The Thanksgiving Post-Mortem

[Anonymous]

My mom made the gravy the day before. She made turkey stock last week and froze. Then on Wed she made gravy with the roux etc. On thursday while turkey was resting she reheated and added the drippings. It was very good and we finally had more then enough rather then just depending on what can be made from drippings alone.

[Anonymous]

This was the first time my mom and I were in charge of bring the food (my grandma used to cook everything but she didn't have the energy to do it this year). We got one of the Whole Food meals. Cooking the turkey was a little more work than I expected, although I'm happy the turkey was cleaned and seasoned. We were initially disappointed in the size of the sides (the sweet potatoe casserole and the green bean casserole), however, it turned out to be enough for 6 people. I love left overs, however, we really on had left over turkey and pumpkin pie. We'll probably stick with Whole Foods again for next Thanksgiving.

[Anonymous]

New experience: FIL brought Smithfield ham, and we had no room in the fridge. FIL said not to worry, he put it out on the porch for the night! And last night, too! LOL I came from Southern California; it's never occurred to me that I could put food outside to refrigerate it!

[Anonymous]

To save oven space, I did my "roasted" veggies in foil on the grill. Nom

[Anonymous]

We went to family's house this year. I was only responsible for the pies. After receiving an email from the Washington Humane Society, I decided to buy the pies through their fundraiser for Food and Friends thinking I'm doing a good thing. Picked the pies - pumpkin and cherry - up on Tuesday at designated spot...served yesterday. Literally, the most disgusting things ever eaten (well, technically not eaten). I was so embarrassed. It was a total FAIL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So--what worked this year? What didn't? What did you learn for future holiday meals?

Please, new experiences only (good or bad). If it's something you've been doing for years, this thread would go on for years.

And keep it food-related. Take your family issues to the family and relationships thread, or to Carolyn Hax.

Way too much salt this year on my roasted asparagus. Yuk!!

[Anonymous]

It was our second year doing WF. Last year we did the organic menu, this year the traditional. We thought the traditional was better. We are both good cooks but Thanksgiving food does not inspire me and I get resentful of catering to DH's elderly parents' food tastes. I enjoy Thanksgiving much more when there's so much less work. For the foreseeable future we will continue to do WF.

[Anonymous]

The best thing we did this Thanksgiving was spend it at my sister's house. No one ever turns down a dinner there. She and my other sister (who also cooked) are incredible in the kitchen.

Everything was delicious, clean and creative and the company was wonderful, but the best part was the sweet potato biscuits. Totally trying them this winter and I'm sure it's going to end up on the Thanksgiving table in my family from hereon in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Note to self: don't use foil roasting pan. My husband dumped our turkey on the floor along with the juices for making gravy. It was my first turkey (I was op for first turkey cooking advice), so I was not amused. It was okay in the end once the HUGE mess was cleaned up. But not before I had some choice words and some tears. Perhaps an over-reaction? Marriage is fine again and the rest of the food was great (especially caramelized sweet potatoes in crock pot) so I guess we have a story to laugh about for the next 20 years...

Can you share this recipe, please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Note to self: don't use foil roasting pan. My husband dumped our turkey on the floor along with the juices for making gravy. It was my first turkey (I was op for first turkey cooking advice), so I was not amused. It was okay in the end once the HUGE mess was cleaned up. But not before I had some choice words and some tears. Perhaps an over-reaction? Marriage is fine again and the rest of the food was great (especially caramelized sweet potatoes in crock pot) so I guess we have a story to laugh about for the next 20 years...

Can you share this recipe, please?

It is absurdly easy. I made about 9 potatoes worth, but should not have doubled the topping, that made it just bordering on too sweet. Perhaps 1 1/2 would have been perfect. But I did definitely add plenty of butter!

http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotvegetables/r/bl121c16.htm

[Anonymous]

My mom made the gravy the day before. She made turkey stock last week and froze. Then on Wed she made gravy with the roux etc. On thursday while turkey was resting she reheated and added the drippings. It was very good and we finally had more then enough rather then just depending on what can be made from drippings alone.

This is totally the way to go. No pressure, no gravy fail if the drippings get burned, oversalted, not enough, etc., and there's plenty for everybody.

[Anonymous]

My sister added ribs to her normal menu this year. Yum!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So--what worked this year? What didn't? What did you learn for future holiday meals?

Please, new experiences only (good or bad). If it's something you've been doing for years, this thread would go on for years.

And keep it food-related. Take your family issues to the family and relationships thread, or to Carolyn Hax.

Okaay, Asshole Hall Monitor!

[Anonymous]

I made these for an appetizer -- 45 of them! -- and they were gone VERY quickly. Big hit. So easy.

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/11/skinny-baked-brie-phyllo-cups-with.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nine months pregnant and hyperemetic, here, so it was Carnival of Convenience Food at our house.

What worked:

Costco aluminum chafing pans, $6.99 for 15, I think- no pans to wash!

Costco pre-seasoned half turkey on bed of stuffing. Very moist and tasty. Good flavour on the stuffing.

Costco mashed sweet potatoes- Not too sweet, family demolished the whole thing, really good.

Steamables fresh microwave in the bag white potatoe. Par cooked in the microwave, dumped in a pan of butter, 450F for 20 minutes, fantastastic roasties.

Costco Pumpkin Pie- Nuff said.

Wegmans $7 meat and cheese trays. Great for when you don't want to have pounds of expensive brie making you fat for the next two weeks.

Wegmans apple pie- much nicer than Costco apple pie.


Fail:
Wegmans Green beans in basting sauce- nasty flavored soybean base, will not buy again.

Wegmans fresh homestyle gravy- one dimensional flavor. The gravy packed with the costco turkey was much better.

Costco Au Gratin Brussel Sprouts- More like creamed cabbage, pretty bad aftertaste.

At nine months? You poor thing!