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Thanksgiving preparations

Submitted by Joyful Abode on November 25, 2008 – 1:38 pmView Comments
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I haven’t actually done any prep for thanksgiving at all. I haven’t made any lists or schedules or anything! Luckily, last year I did this…  pre-Thanksgiving Preparations. Good stuff!

I’m brining the turkey again (and now I know how I did it last year AND how long it took to cook last year), and making the artichoke heart sun-dried tomato stuffing again.  One of our friends is bringing dessert (turtle bars!!), one is bringing green bean casserole (mmmm), and another is bringing cheesy jalapeno cornbread (uh, YUM).

So here’s my first list…

I’m going to make

  • Turkey – brined (kosher salt, lemon juice, and sugar), injected (with lemon butter),  and then roasted using the Pioneer Woman’s method. Last year we started it at a high temperature, and then lowered the temp. It was great, but I’m sure Pioneer Woman’s low-temp-to-higher-temp method will be good too. Why not? By the way, Butterball’s turkey calculator says we should get an 18-pounder, but Pioneer Woman says to get a 20 pound turkey because she’s going to be posting a LOT of turkey leftover recipes. So… we’re going to try to find one closer to 20 pounds.
  • Gravy – of course
  • Stuffing – Atichoke heart/sun-dried tomato/sourdough stuffing. My mother-in-law’s recipe and VERY tasty.
  • Spinach salad – It’s got eggs and bacon in it, along with a yummy slightly oniony dressing. Mmmm…
  • Roasted potatoes, mostly because I already have a bunch of potatoes. Maybe if the commissary has brussles sprouts, I’ll put them in too for another green thing. Or asparagus.
  • Ranch cheese balls, crackers, and some veggies for football-watching.
  • Warm spiced apple cider

I’m getting really excited! I love cooking and I love having people over. :) This is going to be a fun one.

What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Are you traveling or are travelers coming your way? Who are you spending it with, and of course what are you cooking?

PS I am teaching Zora to blow bubbles in her water with her nose. My dad and step-mom said they didn’t want gifts for Christmas, only our loving company and possibly some entertainment. I think this will be entertaining, don’t you?

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  • Wow, mary and Melissa... those sound like some GOOD meals. Got an extra chair for next year?
  • Melissa
    Wow, we brined our turkey as well, and made broccoli casserole, green bean casserole, brussel sprouts, sausage dressing, mashed potatoes with cheese, sweet potatoes, cranberries and mixed berries, minced meat pie, pumpkin pie and pecan pie. Most of these recipes are handed down from my late mother-in-law, bless her soul. She was from England and we loved having these, plus several other delicious treats, like Christmas Pudding with Brandy Butter, Christmas cookies, caramel squares, shortbread, and oyster stuffing. I didn't make any yorkshire pudding, but I think that I will try your recipe tomorrow. My mother-in-law's was always delicious, but I was afraid to try to make it. Thanks for making me feel like I can give it a try. My husband will be pleasantly suprised tomorrow to come home to that with all the leftovers. Great for the Turkey gravy.
  • Your feast sounds great! I'm roasting my Turkey in the oven, but I don't brine. I make a rub out of olive oil, garlic, basil, and whatever else I feel inclined to include. I put the rub under the skin on the meat, and then just sprinkle the skin with black pepper and salt. Also making gravy, no stuffing (no one here likes stuffing), but green bean casserole, broccoli and spinach casserole, mashed red potatoes with the skins on, pumpkin cheesecake pie, banana pudding (grandma's recipe), and I am going to make a couple batches of beer bread this year instead of roles. In laws are coming down to visit. Only we're doing our dinner on Saturday b/c hubs and mother in law work in the hotel industry and, of course, they don't get holidays off.
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