey season is in spring and grow veggies doesn't mean you know how to cook a good Thanksgiving meal. What are you even on about?

[Anonymous No.13184177]

>>13183809
It's just a stock image I found when I googled "Thanksgiving dinner" for images. Don't read to much into it. I'm sorry they don't have Thanksgiving dinners where you live though, tbqhwyf

>>13183982
cover the breast with broth-soaked cheesecloth. cooking a whole turkey and making it taste amazing is no easy feat. Do a lot of research on different techniques read a lot of different recipes. Don't take shortcuts.

[Anonymous No.13184186]

what kind of desserts do you like at thanksgiving? someone else is making pumpkin pies, so i'd like to make something with chocolate. last year i made a chocolate pecan pie.

[Anonymous No.13184254]

>>13184186
My wife makes an amazing pumpkin cheesecake from scratch with homemade whipped cream. Shit is incredible. Sometimes she makes a bunch of cream brûlée varieties like pumpkin, vanilla bean, cheesecake, etc. A rum cake can be great to make to because you'll have extra rum to drink while you make everything else

[Anonymous No.13184281]

For me it’s /ourgirl/‘s pumpkin pie cheesecake. The best thanksgiving dessert.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OgjMvn5jP08

[Anonymous No.13184285]

>>13183837
Sieg Zeon.

[Anonymous No.13184307]

>>13183837
Offer to make one of the dishes for her and bring it. When everyone says how good it is, offer to play a bigger roll next year?

[Anonymous No.13184314]

>>13183982
with heat

[Anonymous No.13184346]

>>13183424
Potluck with friends. They're bringing turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry relish, pies, and god knows what else. I'm doing the cornbread dressing as usual which they will descend upon like a starving pack of wolves to the neglect of the other dishes.

[Anonymous No.13184513]

>>13184171
>What are you even on about?
thats not the type of language i typically hear from hunters, sounds more like a europeon. And if im going to take the time to till a 1 acre garden and keep it weeded you can bet im going to take the time to learn how to cook

[Anonymous No.13184679]

>>13183824
Nah 2 was great. Better than one. It goes 2 > 1 > 3 and the rest can fuck off

[Anonymous No.13184684]

>>13184679
Oh and not another teen movie was by far the best in this stupid genre of movies

[Anonymous No.13184699]

>>13183424
Doing Thanksgiving with just the bf for the first time since both families are so far away. Any suggestions for food or how to manage multiple things well? I don't mind cooking at all just trying to figure out how to do a somewhat traditional spread without going overboard or killing myself. Have never done a turkey myself but am not opposed to trying.

[Anonymous No.13184713]

>>13184699
If you're doing traditional the sides arent super complicated. Stuffing, potatoes, rolls, green beans or roasted brussel sprouts. The thing that has always bothered me was a lack of cole slaw. I get so full of warm, heavy food that I crave something light and cool and acidic

[Anonymous No.13184906]

>>13184699
If it's your first time doing it all and you want to avoid "going overboard or killing yourself" then I would probably just go for doing a turkey breast along with buying a couple of smoked turkey legs for the dark meat. Most Thanksgiving side items can be done ahead of time and reheated while the turkey rests after coming out of the oven.

However, if you are really wanting to do a whole turkey then make sure you do your homework and don't cut any corners; you won't regret the results. Plus, the carcass can be used to make an amazing stock to use as the base of a Thanksgiving-leftovers soup afterward.

[Anonymous No.13184909]

After grandma passed holidays don't get as big. Usually it's me and my brother cooking at our moms for about 7 to a dozen that show up. Everyone said fuck turkey so we're making a meatloaf. I usually make homemade rolls but since it's gonna be a lot lost cooking in the over I wanna make a bread centerpiece thing like pic related. Moms making mash, green beans are a non issue I just throw it in the slow cooker w bacon and mushrooms and some cream and cream cheese and seasoning and let that go all day. Ne
ephew usually brings some mac, I make cornbread and one of us puts into stuffing, niece comes by with something, and I usually make pies the night before cause I actually love pies and it's really all I want and some maple whiskey.

I don't get y'all that do the whole damn dinner every year yourself. I did the whole shebang on my own once and it fucking sucks ass. I always thought the point of Thanksgiving was a family potluck where everyone brings some shit and the house makes the mains. Usually my aunt and uncle's will stop by for pie and drop off something.
When I was younger and all my uncle's were more active they'd smoke the turkey and smoke a brisket and every aunt made some different side or dessert. That's the way I think it ought to be ideally. Sadly they're mostly all too old for all that and us cousins kinda got our own things.

[Anonymous No.13185016]

>>13184909
Thanks for the story, anon. I guess some of us like to do the whole thing because we enjoy cooking and we want to carry the torch of tradition forward. I totally know the feels about uncles and aunts getting older and all that. I just really enjoy cooking and I've been able to add cooking entire Thanksgiving turkeys with stuffing/gravy to my wheelhouse and, although stressful at times, it is rewarding to sit back and know that I'm the one who stitched the long line of Thanksgiving traditions together this year. Of course, as the head cook for Thanksgiving, I'm given all the free booze that I want while I cook and I don't have to lift a finger to help clean up after everyone eats; I can just sit back and watch football.

[Anonymous No.13185191]

>>13184906
Best part of thanksgiving as a kid was knowing I had turkey wild rice soup to look forward to

[Anonymous No.13185483]

>>13184909
>Everyone said fuck turkey so we're making a meatloaf.
based and meatloafpilled

[Anonymous No.13185873]

>>13185191
Yeah, the leftover turkey made into pot pie, soup or just sandwiches is always the best part of thxgiving.

[Anonymous No.13185885]

>>13183424
I have to rush home and make a Thanksgiving dinner for my gf who's working after I eat with my parents. Gonna do a roast chicken, brussel sprouts with bacon, stuffing, and a pecan pie

[Anonymous No.13185907]

>>13185016
I only do it for my wife and I since we live a long way from family but I do something similar for ourselves.
>spatchcock an air chilled organic Bell and Evans chicken
>make an oyster bread dressing
>mashed potatoes with gravy from the drippings
>a Ceasar salad to start
>a succotash as a nod to native americans
>a homemade pecan pie, including crust although we only eat desserts on holidays.
I must be doing something right, my neighbor begged for the oyster dressing recipe. Don't ask me to post it I'm too fucked up.

[Anonymous No.13186017]

>>13183837
Tell them straight up
Food shaming results in better food.

[Anonymous No.13186205]

>>13183837
These guys are right. Help out. If you live with your grandmother, you can make the side dishes a day in advance. They just need to rewarm in the oven.

[Anonymous No.13186418]

>>13183424
Are you going to galze your ham?

[Anonymous No.13186530]

>>13186418
Well since I galzed your mum's hams last night and it went well, I probably will.

[Anonymous No.13186540]

>>13186530
Perfect. Can’t wait to try some of your galze

[Anonymous No.13186554]

>>13183594
Good call, definitely slipped my mind. Anyone have opinions on the best dinner roll for thanksgiving?

>>13183664
It not something people eat all the time, but it's a nice treat once a year.

>>13186418
Probably just going to get a preglazed one with a spiral cut. It's an easy crowd pleaser, and i'll have too much other stuff to deal with.

[Anonymous No.13186659]

>>13183424
Staying in my room until everyone leaves.

[Anonymous No.13186687]

>>13186659
my man! have a piss jug or two handy, its best not to leave the room and alert anyone of your presents otherwise they might think you're weird and you want to keep the truth under wraps the best you can for operational security

[Anonymous No.13186726]

>>13186687
Nah. Piss jugs are for losers. I just pull my shade down, open the window, get a slight erection, and then slyly poke my semi erect wiener through the side of the pulled down shade and piss away onto the roof below.

[Anonymous No.13186782]

>>13186726
oh anon you need to be careful, you might be as lucky as other anons

[Anonymous No.13186821]

>>13186782
I've never seen this. That guy was dumb. The way I'm situated makes it impossible for anyone to see me pissing. Been doing it for 15-16 years.

[Anonymous No.13186856]

>>13186821
you take that back, that guy was a hero and a inspiration to us all

[Anonymous No.13187483]

give me pumpkin pie secrets

[Anonymous No.13187544]

I want to make a turkey ballontine (deboned whole bird, rolled up and cooked) this year. Any of you tried that? I'm guessing that stuffing it (outside of maybe something like herb butter coating the interior) would be a bad idea since the turkey meat would overcook before the stuffing would get hot.

[Anonymous No.13188196]

>>13183603

Midwest here. I agree with you on the sweet potato. I'm no food snob, but marshmallows on top is a bizarre thing to serve unless you're doing it as a dessert course, at which point you should just make sweet potato pie.

I would definitely encourage the salad, seeing as it went over so well for me last time. I'd recommend dressing it with either apple cider vinegar and olive oil, or a store bought raspberry vinaigrette depending on your preference.

[Anonymous No.13188780]

>Mom is cooking Thanksgiving this year and she's a terrible cook and hostess

Last time she hosted a Christmas dinner:

>refused to give my 8 year old cousin ranch to dip his carrot sticks in
>went bonkers when my sister suggested we get ice cream to go with the pie we'd be serving
>doesn't know how to time anything when cooking, doesn't know how to cook anything right and served the standing rib roast two and a half hours late and severely overcooked
>Canned gravy
>Hungry Jack potatoes (sister offered to make potatoes but mom refused because she thought sister's recipe had too much butter)
>Ran out of soda and beer due to mom severely underbuying

It's just a goddamned disaster and she doesn't let anyone help or listen to normal advice like "follow a recipe". I'm thinking of just skipping Thanksgiving this year lads.

[Anonymous No.13189231]

Am I the only one who prefers canned cranberry sauce? That stuff is comfy.

[Anonymous No.13189429]

>>13188780
I've never for the life of me understood canned gravy. Boxed stuffing and instant mashed potatoes are stupid too, but not nearly as dumb as canned gravy. Gravy is simple af to make with meat drippings and so much better.

[Anonymous No.13189554]

>>13189231
yes you are the only one

[Anonymous No.13189564]

>>13183424
>Green beans (style tbd, fuck doing that nasty casserole)

Same. This year I'm sauteeing them with pearl onions, mushrooms, garlic, and cojita cheese for garnish.

[Anonymous No.13190545]

i've never cooked for thanksgiving before, but im really excited to this year. gonna make a rip off hashbrown casserole from cracker barrel and knock some fuckin socks off

[Anonymous No.13190584]

>>13183424
> being cooked for
Back in the day, when there might be anywhere from 10 to 20 coming, my job was rounding up chairs and setting the table(s).

Now it's just my mom and me. All I do is carve the turkey breast.

[Anonymous No.13191364]

Hosting thanksgiving for the first time this year has made me realize how shitty the variety of "thanksgiving food" is. I'm struggling to find things that aren't exactly the same things in OP's list. I also have no idea how to season my turkey so this is going to be an interesting holiday for my family.

[Anonymous No.13191379]

>>13191364
>I also have no idea how to season my turkey
Isn't really hard. I recommend spatchcocking and dry-brining (cutting out the spine and pressing the bird flat by cracking the breastbone, then salting the meat and letting it rest in the refrigerator for a day or two before cooking). Along with the salt, use some herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage, some black pepper, maybe some lemon zest and you'll have a tasty turkey.

[Anonymous No.13191387]

Through a long series of trial and error (mostly from drinking cape cods, but confirmed by Thanksgiving outings) I discovered I'm allergic to cranberry. Feels bad, man.

I love turkey leftovers, especially turning bones into stock.

[Anonymous No.13191925]

I'm having Thanksgiving dinner alone at a restaurant. My entire family moved 3000 miles away.

[Anonymous No.13192104]

>>13191925
FUCK Drumph

[Anonymous No.13192721]

>>13191379
>Dry brine
Interesting. I like the idea of pretending it won't need further preservatives. I'm gonna look into that. I was thinking about pretty much all those spices as well, with a tiny bit of red pepper to throw off all the white people I'm gonna be cooking for.

[Anonymous No.13193925]

>>13191364
>holiday has a dozen or so dishes with hundreds of variations.
>can't think of a way to satisfy the need to create le unique epic mealtime when presented with these impossible, unmoving constraints.

Every holiday has a select set of associated dishes, get over yourself. No one's telling you to make a paint by numbers pilgrim feast. If you can't bring yourself to prepare poultry and vegetable dishes, then just make the same mac and cheese slop you eat the rest of the year.

You sound like the type of person who volunteers to make the holiday dinner just so you can complain about the task and lord it over everyone else.

[Anonymous No.13193938]

>>13191364
also be sure to pat the turkey dry before cooking and use a rack in the pan to prevent burning the bottom of the bird, you miserable insect

[Anonymous No.13193948]

>>13191379
Spatchcocking is most certainly the way to go. Takes a lot less time, guaranteed to have a crispy skin and the meat will not be dry as long as you use a meat temperature probe.

[Anonymous No.13193980]

I am and have always been very wealthy so Thanksgiving was never anything special for me. I have always eaten until I am full. I could care less what I eat on any given day, holiday or not because no matter what it will be good and filling.
Can a poor person explain the interest in making turkey for a particular day? I don't quite understand it. Does it make you feel better to cook a lot of food for a certain day?

[Anonymous No.13193995]

take my strong hand

[Anonymous No.13194028]

>>13193980
Yes, because Americans are notorious for eating modestly the rest of the year. Only landed gentry such as yourself are capable of eating a full meal.

It's a holiday moron, they all have associated dishes for various arbitrary reasons. The real point is enjoying friends and family, something you are clearly incapable of.

[Anonymous No.13194040]

>>13194028
If I struck a nerve I apologize, I understand it can be quite difficult for the poor to express themselves at times, I meant no offense. When I asked about the extra amount of food I meant that it seems odd to me a poor person would bother with such a thing. Why enjoy the excess if you cannot generally afford it? In any case I spend time with my family and extended family every Sunday during and after church, Thanksgiving is nothing special for any of us.

[Anonymous No.13194042]

>Grilled turkey(that crispy skin is the best part of the whole dinner)
>Mashed taters
>Giblet Gravy
>Homemade stuffing
>Cheesy potato casserole
>Green bean casserole
>Frozen bread buns(Uncle brings them every year even though he's the only one who likes them)
>Cranberry sauce from the can(the right way)
>Pie(Pumpkin, pecan, and cherry)
>Vanilla ice cream
>Olives, crackers, and assorted cheeses for hors d'oeuvres

Then my Grandpa died and we stopped doing a big family Thanksgiving. Now I have to eat at the in-laws every year and they use this god awful thing to cook their turkey. The skin comes out soft, white, and chewy. Two of the cousins are vegetarian and another is Vegan so they experiment making varies dishes with no meat or animal products.
>No more crispy skin
>No more giblet gravy
>Mashed taters with no butter or milk
>No more casseroles
>Stovetop stuffing
>Tofurky

I miss the good days...

[Anonymous No.13194050]

>>13194042
Forgot to mention they make this cranberry relish and never have the canned variety. I buy myself a can every year to eat at home.

[Anonymous No.13194080]

>>13194042
>>13194050
F for your grandad and the sanctity of your thanksgiving meals. Fuck vegetarians who impose their contrarian narcissism on other people.

Also....you are putting that canned cranberry sauce on other food and not eating it straight, right anon?

[Anonymous No.13194126]

>>13194040
Not him, but even poor peasants used to celebrate major holidays with special foods. In fact it was often the only days when they would consume meat.

[Anonymous No.13194134]

>>13194126
I know this, I just don't understand why. Perhaps it is due to their lack of intelligence they decide to gorge on certain days and starve for the rest?

[Anonymous No.13194323]

>>13194134
For a christfag, it's bizarre that you don't partake or even understand the concept of feast days. Jesus would definitely appreciate your appraisal of poor people as stupid. I assume you're genuinely autistic, trolling or both.

Would also you like someone to explain why people enjoy listening to music and laugh during movies?

[Anonymous No.13194348]

>>13194323
As a Christian I am very aware that Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and even Halloween are not Christian holidays, they are pagan. As far as my "appraisal" of the poor I am speaking on the statistical fact the poor are less intelligent than the wealthy on average. I am by no means disparaging them, there is a humble honor in poverty. That being said I do not understand the point in purposefully not spending your money wisely when you don't have much to begin with.
I love music and also enjoy comedies, not that either of those things are relevant. And to be frank I find it odd you still cannot give me a straight answer to my question if you do indeed support the habit.

[Anonymous No.13194500]

>>13194134
Because people that live a life of drudgery look forward to a day when they can break out of it a little bit. Do you really begrudge and ridicule them a few days of pleasure and enjoyment?

[Anonymous No.13194513]

>>13194500
I have not nor do I begrudge or ridicule the poor. I do not understand why they would not spread that wealth out over the year to help prevent said drudgery. Is there a purpose in spending a large sum of money for one day when you could spend moderately for several?

[Anonymous No.13194535]

>>13194348
As a christian, you should realize that there are countless feast days that have been historically observed in every christian sect.

You've repeatedly implied that thanksgiving is only celebrated by poor, starving Americans squandering their meager resources. In those marginal cases, I would agree that it's an ill-advised, albeit sentimental extravagance.

You cite your income and lifestyle as the reason for your befuddlement towards the holiday, completely ignorant of the fact that Thanksgiving is popularly regarded as a special occasion across all income levels, including middle and upper class Americans. It's fine if you don't get hyped for a largely corporate holiday, but you seem to misunderstand your reasoning for the apathy.

[Anonymous No.13194556]

>>13194535
That is factually incorrect. You are ignorant on several sects of "Christianity". The idea you would even legitimize sects as a concept of true Christianity is also quite egregious.
It was an implication you saw but not a statement i made. I do not understand why the poor would celebrate a holiday that makes it harder on them. It makes no sense. On that same train of thought it is pointless to celebrate with a feast when every day is a feast for the wealthy. Either way it makes no sense, unless you are a pagan I suppose. But pagans are insane and so I do not assume to find logic in their lives.
>popularly regarded
This wouldn't be relevant to me. I assure you I am not unaware as to why I do not care for it. As I said, every day is a feast, why make a special day to do exactly what I do every day?

[Anonymous No.13194783]

>>13194556
Ah yes, you're the true christian and everyone else is a poser heathen. To suggest that a globe-spanning religion such as christianity doesn't have sects is absurd, given the countless traditions and interpretations. Whichever one you subscribe to, there are plenty of equally bullheaded people would consider you a godless heretic with the same misguided confidence that you're displaying. Your absolutism betrays your ignorance and disconnection from practical reasoning.

[Anonymous No.13194820]

>>13194783
If you want to debate the notion that worshiping a pagan God doesn't disqualify you from being Christian you may want to find a different board. This thread is about Thanksgiving. It seems we have somewhat agreed on the notion that it is not sensible to celebrate such holidays. In this sense I suppose I will never understand the lack of sense in it. Which is fine, understanding lunacy is oxymoronic.

[Anonymous No.13194854]

>>13183424
I hope that by turkey gravy you mean giblet gravy

[Anonymous No.13194863]

>>13194513
because it's not several days, it's a friggen year. you can throw a killer bash once a year for less than a dollar a day savings, and an extra dollar each day won't make much of a difference

[Anonymous No.13194871]

>>13183424
>Ham
>ice cream
What the fuck?

[Anonymous No.13194877]

>>13194863
That gets into a near impossible discussion on income. My perspective is that it would make more sense to spread funds out than to splurge all at once. If a family is so poor they struggle to feed themselves most of the year it would make more sense to eat well for a week than a day no matter what time of year it is.

[Anonymous No.13194883]

>>13183837
>grandma got worse and worse at cooking
>that sense of relief we all felt when she was finally blind enough to give up completely
You just have to wait it out, man.

[Anonymous No.13194884]

>>13194854
Can I get a quick rundown?
What are the pros of doing giblet gravy over normal gravy?
Are there any specific parts to use, or just all of the gibs?

[Anonymous No.13194911]

>>13183590
I had one day off for thanks giving I still have a turkey in the freezer from months ago.

[Anonymous No.13194912]

>>13194513
You literally said they are unintelligent which is ridiculing and certainly not true in all cases of poor people.

As to why don't they spread what they spend out over the year it really wouldn't have an appreciable effect on their meals. Also we're not talking about homeless beggar level destitutes here, we're talking about low income people in the US who aren't going to be going hungry because they prepared a traditional thxgiving meal, ffs. Now, your point would make sense if you were talking about them splurging on xmas presents, but that could be said of the middleclass as well. People who can't afford to run up large credit card bills participating in that garbage.

[Anonymous No.13194931]

>>13194912
Saying someone is unintelligent when they are is not ridicule. There is nothing wrong with being less intelligent than someone else. And while it is not the case with all of them, as I said it is the case with the majority of them. I am not talking about a poor person, I am talking about poor people and so making a generalization is warranted.

>who aren't going to be going hungry
If you can eat everyday to a point where you are not hungry you are not poor. A quarter of the children in my country (The United States) go to bed hungry every night. They are poor as are their families. They have no reason to spend more money on one day than the other. It is lunacy. They would be better off eating over the course of a few days rather than just one.

[Anonymous No.13194946]

>>13194871
Not sure where why those would be considered unusual picks. Glazed ham is a popular holiday dish and the ice cream is for dessert, specifically for pie a la mode. It's not like I'll be scooping rocky road onto the green beans.

However you'll be happy to know that since creating the thread, I've decided to skip the ham and do two turkeys instead.

[Anonymous No.13194950]

>>13194884
I use the neck and the giblets, then remove the neck because it's a pain in the ass to debone and doesn't provide a whole lot of meat. you chop the giblets and saute with finely dice mirepoix then proceed to make homemade gravy with the drippings from the turkey. also some homemade noodles(or those frozen egg noodles) mixed with the gravy is goat

[Anonymous No.13194958]

>>13194931
>quater of the children in my country go to bed hungry
someone's been watching to many charity commercials
also those people don't celebrate things like thanksgiving unless it's going to a relatives or a soup kitchen

[Anonymous No.13194961]

>be me, 2016
>finally moved out of parents basement
>everyone came over for thanksgiving
>saw on youtube and cooking channel that you now cook turkey to 145 internal
>pull turkey out at 145
>let rest for 20 mins
>begin to cut in
>it's pink by the bone and bloody
>my mom and dad start flipping out
>sister calls me a fucking loser and tells me this is why I have no gf
>they all leave and go to burger king
I...I could have put it back in the oven.

[Anonymous No.13194964]

>>13194961
I don't think the turkey was the issue anon, you just have a shit family. sorry

[Anonymous No.13194971]

>>13194946
I put the ice cream away after September and wait until June to have more.
I can't think of any of our staple Thanksgiving pies that are better ala mode, we stick to pecan, pumpkin, and a cream pie.

[Anonymous No.13195014]

>>13184186
If there’s already pie, make a cake. A maple walnut cake would be festive.

[Anonymous No.13195142]

>>13194931
Need a source on the 25% of kids going hungry, that's not true. Anyway, families in that kind of shape aren't preparing thxgiving dinner, but even if they did it isn't significantly impacting their food for the rest of the year. Turkeys are sold everywhere for under $1.00/lb as loss leaders @ thxgiving so the mainstay of the meal would be cheap af and provide several other meals from leftovers.

[Anonymous No.13195175]

>>13194958
If a family is not worried about hunger they are not poor. I was talking about poor people, not people who want for little.
>>13195142
If they can eat freely they are not poor. And as you say yourself "leftover meals" the idea I have been pushing for is that exact mentality just stretched out further.
I am not talking about buying a single turkey and making sandwiches out of it for a week, I am talking about what OP was referencing with large amounts of foods for a single day.

And then back to my other point it makes little sense to go out of your way to celebrate having food when you already have food every day. If the purpose is to bring people together I say the concept does more harm than good. Family are better off together to begin with. If it is for counting your blessings that is something that can be done every single day.

[Anonymous No.13195279]

>>13195175
>If they can eat freely they are not poor.
spoken like a true pompous douche-bag, i remember when obama said if you have a tv and microwave you are not poor, except i can get both out of the trash for free but it doesn't mean i haven't been wearing the same close for 16 years and never been to a dentist or a doctor

[Anonymous No.13195312]

>>13195279
A television is not necessary to live and neither are new clothes. You can always want more, but to me it is about what you need. As far as healthcare if you do not like the system in the USA then move. Unlike many other nations no one is forcing anyone to live in the USA.

[Anonymous No.13195393]

>>13195312
>new clothes are not necessary to live
maybe on your tropical island, but cheap ass walmart clothes doesn't last more then a year or two and by the time you're a teen a long sleeve winter coat is nothing more then a tanktop as you freeze to death

[Anonymous No.13195410]

>>13195393
What situation would you be in where you can afford enough food to not be hungry every day but couldn't spend 40 dollars on a jacket every 2 years?

[Anonymous No.13195475]

>>13195410
>40 dollars on a jacket
you really have no idea! We have laws in America that require certain criteria to be met, roof, clothe, food in fridge after that the state doesn't give a shit, so we spend ever dollar meeting those requirements as we live in 3rd world squalor because of it.

[Anonymous No.13195480]

>>13195475
If you're suggesting the state is supplying these things for you then where does your money go?

[Anonymous No.13195485]

>>13195175
>large amounts of foods for a single day.
Now you're just losing it since I pointed out the mainstay of the holiday dinner is the cheapest meat you can buy that time of year, and the sides like dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, homemade gravy, cranberry sauce, etc. are all cheap to prepare. You realize everyone makes multiple leftover meals from all that food, even the "unintelligent" poor as you pompously, term them. Hell, there are web pages devoted to dishes you can prepare with thxgiving leftovers. Stop wishing the poor would suffer everyday of the year instead of having a few fun days. It's senselessly malicious and cruel.

[Anonymous No.13195492]

>>13195485
I term the poor unintelligent because they factually by and large are. I do not wish anyone to suffer nor do I intend to be cruel. I just do not understand spending more money on food one day than any other. If it is so cheap why not eat it all year round? Why not have a feast every day?

[Anonymous No.13195500]

>>13195492
>I just do not understand spending more money on food one day than any other. If it is so cheap why not eat it all year round? Why not have a feast every day?
Imagine actually thinking like this

[Anonymous No.13195504]

>>13195480
>suggesting the state is supplying
no not even close, you are required to obtain or they rip you life apart and stick you in foster care to get assraped by pedos who sign up to take in foster kids to fuck them and get paied for it by the state

[Anonymous No.13195512]

>>13195500
I do not know the cost of these Thanksgiving meals, I do not do them. I am being told they are very cheap. So why not have them every day if they are so cheap?
>>13195504
The foster care system is a bit off the mark when it comes to why the poor choose to celebrate a holiday that leaves them out of money. If anything it supports my thinking that it is foolish to celebrate the holiday instead of just using the money over the course of many days.

[Anonymous No.13195522]

>>13195512
Because it's a massive amount of labor? It takes 2-4 people basically all day to prepare a thanksgiving meal. I just got a 19 lb butterball turkey for .59 cents per pound, but they're not always that cheap.

[Anonymous No.13195534]

>>13195522
Re-evaluating my argument and replacing cost with labor I see no difference. If it is so laborious to do why not put the money into something easy AND cheap?

[Anonymous No.13195549]

>>13195512
>why the poor choose to celebrate a holiday
because without a carrot to move towards we'd lose all meaning and kill ourselves, its all we have

[Anonymous No.13195553]

>>13195534
cheap is never easy

[Anonymous No.13195557]

>>13195534
Why do anything? Do you live in a completely empty studio apartment and drink 2000 calories of soylent per day?

[Anonymous No.13195566]

>>13195549
That's more of a lack of imagination. There are many things you can do without money that are enjoyable. What is it about Thanksgiving that is so uplifting exactly? If you eat fine and see your family often enough it is pointless.
>>13195553
From my experience I disagree.
>>13195557
If I was poor I would not splurge on a single day of festivities and would instead use that money over the course of several days. This seems more sensible. And again, there are a myriad of things you can do that cost nothing and can be very uplifting/relaxing.

[Anonymous No.13195573]

>>13195566
The best part of thanksgiving is the leftovers. Most people eat it nearly every meal for the next week. I don't know where you got the idea it's expensive, per person it's cheaper then most. Again, turkey is usually less than 70 cents per pound this time of year.

[Anonymous No.13195578]

>>13195573
Then why not meal-prep with cheap food every week?

[Anonymous No.13195586]

>>13195578
Again, because of the labor involved in preparing a thanksgiving meal.

[Anonymous No.13195589]

>>13195586
If it can be done for that day why can't it be done for others?

[Anonymous No.13195598]

>>13195589
Time

[Anonymous No.13195621]

>>13195598
What is the difference between the 4th week of November and any other weak when it comes to time?

[Anonymous No.13195626]

>>13195621
Everybody typically has a 4 or 5 day weekend, so a lot more of it.

[Anonymous No.13195631]

>>13195626
Are these vacations generally paid?

[Anonymous No.13195635]

>>13195631
Yes, it's a federal holiday

[Anonymous No.13195643]

>>13195635
So then the idea is to take advantage of the time given while being paid to spend an extra few hours making a meal that will last several days that also happens to be cheap.
Alright, I can understand why a poor family would take advantage of this. Thank you.

[Anonymous No.13195645]

Make a pasqualina.

Typically an Easter pie, but it'll go well, I think.

Either that or some spanakotiropita.

[Anonymous No.13195658]

>>13195643
Add some alcohol and that's basically thanksgiving anon. Congrats

[Anonymous No.13195672]

>>13195658
I knew what it was just not why someone who has trouble getting food would do it. But with the support given it makes some sense. Honestly it has been so long since I have been on a forced schedule I didn't even factor in government leave and such.

[Anonymous No.13195732]

>>13195621
time is money and we're spending all of ours to get by

[Anonymous No.13195757]

>>13195732
Have you tried making more money?

[Anonymous No.13195786]

>>13195757
i'm speaking from my history, child labor laws prevented any such endeavor.

[Anonymous No.13195788]

>>13195786
Did you not attempt emancipation?

[Anonymous No.13195793]

>>13195788
you live in TV land

[Anonymous No.13195797]

>>13195793
I live in the southern United States. If emancipation was not an option for you and so you have no method of making money due to a lack of connections I can see it becoming a problem. If it where me I would have committed crimes to make money.

[Anonymous No.13195816]

>>13194971
Yeah, that’s understandable. I just never eat pie, and when I do, I’m partial to blueberry with a scoop of vanilla.

[Anonymous No.13195834]

>>13195797
when they delivered the yearly phone book i would steal several so i had paper to to wipe me ass with

[Anonymous No.13195847]

>>13195834
It would have been more consistent and more pleasurable to steal rolls from restaurants or supermarkets.

[Anonymous No.13195889]

>>13183809
Yes, anon, Americans really decorate their place settings and serve their food à la française style.

[Anonymous No.13195912]

>>13183837
Offer to supply everything that is premade or store bought. She can't really get offended at you offering to bring something she wasn't actually preparing unless she's a straight up cunt.

[Anonymous No.13195940]

>>13195492
you’re a snobbish, abrasive, obtuse autistic and you’re ruining a perfectly good thread because you don’t understand a concept as simple as holidays

[Anonymous No.13195983]

>>13195014
idk, cake seems like too much after thanksgiving dinner.

[Anonymous No.13196014]

>>13195847
you know how much TP a family of 5 goes through a month? going to juvenile for something so stupid would be your death in there

[Anonymous No.13196040]

>>13184186
It's not really Thanksgivingy but you could make a german chocolate cake. Never disappoints

[Anonymous No.13196050]

Can I get some idea's for salads? So far I'm probably going to choose between something like OP's or just a regular caesar with homemade anchovy dressing. Seasonally appropriate would be nice, as long as it isn't too ridiculous.

[Anonymous No.13196076]

>>13194040
>Why enjoy the excess if you cannot generally afford it?
None of it is particularly expensive food, and you can eat leftovers for the next few days up to a week, so it’s basically buying in bulk. Just don’t get anything too fancy. Turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a casserole of some variety and you’re set.

[Anonymous No.13196132]

Visiting friend and eating with his family. Very nervous about it never done something like this. Not sure what to bring if anything.
No matter the quality of food I'm going to eat my portion. That's all I know for sure.

[Anonymous No.13196196]

>>13196132
Definitely make a point of asking "what can I bring?" to your friend or his family. I emphasize the phrasing because asking "should I bring anything?" would compel them to decline.

Even if they say no, you should absolutely bring a dessert, side-dish, or bottle of wine. Doesn't need to be fancy or made by you, just don't show up empty handed. Pick up a pumpkin pie if you can't decide, it's the gesture that counts.

[Anonymous No.13196225]

>>13195940
I cannot help that you assume when I am trying to be sincere. I am sorry if I hurt you or that you think I was trying to hurt you. It was not my intention. I understand holidays. I did not understand Thanksgiving but thanks to other people now I do, as far as the poor anyway.
>>13196014
It would be better if those who cannot support children do not have them. I cannot disagree with that.
>>13196076
I understand now that due to federal holidays this makes economic sense.

[Anonymous No.13196297]

>>13194080
I used to drag it around in the left over juices on my plate. But now it's not even worth it, everything is dry or not delicious.

[Anonymous No.13196389]

>>13196196
I've already asked what I could bring them. My friend only said his mother likes souvenir mugs and his father likes history.
Getting a souvenir mug from my state should be easy enough. No idea for the dad. Also when I asked I meant more food or something like that. Like a wine. I have no idea for quality alcohol since I don't drink much.

[Anonymous No.13196671]

>>13196389
Again, quality and type of wine is a secondary concern, you'll be fine picking literally any normal bottle in your price range. If that's still too intimidating, then make a side dish or pick up something at the store like a cheese tray, a box of chocolates or a pie. You're clearly overthinking this.

[Anonymous No.13196687]

>>13196389
So you asked a your friend a question too vaguely to communicate that you were referring to food, and then failed to specify when he started tossing out Christmas gift ideas.

One or both of you is on the spectrum. Even if you show up empty-handed, you will definitely be serving up plenty of spaghetti at this thanksgiving. Godspeed anon.

[Anonymous No.13196691]

>>13196225
You sound like Spock, or a carefully programmed rightwing bot, with an absolute lack of any human empathy.

[Anonymous No.13196702]

>>13196691
I do not sound like anything, I am typing. I have no interest in american politics in any case. I have great empathy for my fellow man.

[Anonymous No.13196706]

>>13196691
A wealthy fundamentalist christian took time away from his weekly family feast on the lord's day to argue with anime enthusiasts on a Laotian archery forum. Definite larp to compensate for real life failure.

[Anonymous No.13196716]

>>13196691
He's just a retard. Probably literally, literally autistic. Even without emotional empathy someone who was less of a dumbass would be able to compute it out with cognitive empathy.

[Anonymous No.13196724]

anyone got a good recipe or tips for making green bean casserole

[Anonymous No.13196765]

>>13196691
Yeah well you sound like a faggot.

[Anonymous No.13196812]

>>13196724
Make something else, that shit is nasty. Lemon garlic green beans oven roasted is the first thing that comes to mind.

[Anonymous No.13196837]

>>13196687
I'm sure I can make it through okay. It's only one day and we're staying at a hotel the rest of the time. Talk no easy. Worst case I'm just the quiet guy.
>>13196671
Taking something with me on the airplane sounds like it will complicate stuff. I'll just pick out wine with my friend when I get there.
That should work. Thank you.

[Anonymous No.13196886]

>>13196837
Another note, a red wine might be preferable because unlike a lot of white wines, it can be served at room temperature and doesn't need to be chilled first. A pinot noir is a ubiquitous variety of red wine, also an all-around crowd pleaser. I reiterate that literally any wine will be fine, just throwing in a couple easy tips.

[Anonymous No.13196891]

OP, some of the tradeoffs of what you make and how you make it when you're doing two roasts (and not having a double oven though I do), is that you have to do what you do oven vs stovetop. There will be some things you opt to do a different way to ease your enjoyment in the work flow and timing of it all. Fresh cranberry-orange-pecan raspberry mold solidified, ie made a day ahead. Salad, clean, chilled, add the apple and cheese with dressing at end. Mashed potatoes in the pot whipped with the hand mixer. (Wrap sweet potatoes in foil around the roasts all day). Drop the risotto idea, that's a short order item, but you can replace it with a wild rice baked casserole (slivered almonds, onions, mushrooms, beef stock, thyme). You can bake squash, mushrooms, and assorted seasonal veggies on a sheet pan the day before, handful of herbs, and the texture is welcome. I make a blender made carrot souffle, poured into a baking dish, topped with crunchy corn flake crumbs, pecans, brown sugar. It bakes while you cool a turkey or ham, and whisk up your gravy.

Buy good rolls the day before at a bakery, can warm them under a broiler.
Relish tray set up upon arrival is an alternative to salad course. Homemade cheeseball unwrapped (gorgonzola, date, pecan), or assorted cheese, various pickles and olives, even homemade pickles or crackers, veggies. Set up a mini crock pot for a hot crab dip! A cocktail bar with punch or hot mulled wine.

I do frozen pecan-cheesecake pies, baked 2 at a time, tightly wrapped in foil and frozen. I might have 1 derby pie, or key lime (also baked ahead or frozen). I set them out about an hour before slicing. Supplement with a purchased high quality very large apple pie (like costco), a couple of pumpkin pies, some hand pies that can be reheated in the oven, and a couple tins: truffles, fudge, jar of assorted cookies, biscotti or bakery italian cookies, other "coffee after-dinner" accompaniments. Spray whipped cream. Good roasted coffee.

[Anonymous No.13196901]

>>13186554
>Anyone have opinions on the best dinner roll for thanksgiving?
All of them :P I try to pick up an assortment, some german rye, sourdough, poppy seed topped, potato rolls. There will be some guests that pack a little ham or turkey into a roll and enjoy it that way, so the regular bread and the rye bread (or biscuits) handle that pairing.
Soft might be preferred to a more crusty bread roll, in other words.

[Anonymous No.13196920]

>>13188780
>>Ran out of soda and beer due to mom severely underbuying
Dude, don't count on her. Don't ask what to bring. Bring what you want upon arrival instead. Unload that cooler from your trunk with ice, and inside are your favorite craft beers and sodas to share. Cover all the bases from wine you might want, after dinner cordial, cream for your coffee, bag of coffee beans.

[Anonymous No.13196970]

>>13191364
>I also have no idea how to season my turkey so this is going to be an interesting holiday for my family.
About a week and a half beforehand, you get a "fresh" turkey breast or turkey. It's a higher temp frozen turkey. This ensures juiciness unlike ordinary deep frozen birds. Why so early? They run out of the right size as you get closer, or order it. Ask your butcher what to do, when they arrive, when to order. Get a big one, ensure leftovers.
Buy a covered roaster like graniteware. They're idiot proof and make excellent gravy and browning, and keep in juices.
Wash bird and remove packet over your sink.
Rub your bird all over with fresh lemon juice, then salt and pepper and olive oil. Little shake of Bell's Seasoning or 'poultry seasoning." Place in roaster uncovered 30 minutes til skin just starts to render and brown. Pour in coffee or purchased turkey stock or a little water with some coffee, cover and cook until temp is safe.
If not using stock, throw in a carrot, a celery or onions and garic into the roasting pan. Feel free to baste, but your lid and dark covered graniteware roaster is going to evenly brown this.
Deglaze pan on burner, add some (hand blended) beurre manie clumps, make gravy. Wondra is the cheat method. Corn starch is easy too. Reduce and be sure flour is cooked. I like to taste it for salt. and a hint of lemon juice, turkey stock or fortified wine if needed to add oomph. You can also steep on a burner the neckbone, giblets and other parts to make the turkey stock you need.

[Anonymous No.13197096]

>>13196891
>Based and helpful-pilled

Yeah, I'm trying to think of all the things I can do the night before to prepare the meal from the OP post. So far I have:

>Make cranberry sauce
>Dry out bread for stuffing
>Steam and mash squash for risotto

I'm just going to do the salad the day of, because it's basically just throwing things in a bowl. But I'm open to suggestions on things I can do in advance to streamline the process. Any further tips on timing and general kitchen planning are appreciated.

[Anonymous No.13197153]

Any tips for good mashed potatoes anons?

[Anonymous No.13197183]

>>13197153
Use red potatoes, boil them and leave the skin on. Add a little bit of butter and garlic. Add milk while mixing to the desired texture, but I'd recommend leaving some lumps rather than completely uniform puree.

[Anonymous No.13197273]

Just wanted to drop by and recommend Alton Brown’s turkey brine recipe. I’ve been using it for 3 years now and the in-laws now demand that I make the turkey every year.

[Anonymous No.13197279]

>>13196225
what if you could support the children when you had them but everything goes wrong like your job field no longer being relevant, personal injury and a economic rescission? Otherwise known as shit happens.

[Anonymous No.13198129]

If i panfry ground turkey breast that's 7% fat should I use oil or will the fat be enough and get rendered out?

[Anonymous No.13198277]

>>13194042
This is what my "family" has become ever since my parents split up. I usually stay with my mom (since she doesn't have much other family) but she's a lazy bitch and uses the same thing for every single goddamn meal. I want to be with my dad's side because all of them are good cooks who care but things always feel weird for a lot of reasons
This year I'm alone in another state at college and I'm just going to try to make a cute dinner with my foreign girlfriend, and I'm going to try to make it like I had when thanksgiving was the best food of the year

[Anonymous No.13198285]

>>13183837
We made it a torch passing thing. Flattery worked. Tell her after so many years of doing it now it's her turn to laze about and be waited upon by the younger generations. It took a few years of whittling down her responsibilities but now Grandma makes zero dishes and Thanksgiving is much better off for it.

[Anonymous No.13198570]

>>13184281
>graham cracker "crust"

[Anonymous No.13198706]

>>13197153
I disagree with >>13197183 about the skins being left on. Personally I don't mind skins but some people really would rather not have them and if you're cooking for a lot of people you may want to skin them. But to answer your question, the key, for me at least, is lots of butter, a good bit of sour cream, a couple glugs of buttermilk, and just salt and pepper. Just keep tasting and adjusting as needed until you get the flavors you want.

[Anonymous No.13198710]

>>13197279
>>13196225


My God are you two faggots still bickering? Both of you have severe autism. Nobody else but you two gives a shit about your petty argument.

>hurr I don't get thanksgiving
>hurr thanksgiving is good

Both of you shut the fuck up already

[Anonymous No.13198847]

So am I the only one that has been making Thanksgiving dinner alone for their family since they were like 15?

[Anonymous No.13199163]

>>13198710
but anon bickering is the sole reason i come to 4chin

[Anonymous No.13199242]

>>13183664
i know this feel too well

>boring food
>family/friends always buy the bland premade brand
>they undercook EVERYTHING somehow
>everybody always get sick the next day

just make me a turkey sandwich and be done with it bro

[Anonymous No.13199257]

My grandad blew up our (mom made it) green bean casserole one year which happened to be in her mother's casserole dish which was the only thing she has of hers (died when I was 5)

[Anonymous No.13199260]

>>13199257
Based granny dabbing on your childhood connection with your dead mom.