Annual Holiday Food Thread

[redheadbaker]

Starting on my Thanksgiving menu -- I'll be cooking at my mother's b/c my brother can't leave his new dog alone, but can't bring them to my house b/c my dogs will eat him. 

Plus side: bigger kitchen, two ovens.
Down side: my mother can't cook, probably hasn't sharpened her knives ever, doesn't have any "specialty" ingredients (like any kind of vinegar beyond regular and cider vinegars, etc.). 

[BlondeSpiders]

Do you think you mom would appreciate having her knives sharpened, maybe as a gift? Or would you just bring your own knives? I know I would bring my own, as well as all my specialty items.

[mbcdefg]

My mom can’t cook either, but that doesn’t stop her from doing it. Blech.

This cake roll looks really cute and I’m debating if I want to attempt it.



www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/surprise-pumpkin-cake-roll-11644335.amp

[litebright]

I already know that this will be on my list: GFDF corn casserole. I can tolerate some butter but not sour cream, so I use DF sour cream but regular butter. It's so good! Like, so good that I've made it several times during the year just to be able to eat it. And the leftovers heat up really well, too.

rebeccataig.com/gluten-free-corn-casserole-dairy-free/

[pumpkin]

Ha! I was going to post something similar. Basically I’m going to be cooking at my mom’s and she hates to cook so only has super basics.

So I’m here for all the tips, tricks, and ideas. Also, any recipes which can be made ahead of time and reheated or ways to keep things warm all day so I’m not struggling to get it all done and hot at the very end.

[scribellesam]

We’re hosting several families again after taking last year off so I’m excited to cook a full meal. I’ve been reading it may be hard to find large turkeys so we may do one small roasted and one small smoked instead. For the roasted we use Pioneer Woman’s Thanksgiving brine and roast recipes.

I always make this dressing: www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/simple-is-best-dressing-51124210

And this pie is amazing, I’m pretty sure someone here recommended it in a previous year: www.eatliverun.com/chocolate-bourbon-pecan-pie/

[isabel]

We’re having 10 people this year and I’m really looking forward to it!

This thread is timely. DH, MIL, and I have been discussing the menu.

[redheadbaker]

Oct 29, 2021 17:24:45 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

Do you think you mom would appreciate having her knives sharpened, maybe as a gift? Or would you just bring your own knives? I know I would bring my own, as well as all my specialty items.

Oh, I bring my own. I've cooked Thanksgiving at her house before we moved to our current apartment. I bring my own cutting boards, my potato ricer, my microplane grater, my silicone basting brush .... 

[redheadbaker]

Oct 29, 2021 20:03:23 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Ha! I was going to post something similar. Basically I’m going to be cooking at my mom’s and she hates to cook so only has super basics.

So I’m here for all the tips, tricks, and ideas. Also, any recipes which can be made ahead of time and reheated or ways to keep things warm all day so I’m not struggling to get it all done and hot at the very end.

She called me a few weeks ago to ask if I had her immersion blender. 

A) I didn't know that she knew what an immersion blender WAS

B) I have my own! 

[wawa]

YESSSS IT'S TIME!!

we're doing thanksgiving with the IL's this year, which usually means I make dessert and MIL makes everything else unless H wants to get frisky and smoke or fry the turkey. I think pumpkin pie is happening this year because it's a favorite of other shorter attendees. And then....something different maybe? or I just go classic and make cheesecake again because H is a sucker for it. Maybe with some topping options? ohhhh, or I could make some handpies so I can do blueberry for him and apple for me. DECISIONS DECISIONS.

Christmas is going to be at my mom's in philly. small but very usable kitchen, small group, can be totally non-traditional. A few years ago we said fuck it to cooking and had duck in chinatown. could do that again... Or could make a shellfishy feast? mama would be into that. hmmmm. decisions.

Sticky buns and biscuits and gravy for breakfast I think.

[pumpkin]

Oct 29, 2021 20:55:38 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Oct 29, 2021 20:03:23 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Ha! I was going to post something similar. Basically I’m going to be cooking at my mom’s and she hates to cook so only has super basics.

So I’m here for all the tips, tricks, and ideas. Also, any recipes which can be made ahead of time and reheated or ways to keep things warm all day so I’m not struggling to get it all done and hot at the very end.

She called me a few weeks ago to ask if I had her immersion blender. 

A) I didn't know that she knew what an immersion blender WAS

B) I have my own! 

LOL, I bought my mom one a few years ago because I love mine and then she called and asked if I had one. I had to remind her she had her own, though I don’t know if she’s ever used it. 🤦‍♀️

[redheadbaker]

I'll be cooking for 6 adults

@ content

SPOILER: Click to show

DS will eat chicken nuggets and raw carrot sticks or raw bell pepper sticks. He wants nothing to do with Thanksgiving food.

I've got my standby turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce recipes.

I can't make up my mind about vegetables. My mom told me not to "go crazy." I can't seem to narrow it down to less than 4 veggie sides.

My brother will only eat carrots. Plain, steamed carrots. Although I think he'll also eat roasted butternut squash?

H and my mother love brussels sprouts. Everyone else hates them. I want to make an alternate option for a green veggie. Creamed spinach, maybe?

I also want to make those creamy garlic/parmesan mushrooms again.

[Vespasia]

Oct 29, 2021 20:54:26 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Oh, I bring my own. I've cooked Thanksgiving at her house before we moved to our current apartment. I bring my own cutting boards, my potato ricer, my microplane grater, my silicone basting brush .... 

I mean, I do this for non-holiday cooking away from home. Last time we went to my family's cottage I almost brought my Sodastream and moka pot!

We're either going to a friend's for Thanksgiving (always tasty) or staying at my boss's beach house since she can't use it. If the latter, I will also have to bring everything with me.

If we go to our friend's I will probably do my usual blueberry Cabernet cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes casserole.

[mouse]

We’re going to my in-laws. This year, we’ll be outside because BIL and family refuse to get vaccinated. FIL is a picky eater and MIL frets. SIL insists on making my husband’s plate like he’s 4 or something. MIL freaked out one year because I put crispy sage in the mashed potatoes - FIL won’t like it, it’s green. 🙄

I’m allowed to make my cranberry sauce and roasted garlic rosemary sweet potatoes. I also bring wine. I stopped asking permission for that.

My cranberry sauce is a standard recipe (usually from the bag) plus grated fresh ginger, chopped crystallized ginger and dried cherries (they plump up). It’s amaaaaaazing.

Garlic rosemary sweet potatoes: medallion slice the sweet potatoes. In a food processor throw in garlic cloves and fresh rosemary (I usually do about 2 heads and 4-5 sprigs?), half a cup of olive oil and a startling amount of salt. It makes a delightful green slurry. Place the medallions in a baking sheet, pour the slurry over. Roast at 400, 20-40 minutes.

[sugarbear]

Oct 29, 2021 21:18:12 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

I'll be cooking for 6 adults

@ content

SPOILER: Click to show

DS will eat chicken nuggets and raw carrot sticks or raw bell pepper sticks. He wants nothing to do with Thanksgiving food.

I've got my standby turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce recipes.

I can't make up my mind about vegetables. My mom told me not to "go crazy." I can't seem to narrow it down to less than 4 veggie sides.

My brother will only eat carrots. Plain, steamed carrots. Although I think he'll also eat roasted butternut squash?

H and my mother love brussels sprouts. Everyone else hates them. I want to make an alternate option for a green veggie. Creamed spinach, maybe?

I also want to make those creamy garlic/parmesan mushrooms again.

Mushroom recipe please?

[Patsy Baloney]

I’m hosting this year - just my MIL 😂 I’m trying to convince my parents to come for dessert because I always make waaaay too much food.

I’ve already ordered my turkey (it’s from a local Amish farm)
We’ll have - green beans, stuffing, corn casserole, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes, plus pecan, chocolate and apple pies for dessert. I try to do a charcuterie tray and other bits and bobs to munch on while the turkey is cooking.

Oh, and I wanted to share my bread recipe. I always use this recipe with the tangzhong method: www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/golden-pull-apart-butter-buns-recipe

Perfect every time and they’re always requested at larger family gatherings, too.

I’ve taken the whole week off of work to cook. My MIL wants to bring something, but it’s like, lady, sit down. This is my olympics.

[redheadbaker]

Oct 29, 2021 21:29:12 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

Oct 29, 2021 21:18:12 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

I'll be cooking for 6 adults

@ content

SPOILER: Click to show

DS will eat chicken nuggets and raw carrot sticks or raw bell pepper sticks. He wants nothing to do with Thanksgiving food.

I've got my standby turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce recipes.

I can't make up my mind about vegetables. My mom told me not to "go crazy." I can't seem to narrow it down to less than 4 veggie sides.

My brother will only eat carrots. Plain, steamed carrots. Although I think he'll also eat roasted butternut squash?

H and my mother love brussels sprouts. Everyone else hates them. I want to make an alternate option for a green veggie. Creamed spinach, maybe?

I also want to make those creamy garlic/parmesan mushrooms again.

Mushroom recipe please?

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Mushrooms

[al dente]

mbcdefg that cake looks like it has some serious nailed it potential lol. The kiwi, orange, pumpkin flavor combo is also interesting.

My dad is going to be here this year for Thanksgiving! It will be the first time in six? years that we'll have family for it I'm so excited. Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday I love the food and preparing it.

[mbcdefg]

Oct 29, 2021 21:36:37 GMT -5 al dente said:

mbcdefg that cake looks like it has some serious nailed it potential lol. The kiwi, orange, pumpkin flavor combo is also interesting.

I feel like the Orange would work with a vanilla cake. Im not a big pumpkin fan anyway. And I’d leave out the kiwi.

[heygrey]

I made cranberry honey glazed salmon for Canadian Thanksgiving because we were celebrating with friends who are pescatarians. It was delicious and very easy to make! I did a whole fillet, rather than individual pieces.

mommyshomecooking.com/cranberry-honey-glazed-salmon/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=487867984_17323562_214675#recipe

[SwimDeep]

Maybe this is a good place to ask this question...

So I reserved a smoked turkey from a local restaurant because it is my least favorite thing to cook. The restaurant asked if I wanted to pick it up hot or cold. I'm picking it up the day before we're eating it so I said cold, but my H says I should have said hot.

My reasoning was that we'll have to cool it down and refrigerate it anyway so might as well pick it up cold.

His reasoning is that picking it up hot would ensure they had cooked it the day of pickup so it would be guaranteed fresh.

Could someone who knows more about smoking whole turkeys help me understand the process? Because I really feel like this restaurant (very popular local BBQ place that sells out their Thanksgiving/Christmas turkeys every year) is going to smoke a ton of turkeys all at once and then reheat for those customers who want to pick up hot. There's no way they can smoke turkeys to order... right?

[Jalapeñomel]

I think we may order a meal this year, which is kind of a bummer because I love cooking big meals.

But even if we do, I always make homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast and bloody marys. If anyone has a favorite Bloody Mary recipe, I’d love to branch out a bit.

[rubytue]

SwimDeep, I’m 99% sure you are right on that. And it’s not like it won’t be fresh. It’ll still most likely be smoked the day before, hot or cold.

This thread always makes me a bit sad we don’t have local family, and all our friends *do* (or at least local enough). I always want to go all out, and then it’s just me and H, and maybe my one friend. Well, we generally still do the all out thing.

[hermione]

Oct 29, 2021 21:18:12 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

I'll be cooking for 6 adults

@ content

SPOILER: Click to show

DS will eat chicken nuggets and raw carrot sticks or raw bell pepper sticks. He wants nothing to do with Thanksgiving food.

I've got my standby turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce recipes.

I can't make up my mind about vegetables. My mom told me not to "go crazy." I can't seem to narrow it down to less than 4 veggie sides.

My brother will only eat carrots. Plain, steamed carrots. Although I think he'll also eat roasted butternut squash?

H and my mother love brussels sprouts. Everyone else hates them. I want to make an alternate option for a green veggie. Creamed spinach, maybe?

I also want to make those creamy garlic/parmesan mushrooms again.

Tell me about these mushrooms, please. Recipe?

NVM: I see I’m late to this party. Thanks!

[winecat]

SwimDeep- You're correct. They're not smoking to order. They could be reheating the turkeys or they could be holding them in hot boxes/alto shams. I know more BBQ food trucks than restaurants but all of them smoke ahead and reheat or keep in hot boxes. It drove me nuts because it would make the whole fridge smell like smoke. People's obsession with getting prepared foods as "fresh" as possible amuses me. Most prepared/catered/restaurant food is prepared ahead to some degree. It's the only way to serve people quickly or in any volume. I think it's much safer to pick up a cold turkey than worry about getting it cool enough in 4 hours to refrigerate and hot heat up your entire fridge.

[SwimDeep]

Oct 30, 2021 9:53:10 GMT -5 winecat said:

SwimDeep- You're correct. They're not smoking to order. They could be reheating the turkeys or they could be holding them in hot boxes/alto shams. I know more BBQ food trucks than restaurants but all of them smoke ahead and reheat or keep in hot boxes. It drove me nuts because it would make the whole fridge smell like smoke. People's obsession with getting prepared foods as "fresh" as possible amuses me. Most prepared/catered/restaurant food is prepared ahead to some degree. It's the only way to serve people quickly or in any volume. I think it's much safer to pick up a cold turkey than worry about getting it cool enough in 4 hours to refrigerate and hot heat up your entire fridge.

this is exactly what I thought and why I want to pick it up cold. Thank you 😊
Also, rubytue H and I aren't having anyone over and we're not going anywhere either. We've done the holidays this way for years now. We still love going all out even if it's just us. Neither one of us will ever say no to a chance to cook a ton of good, celebratory food 😋

[isabel]

redheadbaker, those garlic parm mushrooms were so good!

[isabel]

SwimDeep and rubytue, the years DH and I would travel before @, we would come home and still make a massive thanksgiving dinner for the two of us. I can eat thanksgiving food for weeks. It’s my favorite.

[isabel]

Ok, I think we’re sticking very closely to our standards:

Two turkeys this year (one earl grey brined, one dry brined, both on the pellet grill)

Sourdough/cornbread stuffing with bacon and leeks

Mashed potatoes (I could skip these, but DH says no)

Fresh green beans with Sherry cream sauce and fried shallots

Collard greens

Cranberry sauce

Gravy

Milk bread rolls with compound butter

No idea about dessert yet. I need to think on that more.

[wildrice]

We are going to be in Cancun with my family over Thanksgiving, which I am really looking forward to in general but I wish wasn't over the holiday! I have no idea if they will do an American Thanksgiving meal on the day - it's a Spanish company so they get a lot of people from Europe/Mexico/South America and not as many American visitors. I am debating whether or not to make a meal for my H and I the weekend after we get back. I want to, but part of the benefit of cooking over a holiday is that you have days off of work. I am not sure I want to spend a ton of my 2 day weekend cooking. Plus I already have something I'm committed to that Saturday night.

If I do cook, I want to do similar to what we did last year - turkey in the smoker, cranberry sauce, my grandma's mashed potatoes, this dressing: www.justalittlebitofbacon.com/my-favorite-sausage-bread-stuffing/, and some kind of veggie - I made those grean beans that isabel mentioned last year, but would be open to something else.

I made these scalloped potatoes at Christmas last year and they are great, so I'll probably make them at Christmas barefootcontessa.com/recipes/potato-fennel-gratin-updated

Assuming I don't switch jobs before then, I have about 11 days off at Christmas so I may just focus on cooking bigger meals then!