The Thanksgiving Mega Thread

I could really do with a piece of pumpkin pie right now!!!

The real day is almost here! I miss it by two days, but that's ok, sunday is good enough for Thanksgiving!

I did see cranberry in little jars at my tesco, that made me smile!

It's dead easy.  I just did it.  You cut it up, put it in a baking dish with a bit of water in the bottom, bake until soft.  Take off the peel, put in a food processor to puree and then let it drain in a sieve for a bit.  Then you can use it or freeze it.  You can do that with pretty much any squash or yam.

When I did it from fresh pumpkin, I cut it up into pieces and boiled it -- play it by ear for how long.  Baking sounds interesting tho.  I also save all the seeds for roasting with a bit of salt and what you will (also from Jack-o-lanterns)

Can I HIGHLY suggest making your own cranberry sauce? I know some people sincerely do prefer the jellied stuff, but once you try doing your own I'd be willing to bet you won't go back!! My recipe is at home, but I'm happy to give it to anyone who's interested - it's dead easy: basically just cranberries, maple syrup, apple juice, and a few different spices simmered until the cranberries all pop. It's sooo good. The only problem is that it's better if it sits overnight and I can't do my Thanksgiving day shop until payday which, in some irritating twist of fate, is ON Thanksgiving day! 

We're going to Seattle for Thanksgiving and our wedding is the following weekend.  We leave tomorrow morning!!

We're going to Seattle for Thanksgiving and our wedding is the following weekend.  We leave tomorrow morning!!

COOL!!!!  How exciting for you!  Hope you have the best time ever!   

We're going to Seattle for Thanksgiving and our wedding is the following weekend.  We leave tomorrow morning!!

Oh wow!  I'm envious.      Have a WONDERFUL time!

When I did it from fresh pumpkin, I cut it up into pieces and boiled it -- play it by ear for how long.  Baking sounds interesting tho.  I also save all the seeds for roasting with a bit of salt and what you will (also from Jack-o-lanterns)

I think the advantage of baking is you're not adding extra water, as homemade puree tends to be wetter anyway. I just halve the pumpkin, scoop out the innards, and bake it. Then scrape it out of the skin, puree, and dump in a strainer overnight (set it over a bowl in the fridge). That gets it to about the texture of canned.

I got a nice-sized butternut squash today at the market to be my pumpkin substitute. 

Does anyone have a pie recipe that calls for fresh, since I know the ones that mention the canned hardly ever list the spices, too.

Thanks, Jewlz and June!  We're frantically packing (so of course I'm on the internet!) and getting very excited.

I got a nice-sized butternut squash today at the market to be my pumpkin substitute. 

Does anyone have a pie recipe that calls for fresh, since I know the ones that mention the canned hardly ever list the spices, too.

I think it tends to be a combo of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon (all those warming spices). Some ginger and all spice might work well, too.

I think it tends to be a combo of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon (all those warming spices). Some ginger and all spice might work well, too.

I found a website that lists the spices as:

  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

No nutmeg, but I think I'm going to add some in anyway. 

I cooked my squash and got enough flesh out of it to make two pies if I wanted to.  I'm thinking pumpkin muffins, maybe?

I cooked my squash and got enough flesh out of it to make two pies if I wanted to.  I'm thinking pumpkin muffins, maybe?

Or pumpkin bread!! I almost like pumpkin bread more than pie! Yum!!!

Or pumpkin bread!! I almost like pumpkin bread more than pie! Yum!!!

Ooh, me too! I think I have extra pumpkin leftover. Maybe I'll make a bread now...

BTW-- I know here in the US they have something called 'pumpkin pie spice' that can be found in the spice section of any grocery store. Takes the guesswork out of spicing  and smells really lovely

My pie smells sooooo good. Looks funny, as Tim bought me a "Sandwich" pan instead of a pie plate, but I'll just call it "Deep Dish Pumpkin Pie" .

I put the leftover pumpkin in the freezer for now...too many other baking/cooking project to do tonight. 

Half way there...

Pumpkin pie (4)
Banana Bread
Carrot Cake
Orange-Rum Cake
Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze
Chocolate Pound Cake
Stuffing - 3 kinds (Rice & Mushrooms, Regular & Sweet)
Sweet Potatoe Casserole
Macaroni Pie
Potatoes Au Gratin (called Rotten Taters in our family...from back when the kids couldn't say Au Gratin)

Still to make:
Apple Spice Cake
Turkey
Ham
Mash
Green Bean Casserole
Corn
Peas
Brocolli & Carrots
Salad
Bread

Having 31 people in our small flat...wish me luck!