What are your Thanksgiving Plans? [Archive] - Ceramic Tile Advice Forums

Shaughnn

11-14-2007, 08:52 AM

In-Laws moved in with us a few weeks ago and will be here until they find a house to buy (relocated from Phoenix). My Mother-In-Law and I will be cooking up a STORM!!!!!!! Ordered a free-range turkey yesterday for pick-up next Wednesday and I'm already putting together my shopping list. I love making "Thanksgiving Day" meal and I've got a few staple recipes which I'll be whipping up.
A brined-turkey (nothing beats Alton Brown's brining recipe)
Cornbread and Sausage stuffing (home-made sausage and home-made cornbread)
Cranberry Sauce (made from scratch because it's so simple and yummy!!!!!)
Parker House Rolls (family recipe)
Pumpkin Pie (from scratch, I buy the Sugar Pumpkins at Halloween when they are plentiful)
Garlic-Mashed Potatoes (2 heads of garlic chaffed in butter for the whole morning)
and a constantly open bottle of wine to keep the cooks happy
My Father-In-Law brought his ginormous HDTV with him so I think we'll find time to enjoy a football game too. :)
Shaughnn
PS: I'd like to make a Butternut Squash soup also, but my wife thinks I have a habit of making too much food and has said "No". :(

ddmoit

11-14-2007, 09:02 AM

Shaughnn,

How about sharing your simple cranberry sauce recipe?

Shaughnn

11-14-2007, 09:24 AM

3/4 cup water
1 cup granulated cane sugar (I don't like beet sugar's taste for this)
1 tablespoon grated orange zest in long strands rather than chopped
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1 (12-ounce) bag of fresh cranberries , picked through to remove split or rotten berries
2 tablespoons of orange juice OR Triple Sec liqueur

Bring water, orange zest, salt and sugar to a boil in a non-reactive sausepan. Add cranberries and return to a boil. Reduce heat and stir gentle while simmering until about 2/3 of the berries "pop" open on their own (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in either orange juice OR the Triple Sec. Transfer to non-reactive serving dish and allow to cool before refrigerating. Return to room temperature to serve (30 minutes out of refrigerator should be fine).
Easy and yummy! :yummy:
Shaughnn

kate42

11-14-2007, 09:35 AM

Shaughnn :wave:

so I think we'll find time to enjoy a football game too.
With all that cooking, I don't think so. :D

You are a man of many talents. :nod: :)

http://www.millan.net/minimations/toolminis/turkydance3.gif (http://www.millan.net)

ddmoit

11-14-2007, 09:40 AM

Thanks, Shaughnn. I won't be waiting until Thanksgiving to try it.

dgunnels

11-14-2007, 10:02 AM

That's pretty much my sauce recipe too but I throw in a couple of tablespoons of Gran Marnier. Delish! BTW, I make my own Gran Marnier every year and I use the homemade stuff in my recipe.

river-wear

11-14-2007, 10:14 AM

Shaughnn - you are SO right about Alton Brown's brining recipe! It's wonderrrrrrrfulllllllllllll!

If you want to make that soup, send it down south to me!

We usually try to round up friends without family nearby but this year they're all going away. Hubby and I will end up at a restaurant, most likely. :shake:

On the plus side, we're planning to have a "Thanksgiving" dinner a couple weeks before Christmas so we can cook the turkey and all the fixin's for friends. Just doesn't make sense to cook a turkey for two... does it?

Hamilton

11-14-2007, 04:16 PM

I got an invite to go help at a homeless shelter. Not sure if i will yet.
Sounds like something that would make me feel good by helping others.
Not sure how it will conflict with the family plans yet. Im never the
one who makes them.

SBower

11-14-2007, 06:29 PM

In the spirit of sharing heres my families squash soup. Really yummy! :dance:

Cumin Butternut Squash Soup

If you can't find blood oranges, select any thin-skinned orange to float atop this very velvety soup.

Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes

1 to 2 tsp. cumin seeds
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 medium carrot, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and coarsely chopped (5 cups)
1 tsp. ground cumin
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
Blood oranges or oranges, thinly sliced (optional)

1. In a small skillet, cook cumin seeds over medium heat for about 1 minute or until seeds become fragrant and turn a shade darker,
stirring frequently. Immediately remove seeds from skillet; set aside.

2. In a large saucepan melt butter. Stir in onion, carrot, and celery. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in squash and ground cumin. Cook and stir for 5 minutes more. Add broth; bring to boiling. reduce heat; simmer, covered
for about 8 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are very tender. Allow mixture to cool slightly. Puree mixture in small batches in a food
processor bowl or blender container until smooth. Return pureed mixture to the saucepan. Stir in buttermilk, salt, and pepper; heat through.

3. To server, ladle soup into individual bowls. Top with orange slices and toasted cumin seeds. Makes 8 servings.

Nutrition facts per serving: 125 cal. 7 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 18 mg chol. 497 mg sodium, 15 g carbo.

John Bridge

11-14-2007, 06:39 PM

Fortunately, we still have Patti's folks. They are both eighty. Years ago siblings and in-laws tried to take the strain of MIL. We had dinner here and then for two or three years, but Patti's mom just couldn't stand not having everybody over to her house, so she recaptured the occasion. :) She still does the turkey. I go over and do the mashed potatoes, and others do this and that.

And I don't bring any leftovers home. ;)

Shaughnn

11-14-2007, 06:48 PM

Wow, Shelly! Thank you very much. I might just sneak this little gem into the menu when no body's watching. :drevil:
Shaughnn

LadyGodiva

11-14-2007, 10:14 PM

We're going to Dallas for TG. I'm cooking dinner though. We found a penthouse with a kitchen. The thought of eating out on TG day doesn't thrill me. Weird, huh?

HS345

11-14-2007, 10:34 PM

We're going to Myrtle Beach S.C. for a visit with my FIL and his wife, taking the grand kids along. Girls 6 and 8 years old. Should be a nice little roadtrip. :dance:

JTG

11-14-2007, 11:23 PM

My folks live over in Port Townsend. A ferry ride Northwest of Seattle and during the holiday period the wait at the ferry is just to much. We did Thanksgiving over there two weeks ago. A time when most of my and my sisters family's could be there. We did dinner at our time share over there so Mom didn't have to cook. Folks are in their mid and late 80's it is a chore getting them out of the house.
Copper my daughter is doing Thanksgiving at her house this year. Patti, I and our foreign student Yoshie, plus Coppers boyfriend James and his folks plus a couple of their single friends. Oh and Yoshie's sister and her boyfriend will be here from Portland. Will be fun.
Next day we go into the recording studio to do some more work on Patti's CD.
Will be nice to have some days off.
JTG

opiethetileman

11-15-2007, 04:32 AM

I will be working. In the am I go and feed the homeless for about 3 to 4 hours. then after that I start setting up xmas tree lots this year I have 3 lots so its a tough year. the trees get here on th 22nd. but cant sell till 24th. so Its a busy day.

Autoplay

11-15-2007, 05:25 AM

Danielsan,Can you help me out as I'm needy? I only require a 10' tree,and a warm meal. I'm off of Bee ridge rd,in Sarasota.

Thx Dan,
rich

flatfloor

11-15-2007, 03:43 PM

I post this family recipe every year.

BAKED STUFFED Turkey

20-25 lb. Turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is good.)
1 cup uncooked popcorn
(ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S LOW FAT)
Salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brush turkey well with melted butter, salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn.

Place in baking pan with the neck end toward the back of the oven.

Listen for the popping sounds.

When the turkey's ass blows the oven door open and the turkey flies across the room, it is done

LadyGodiva

11-15-2007, 10:18 PM

Jim, thanks for that ummm...recipe. :shades:

Tool Guy - Kg

11-15-2007, 10:31 PM

Jim, didn't you get that recipe from Albert? :scratch:

RedRockTile

11-15-2007, 10:43 PM

I'm with Musky. But I'm going fishin.

We're going back to Idaho to see my parents and other family. I'll let the wife help with the cooking, the kids will be playing with cousins, the kitchen is too small for that many extra hands, fishing is the only logical choice. :D

I go and feed the homeless for about 3 to 4 hours
Way to go Dan, what a great service. :tup2: I'm sure there will be many homeless folks who will appreciate what you're doing. Take a teenager along, it will teach him some good things - service, charity, unselfishness, compassion. Did something like that with my daughters several years ago and they have never forgotten it.

kate42

11-16-2007, 03:29 AM

:wave:
Jim, didn't you get that recipe from Albert?

Actually, I think Edna gave him that recipe when she came a visiting. Long story. :D I'm not suppose to talk about it. :x:

muskymike

11-16-2007, 07:43 AM

I'm with Musky. But I'm going fishin. :clap1: ;) :goodluck: :tup1: :fish1: :cool:

smhowell

11-16-2007, 08:14 AM

Our family tradition is to try to find a restaurant that is open, then starve until the food joints open up again.

So I will be in the bathroom, tiling, and my dear hubby will probably be laying laminate floor or painting.

I doubt that we will have a refrigerator in the house we are working on by Thanksgiving so snacks will be non-perishable, but maybe this year we will have the foresight to lay in some.

But next year....I hope to have a fully functional kitchen and to borrow a cookbook, and we will spend the pre-Thanksgiving meal bickering, since he's the only one with cooking experience and I'll be trying stuff that sounds exotic and he will resent my presence in the kitchen, messing up his turf. By the time the meal is ready, we will already be stuffed from trying to get things to taste right.

Tool Guy - Kg

11-16-2007, 07:14 PM

Our family tradition is to try to find a restaurant that is open, then starve until the food joints open up again. :lol1: :rofl: :tup2: :lol2:

patti

11-16-2007, 07:55 PM

Like John said....we will be over at my mom's place for the holidays. Five of her six kids and families will be there. At eighty one, it's wonderful that she still not only wants to do it, but can. I use to be the one kid that they would have bake the pies. I started buying Sam's and for sure will do that this year. The boys, Matt and Steve, will only be home for Thursday....since they go to college and work......will not be spending time baking pies. :D

Dave Taylor

11-17-2007, 08:28 AM

Flat said:..... I post this family recipe every year.
Kate said:...... Actually, I think Edna gave him that recipe
Edna times her turkey wif' the smoke alarm.

ddmoit

11-18-2007, 03:53 PM

I did a pre-Thanksgiving test run of Shaughnn's cranberry sauce recipe tonight. Outstanding! :clap1: :tup2:

Shaughnn

11-18-2007, 07:02 PM

Glad you liked it Dan. It's so easy and SOOOOO much better than canned stuff, I can't imagine why more people don't make their own.
Shaughnn

pitterpat

11-19-2007, 01:32 AM

Had my Thanksgiving yesterday since my partner has to work Weds and Thursday night. My partner is a nurse in the Neonatoal ICU unit @ Riley Children's hosp here in Indy. All traditonal stuff w/oyster stuffing.

Everybody say HI when you go through. anybody going to Ohio remember that the State troopers are out in force over there. U can probably get through Indiana with only seeing 1 or 2 the whole time......but in Ohio U see 1-2 troopers per 10 miles.

May work at the kitchen downtown that feeds the homeless on T day. They feed 300-400 free. My church helps sponsor the meal.

Probably going to Columbus, Oh on Saturday afterwards for the family thing....not my favorite. Oh well. :shake:

Have a GREAT Holiday :turkey:

dgunnels

11-19-2007, 10:24 AM

Everyone will be at my place again. The best TG I ever had was just the two of us at Table Rock State Park. (I think I say that every year in this thread.)

Smoked Maple Bourbon Turkey
Smoked Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Uncle Charles' Cornbread Dressing
Garlic-Herbed Peas in a Cream Sauce
Some Other Vegetable (Whatever Marty is bringing.)
Curried Fruit
Homemade Yeast Rolls
Real Cranberry Sauce
Apple Pie with Strusel Topping
Chocolate Wunder Bowl

Momma and Daddy along with brother Whit, frineds Jeff & Marty, Jeff and Janie. The children belonging to the latter Jeff will be joining us. Not looking forward to that. I've known better behaved inmates.

John Bridge

11-19-2007, 10:57 AM

I remember Thanksgivings and Christmases when I was in the army and away from home. There are a lot of young folks out there in various places who won't be with family and friends for the holidays. They will be eating turkey and stuffing, though. The services seem to always manage that. :)

MudMaker

11-20-2007, 07:00 AM

http://www.sgtstrader.org/msg/2006tdm1.html

kate42

11-21-2007, 06:53 PM

http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/cornusmilesf.gif (http://www.millan.net)

Finally decided how to spend Thanksgiving. Going to visit my parents and one of my sisters in the morning and than go to Brooklyn to spend the rest of my day with my son and his family. :)

http://www.millan.net/minimations/toolminis/turkydance3.gif (http://www.millan.net)

Marge

11-21-2007, 07:10 PM

Wiley and I will be sealing a recent trav install and then joining friends for a potluck dinner in the afternoon. Going to try a new appetizer recipe:

Cut the top off a whole pineapple, scoop out the fruit to form a hollow cavity, chop up fruit, insert fruit with pre-cooked jumbo shrimp into pineapple, add thousand island dressing and grand marnier. Should be interesting. :)

kate42

11-21-2007, 07:29 PM

:wave: http://www.millan.net/minimations/toolminis/turkydance3.gif (http://www.millan.net)

Should be interesting.

Verrrrry interesting. Enjoy. :)

Marge

11-21-2007, 07:43 PM

I'm allergic to shellfish...I don't have to eat it! :D

Dave Hessel

11-21-2007, 08:09 PM

We're having Turkey day at Trask's. We'll drink beer and watch wrestling video's of his boy, Rogue. He's a mean little boy. Makes all the kid's cry.

Marge

11-21-2007, 08:12 PM

Dave, it's supposed to get down into the low 70's tomorrow...guess what I'll be wearing? :D

opiethetileman

11-21-2007, 08:21 PM

yeah all you turkey people have fun. It will be a long day for me. Have about 1600 trees to unload and set up in stands. take care all of you.

kate42

11-21-2007, 08:49 PM

Marge :wave: http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/pilgrims2.gif (http://www.millan.net)

I'm allergic to shellfish

I forgot. :o Whatever you have, enjoy. :)

Shaughnn

11-22-2007, 12:03 AM

Bird's in the brine. Cranberries are cooling. Parkerhouse roll dough is on it's second rise. Cornbread's cut and drying for the dressing. Got a two-finger Glenfiddich 15-year next to me in a tumbler.
Yup, everything's on target for tomorrow. :aparty:
Shaughnn

Hamilton

11-22-2007, 12:29 AM

Looking forward to some candied yams, acorn sqaush.... cranberries.
The turkey, mashed taters and turkey gravy. Hmmmm im getting hungry
already. Stuffing, oh stuffing...love gravy on the stuffing too :crazy:
Devil'd eggs, apple pie, BEER...pumpkin pie.... :drool2: The ladies
in the family go off, i cant wait. If i could cook i would, but i know my
place :D

Bugman

11-22-2007, 12:57 AM

Frances and I will be joining Megan, Drew and Jeremy for Thanksgiving dinner with Drew's family. We are looking forward to an extended family celebration.

We kept Jeremy last night so that Drew could take Megan out for dinner for her birthday. We had a ball with Jeremy and he was ready for bed at 8:00 PM. Went straight to bed and we never heard another peep out of him. He should be up around 7:00 this morning.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Dave Hessel

11-22-2007, 09:27 AM

What'll you be wearing Marge, turkey feathers? Rub it in. I'm looking at the frost outside now as I type this.

irish tileguy in michigan

11-22-2007, 09:34 AM

going to the mother-in-laws for dinner with all my wifes family , drink a few beers, and watch some Americian football, and relax.
Shaughnn, thats some good scotch you were drinking,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Shaughnn

11-22-2007, 09:39 AM

Yes it was, Steve. :yummy: I just noticed though that I'm all out of my Glenrothe. Guess that means a trip to the store before dinner? :idea:
Shaughnn

Saldibs

11-22-2007, 09:53 AM

Stay home and stuff my face :yeah:

Dave Taylor

11-22-2007, 10:09 AM

A very happy Thanksgiving Holiday to all of you, my good friends. :sheep:

Marge

11-25-2007, 08:59 AM

We only worked one day this weekend....pretty rare occurrence for us. Took the Polaris Rangers and spent the day riding in Box Canyon yesterday. A gorgeous mountain area South of PHX. A couple pics...me in my most favorite sweatshirt and the Buck Horns we saw. That one guy was a beaut!!!!

irish tileguy in michigan

11-25-2007, 09:06 AM

beautiful country out there Marge,
is that one of Trasks shirts,ill have to send you one of mine

kate42

11-25-2007, 10:08 AM

Marge :wave:

It's good to take a day off and do what you enjoy. :tup2: Last weekend I went to NH and just did a lot of hiking in the woods. I did have to be careful as it's hunting season and I was a moving target. I had to wear a brightly covered vest. Even my sister's dog wears one. :nod:

BTW, I just noticed that you changed your hair style. I like it. :clap1: It looks very nice. :) :)

Marge

11-25-2007, 01:10 PM

Thanks Kathleen, yep the new me. No more haircuts every three weeks. :)

Steve, and I bet I'd get it in a shorter amount of time than it took Trask to get that one to me...but, he did deliver it personally. :D

sandbagger

11-25-2007, 02:13 PM

looks like a good time is being had by all. Penny and left sunny (?) AZ for a couple of weeks in sunny Florida. :D (It's just like AZ with water.)

sorry, no pitchers - my digital camera decided to go on strike. :cry: oh, well, time to get ready to watch another sunset over the Gulf. (we're in St Pete Beach) :fish1: