The Thanksgiving Mega Thread

I've pretty much decided I'm going to buck tradition and try Nigella's Glazed Christmas Ham

DW has made that the last 2 Christmasses....it's delicious....and she just makes it for the 2 of us, we just have plenty of leftovers for sandwiches etc!

2 years ago DW ordered a turkey from the local butcher....it was about £18, I couldn't believe she'd paid that for just 2 of us. A week or 2 before Thanksgiving we were seeing them in the freezer section of local supermarket much cheaper.

Condensed milk - yep, brand name Carnation milk

Pie crusts - I've seen in supermarkets.

We'll be in Vermont though at sister-in-law's! 

Thanksgiving in Vermont.....  that sounds like the perfect picture postcard Thanksgiving.  Take lots of photos!!   

2 years ago DW ordered a turkey from the local butcher....it was about £18, I couldn't believe she'd paid that for just 2 of us. A week or 2 before Thanksgiving we were seeing them in the freezer section of local supermarket much cheaper.

Condensed milk - yep, brand name Carnation milk

Pie crusts - I've seen in supermarkets.

We'll be in Vermont though at sister-in-law's! 

Wonderful!  Thank you!  I think I'm going to start shopping now to alleviate the freak out before the dinner!  Enjoy the holiday!

I get my turkey from my local butcher, just down the street - order it about a week ahead of time.  Well what I order & get is a whole, butterflied boneless turkey breast (it's always huge!)...and put little herb/butter balls down the middle of it, plus wrapping in bacon.  The brining thing doesn't appeal to me at all.

And yes - I want the maple pecan square recipe too!

I thought brining sounded VERY weird as well.  Last year I did a lot of research and brining sounded like the way to go if you wanted a moist turkey without a lot of guess work on cooking methods.  I hate dry white turkey meat.  I bought a pre-brined turkey from Trader Joe's last year (oh do I miss my Trader Joe's) and it was delicious!  The meat practically fell off the bone.  Guess I'll have to have an adventure in brining my own turkey this year. 

... I don't think you'll find anywhere that brines, but I don't brine anyway (and no my turkey isn't dry, bacon people bacon!)

I've never brined my turkey, or used bacon on it.  I just butter it up and put it in one of those oven bags.  I'm pretty sure I've seen those in shops there.  Can anyone back me up on that?  If not, I'll have to bring some along.

I'm a briner, it's how I defrost my turkey.    This year, I'll probably get my turkey from Mrs. R's butcher, but I'll still brine it because I'm all about tradition!  Brine is best according to Alton Brown. 

I'm planning on trying to cook turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean, and of course pies.  I have some Canadian friends coming over, and my partner met some Americans that might join us.  We'll see how it goes!

My daughter sent me a Pillsbury Thanksgiving recipe book and there's a few recipes that look especially delicious.  I thought I'd share.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes & Apples
4 large sweet potatoes
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3 medium apples, peeled & chopped (about 4 cups)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

>  Heat oven to 375*.  Line cookie sheet with foil.  Pierce sweet potatoes with fork; place on cookie sheet.  Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 15mins or until tender when pierced with fork.  Let stand 15 mins or until cool enough to handle.
>  Meanwhile, in 10 inch nonstick skillet, melt 2 Tablespoons of the butter over medium heat.  Cook apples, cinnamon and sugar in butter 5 to 7 mins, stirring frequently, until apples are tender.
>  Spray 13x9 inch (3 quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.  Slip off sweet potato skins; place potatoes in large bowl.  Add salt, pepper and remaining 6 Tablespoons butter; mash until no lumps remain.  Add apple mixture; mix well.  Spread in baking dish.
>  Cover with foil; bake 25 to 30 mins or until center is hot.

And another.  :-)

Baked Butternut Squash with Apples
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 5 cups)
2-3 large apples, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
1/4 cup real maple or maple-flavored syrup
1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

>  Heat oven to 375*.  Place butter in 13x9-inch (3 quart) baking dish; heat in oven 5-7 mins or until melted.
>  Stir cinnamon and nutmeg into melted butter.  Add squash; toss to coat.  Cover with foil, bake 20 mins.  Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix apples, syrup and vinegar.
>  Pour apple mixture over squash.  Cover; bake 10 mins.  Stir; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until squash is tender.  Before serving, stir and sprinkle with pecans.

I am so excited for Thanksgiving this year! Not only will I be back home with my hubby finally, but this will be his first Thanksgiving and my first year cooking!!  We are going to have dinner at his parents as our flat is to small to have people over...we don't even have a kitchen table! lol I plan on making

Turkey (of course!) Not sure how I want to make it since I've never cooked one before!
Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Corn
Stuffing (I am taking over Stove Top, not only is it easier to make but tastes better to any stuffing I have had in England in the past, imo!)
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Sweet Potato Casserole
Cranberry Sauce
Rolls w/ Pumpkin Butter(if I can find a recipe)
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie

Haven't quite figured out drinks yet

Ooops, I've gone and done it... Stuffing around 20 people into my flat the weekend before T-Day and having a feast  - Its definitely beyond bursting point, its not that big of place!  But hey that's what T-day is all about, food (and booze!) and lots of people and laughs and guitar hero and trival pursuit

Still gotta work out my full menu- but when I figure it out, I'll post it 

Rolls w/ Pumpkin Butter(if I can find a recipe)

Jewlz sent my this link for pumpkin spiced latte and you need pumpkin butter so here is the link for the butter ;-) http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/10/pumpkin-butter.html
The lattee too in case you want coffee after dinner http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/10/skinny-pumpkin-spiced-latte.html

Ooops, I've gone and done it... Stuffing around 20 people into my flat the weekend before T-Day and having a feast  - Its definitely beyond bursting point, its not that big of place!  But hey that's what T-day is all about, food (and booze!) and lots of people and laughs and guitar hero and trival pursuit

Still gotta work out my full menu- but when I figure it out, I'll post it 

That sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving.  Especially the Trivial Pursuit & Guitar Hero.

Jewlz sent my this link for pumpkin spiced latte and you need pumpkin butter so here is the link for the butter ;-) http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/10/pumpkin-butter.html
The lattee too in case you want coffee after dinner http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/10/skinny-pumpkin-spiced-latte.html

Thank you so much!! Pumpkin Spiced Lattes are perfect! And I'm sure most of his family hasn't had one before. I had to introduce my Mother In Law and her Sister to Starbucks when I was over last!