I can't decide what to make for dessert. I have a huge project at work right now and I only just planned my Thanksgiving menu yesterday. I'm not a big fan of pies, with the exception of pumpkin, and I'm not really feeling in the mood for pumpkin pie. H will eat anything.
I'm making a cheesecake with pecan caramel topping. I love pie, but I felt like veering from traditional, and DH is willing to go along with a change of dessert.
Post by notsopicky on Nov 23, 2020 12:11:47 GMT -5
I am making a pecan pie. OK, that makes it sound like that's all we're having, lol. The exciting thing is that one of his direct reports gave him fresh pecans from their family's tree, so that will be new. I'm making pumpkin pie too, it's my favorite.
I bought 2 turkeys. For 3 people (FTR, they are small). Why? One for H to experiment with, and one to actually eat (he wants to slather the damn thing w/ buffalo sauce--OMG, WTF?). Imagine me trying to explain that to my team at a Zoom meeting this morning.
I'm making mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole (ICK, but it's a must-have for H), broccoli salad (broc, pecans, red onion, bacon, w/ a light mayo-based dressing), I bought brussels sprouts, might cook those, cranberry sauce IN THE CAN, and pie for dessert. Oh, and Hawaiian rolls, b/c yummy.
I am making a pecan pie. OK, that makes it sound like that's all we're having, lol. The exciting thing is that one of his direct reports gave him fresh pecans from their family's tree, so that will be new. I'm making pumpkin pie too, it's my favorite.
I bought 2 turkeys. For 3 people (FTR, they are small). Why? One for H to experiment with, and one to actually eat (he wants to slather the damn thing w/ buffalo sauce--OMG, WTF?). Imagine me trying to explain that to my team at a Zoom meeting this morning.
I'm making mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole (ICK, but it's a must-have for H), broccoli salad (broc, pecans, red onion, bacon, w/ a light mayo-based dressing), I bought brussels sprouts, might cook those, cranberry sauce IN THE CAN, and pie for dessert. Oh, and Hawaiian rolls, b/c yummy.
I'm hoping to have leftovers for days.
If he’s willing to try something other than buffalo sauce, one year I followed a tip from these boards where I puréed a whole package of bacon in the food processor and slathered it on the turkey and under the skin. It reminded me a bit of soy sauce.
Post by notsopicky on Nov 23, 2020 13:50:44 GMT -5
mbcdefg, is that b/c it was salty? I think he's pretty much married to the buffalo sauce idea by this point (OMG). I certainly didn't help matters by indulging him (buying the 2nd turkey).
mbcdefg, is that b/c it was salty? I think he's pretty much married to the buffalo sauce idea by this point (OMG). I certainly didn't help matters by indulging him (buying the 2nd turkey).
I was just offering a suggestion if he wants to try something “wacky” where I could vouch that the end result is good.
It probably won’t be bad with buffalo sauce - that’s just a lot of buffalo-flavored meat! I like buffalo chicken a lot but in small doses.
MH wants pumpkin pie. I don’t really care for it (ducks) but I’ll make it for him, and probably a chocolate cream pie for myself. I’ve made pumpkin pie before but only from a can.
We have a couple big Halloween pumpkins leftover. Anyone have an easy recipe using real pumpkin?
Jack-o-lantern pumpkins aren't usually good for making pies. You usually need sugar/pie pumpkins. If you have a small farm near you, they usually love pumpkins to feed to their livestock.
redheadbaker - so, I tried to make your cranberry cocktail and accidentally made cranberry sauce instead of cranberry simple syrup. 😂
Tips on not doing this again when I try again on Thanksgiving?
LOL! Sounds like you might have cooked it too long?
This might easier:
Bring the water/sugar to a boil, then turn off the heat.
Use fresh cranberries instead of frozen, and mash them once or twice with a potato masher. Add the mashed cranberries to the boiled sugar water, then let the mixture sit until the syrup has cooled to room temperature. Strain out the mashed cranberries. Transfer the syrup to a storage container.
MH wants pumpkin pie. I don’t really care for it (ducks) but I’ll make it for him, and probably a chocolate cream pie for myself. I’ve made pumpkin pie before but only from a can.
We have a couple big Halloween pumpkins leftover. Anyone have an easy recipe using real pumpkin?
Jack-o-lantern pumpkins aren't usually good for making pies. You usually need sugar/pie pumpkins. If you have a small farm near you, they usually love pumpkins to feed to their livestock.
Thanks! I don’t care for pumpkin pie so when MH said to use our Halloween pumpkins I just took his word for it. I’m glad I checked here first! I’ll get a can of pumpkin when I go get the potatoes today/tomorrow.
Jack-o-lantern pumpkins aren't usually good for making pies. You usually need sugar/pie pumpkins. If you have a small farm near you, they usually love pumpkins to feed to their livestock.
Thanks! I don’t care for pumpkin pie so when MH said to use our Halloween pumpkins I just took his word for it. I’m glad I checked here first! I’ll get a can of pumpkin when I go get the potatoes today/tomorrow.
I've tried it. The pumpkin is harder to get as smooth since it's such a fibrous pumpkin and it's not as pumpkiny tasting. I made it into a pie but it wasn't as good as canned pumpkin. I've also tried making it from sugar pumpkins and the ROI of my time wasn't worth any gain in flavor.
redheadbaker - so, I tried to make your cranberry cocktail and accidentally made cranberry sauce instead of cranberry simple syrup. 😂
Tips on not doing this again when I try again on Thanksgiving?
LOL! Sounds like you might have cooked it too long?
This might easier:
Bring the water/sugar to a boil, then turn off the heat.
Use fresh cranberries instead of frozen, and mash them once or twice with a potato masher. Add the mashed cranberries to the boiled sugar water, then let the mixture sit until the syrup has cooled to room temperature. Strain out the mashed cranberries. Transfer the syrup to a storage container.
Thanks! I don’t care for pumpkin pie so when MH said to use our Halloween pumpkins I just took his word for it. I’m glad I checked here first! I’ll get a can of pumpkin when I go get the potatoes today/tomorrow.
I've tried it. The pumpkin is harder to get as smooth since it's such a fibrous pumpkin and it's not as pumpkiny tasting. I made it into a pie but it wasn't as good as canned pumpkin. I've also tried making it from sugar pumpkins and the ROI of my time wasn't worth any gain in flavor.
I grabbed a can at the store a little while ago. Thanks for the heads up! I would’ve been super pissed if I’d gone to the trouble of doing it from scratch with Halloween pumpkins and they didn’t work out.
In lieu of pecan pie, I am making pecan pie bars. There are a lot of recipes out there. Pecan pie is DH's favorite but we're already having apple pie and french silk choc pie; we don't need a third pie for 6 people. Since I'm making the bars and it makes a huge amount, I am sharing with a neighbor that doesn't bake. I think I'm going to use this recipe. DH likes the pecans to be on top of the filing vs all mixed in, if that makes since. I'll follow the first review and use half brown/half white sugar.
Me! Today is turkey brining day, and I'll probably make the cranberry sauce too. Tomorrow is pie baking. This year we're having pecan, chocolate meringue, and cherry.
Thanksgiving cooking is so much fun. I always put on music and have a kitchen dance party while I cook.
I started yesterday. I made a caramel brownie cheesecake. I'll make the gravy today and saute the veggies for the stuffing, and brine the turkey. I'll probably make the potato rolls tomorrow.
Alps79, I roasted my green chiles on Saturday and I'll start brining the turkey when I pick it up today. My husband also wants to make the pie today (pumpkin praline). I think I'll bake the potatoes for the twice-baked potatoes tomorrow and get those ready to just throw in the oven on Thursday.
I did a dry brine on my turkey breast last night. I’ll air-dry it Wednesday night into Thursday to crisp the skin. I got a fresh turkey breast from a poultry farm as a “treat” for this crummy year so fingers crossed it’ll be worth it!
Post by litebright on Nov 24, 2020 10:19:54 GMT -5
We couldn't decide between smoked turkey and roasted turkey. Actually, everybody else wanted smoked but I refuse to not have roasted turkey, so I bought two medium-sized turkeys, lol. For four people! I don't even care, this year I'm doing what I want.
Luckily DH is game, because he'll be handling both of them. He started brining last night. We'll freeze the excess meat in batches, and DH is also planning on making stock from the roasted turkey carcass.
I started yesterday. I made a caramel brownie cheesecake. I'll make the gravy today and saute the veggies for the stuffing, and bring the turkey. I'll probably make the potato rolls tomorrow.
Do you have a recipe for the cheesecake? I'm tasked with a dessert and have no idea what to make (already have pumpkin pie and the group doesn't like pecan).
I am going to make cranberry sauce today so if I mess it up I can buy a can. I'll also be prepping the veggies and bread for the dressing. Tomorrow I make the brine (then H takes the turkey duties from there) and I will make the pies. Thursday I'll assemble and bake the dressing, make the mashed potatoes and the green bean casserole. I am making the Campbell's version and probably just half the regular size. Maybe next year I'll try it from scratch but I can only handle a couple new things per year.
I'm trying to decide if I want to get another bottle of wine. I'll probably be the only person drinking wine (H prefers beer) and I'll have about a half bottle of white wine left over from what I need in recipes. I bought a bubbly red last week for MIL's birthday and I really liked it.
Post by underwaterrhymes on Nov 24, 2020 11:03:56 GMT -5
redheadbaker - I am making your cider brined turkey. Is it okay if I brine tomorrow from like 9 AM - 10 PM and then let it sit in the fridge uncovered overnight into Thursday? We don’t pick up the turkey until tomorrow and I just now noticed the timeline is two days.
Post by picksthemusic on Nov 24, 2020 11:05:06 GMT -5
I started the turkey on a dry brine last night, and steeped the neck/gizzards with herbs when I cleaned out the turkey. DH chopped veggies, and today is my day to make pie crusts, make the wild rice, and DH already made the cranberry relish on Sunday. He will be prepping the stuffing tonight, too. We are really not wanting to be in the kitchen all day on Thursday so we can chill, watch movies, and hang out.