The Thanksgiving Mega Thread

Hmmmmm.... I don't know.  I would assume that you could.... it might give it a more crunchy texture since I don't know if the croutons would completely soften....

You could always try a little tester batch.... Pre-Thanksgiving Warm-Up!

Delicious magazine has a link for Thanksgiving meals in London

And Democrats Abroad is apparently hosting a Thanksgiving leftover meal in Edinburgh

Some of the people use frozen corn (which I figured you were doing) and if you do that, I'd definitely use the cornmeal (polenta).

I'm throwing in the towel for my fried onions! BOOO!!! I'll have my mom send me some and I'll have it for Christmas. Now I'm looking for a new casserole, cos I have to have a casserole on Thanksgiving! Any suggestions?

I'm using Onion Salad Crispies from Sainsbury's. They look similar enough, so I figured I'd go with them.

I'm using Onion Salad Crispies from Sainsbury's. They look similar enough, so I figured I'd go with them.

Yes, they work. That's what I used when I was in England. Unfortunately, they don't sell them in Ireland.

newyork newyork  http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/SIMPLE-ROAST-TURKEY-WITH-RICH-TURKEY-GRAVY-236409
that is pretty much how I make my gravy... only I probably do not defat it as much as they say here... also I make the stock using the neck bone etc... if that grosses you out you could always buy stock or use chicken stock.  Or buy  a turkey leg or something. 

I'm boiling a couple of turkey legs to make the stock, then (per my mother) I'll pour the juices from the turkey pieces I've roasted into the stock to help make it darker and to add more flavor.

I actually found cornmeal last night!!!!


I'm a bit nervous about making pie on top of everything else since I've never done the whole Thanksgiving dinner before... so now I'm on the search to find pre-made pumpkin pies... I know you're out there....

I actually found cornmeal last night!!!!


I'm a bit nervous about making pie on top of everything else since I've never done the whole Thanksgiving dinner before... so now I'm on the search to find pre-made pumpkin pies... I know you're out there....

Good luck with the search. I've never done any of a thanksgiving dinner before, so I kind of figured the more dishes I have, they are sort of like backups for each other. If one thing goes wrong, at least there will be other food to eat. I do not, however, have a backup for dessert. I'm going to need to think about this!

Good luck with the search. I've never done any of a thanksgiving dinner before, so I kind of figured the more dishes I have, they are sort of like backups for each other. If one thing goes wrong, at least there will be other food to eat. I do not, however, have a backup for dessert. I'm going to need to think about this!

Thanks. I searched high and low online and came up with.... nothing.  We have a Waitrose about 6 miles away that does canned pumpkin puree if I decide I do want to make it.  However, I'm strongly thinking now that I'll just go with something pre-made at Tesco, and give up on my pumpkin pie search.  I'm having all the other staple Turkey Day items, so I figure it's ok to cut a corner on dessert, since I'm sure it'll be good no matter what.

If you do need a back-up though and do have a Waitrose around you... their online entertaining grocery section with desserts... oh some of those look HEAVENLY!!!

JessicaKate - We don't have a Waitrose near us, so I'm having to make my own pumpkin purree from an actual pumpkin. I'm a little freaked by this!

Anyway, this is the recipe that I found and would've been perfect if I'd found canned in time - I now know you can order it online, but I've already committed to the fresh...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/No-Bake-Pumpkin-Pie-I/Detail.aspx

I couldn't find a pie crust here, so I had my mom send me graham crackers and I'll make my own. But if you've got a bigger selection in your local store, it might work for you.

I'm going to take a look at Sainsbury's today and see what they've got. It's a small one, and I've never been impressed by their dessert selections. My parents use to make some sort of chocolate pie... I wonder what those ingredients were? We're not having it till Saturday, so I've got a few more days.

Hokie- Yes, my hubby was going to make the puree from the pumpkin too, however with so much pressure from making everything else I just don't know if I can handle it! We're waiting til Saturday too, and I know I could make the pie on Friday and refridgerate it until Saturday... we'll have to see.

What about making a trifle?  My SIL has bought the frozen cheesecakes from Tesco before, they're pretty good.

I just realized you're from Leicester!  You've got a Makro!  I don't remember what their dessert selection was like but if you have a membership it's worth a shot.  I've been once and was sooo happy when I saw they stocked Sam Adams, and for a pretty reasonable price too!  I've got to get back there soon...

JessicaKate - We're not very close to a Tesco (no car), and I hate to pay for the bus to get somewhere only to find they don't have what I want. I've never heard of Makro (only been here since March). We did get frozen cheesecakes from Sainsbury's for a cookout we went to over the summer.  I'm definitely going to make mine on Friday. I'm working on a schedule right now so I know when I need to start each thing and where I'll put them when I'm done. The timing is going to be the hardest for me, with a little fridge that's more stressful to me than messing up the recipes.

Hokie- Good call with the schedule!!!!  Hadn't even thought of that... definitely something I need to sit down and do.  Our oven is fairly tiny and fitting the bird and casserole in there at the same time might be my biggest challenge.


Makro is similar to BJ's/ Sam's Club/ Costco, etc.  Here's a link...

http://www.makro.co.uk/servlet/PB/menu/1049551_l2/index.html

Whole Foods in Kensington, London had a ton of pre-made pumpkin pies last night and the fixings to make your own evap milk, libby pumpkin too.  But, this won't help you up in Worcestershire.  Apple pies are often on my family's table in the States too and I would think that pre-made apple pies would be in your local grocery stores.

This is my first year since marrying a Brit too and am finding newcomers comments through this thread useful.  I wonder if us newcomers will ever put the whole sha-bang of Thanksgiving dinner on again or are just acting like this since it's our first.  It will certainly be a lot easier the next year with all we are learning. My mother-in-law said she was looking forward to learning the tradition so that was nice to hear.  My brothers-in-law will take any excuse to eat so they'll probably invite themselves year after year. So, I may be stuck as hostess if I don't watch it.

jean6 - Apple pie! That'll be my backup. We got a decent one over the summer. With a scoop of ice cream on the side, it'll be perfectly American   Well, this will be my first and last Thanksgiving in England. We're moving to my hometown in Virginia next summer, so we'll be heading to the parent's house next year (THANK GOODNESS!). I think this will be a great experience for us, however, no matter how it turns out. But I think if you can survive the first, after that they'll be  a piece of cake, right?!