THE REAL Thanksgiving Food Thread 2021

[Anonymous]

I think I cross the threshold for low class and trashy per DCum, but I loved canned cranberry (and how it's a long blob that falls out of the can) and purposely slice it (cutting it, too, is satisfying) next to the mashed potatoes on my plate so that there's a happy harmony of subtle mixing.

Anyone else have secret indulgences (that may or may not be low class or gross to others)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Should I try a smoked turkey this year? Just saw they're offering that at the farm where I'm ordering. I've never had one. Will it just taste like lunchmeat?

Which farm? I love smoked turkey and really don't want to roast or smoke one this year. I guess it's a bit like luncmeat, but a totally different texture.

Sho Nuf Farm in Laurel MD

[Anonymous]

Does a smoked turkey feel festive? It like a lump of deli meat on the table? Does it taste sort Of like ham?

[Anonymous]

*or like

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I cross the threshold for low class and trashy per DCum, but I loved canned cranberry (and how it's a long blob that falls out of the can) and purposely slice it (cutting it, too, is satisfying) next to the mashed potatoes on my plate so that there's a happy harmony of subtle mixing.

Anyone else have secret indulgences (that may or may not be low class or gross to others)?

My husband loves this too. I can pretty much do anything else I want wrt Thanksgiving and he’ll enjoy it, but the can of “cranberry gel” (none of that whole berry stuff) has got to be there, lol!

[Anonymous]

I think traditional Thanksgiving is one of the most boring meals I’ve eaten. Multiple desserts is its only saving grace, but most pies aren’t very good, so to get those multiple desserts, I have to do it myself (while making a dinner that also requires use of the oven).

So I started doing Thanksgiving by using traditional flavors/ingredients, but recipes from other cuisines. Indian (tandoori turkey) and Mexican (turkey molé) were big hits. Might do Italian this year (porchetta-style turkey), but am giving our out-of-town relatives the deciding vote. Small year (5 total/1 vegetarian) which complicates things — as does no dinner out the night before or day after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am bringing Thanksgiving dinner to my elderly mom’s house this weekend - about 10 of us. She lives 35 minutes away, and I should be there at least an hour before we eat. What to do with the darn turkey? Fully cook at home and reheat? Spatchcock it and go earlier than I’d like and cook there? Can I bring it up to 140degrees or so and then wrap it up for the drive and then finish cooking there? What would you do?

Finish it completely at your house. The turkey needs thirty minutes to rest anyways. The other thing you could do is go cook at your moms house.

My brother hosts at my elderly grandma's house each year. She has a big open house still, but no longer cooks. He gets up and spends the morning cooking at her house. Prepping a little at his house the days before. It's easier than hauling everything cooked, and it's one of their annual bonding times. She drinks her tea and gives out suggestions (she hosted for over 40 years). Sometimes they bicker a bit, but both enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Foreigner here who has no emotional attachment to any traditional Thanksgiving food but loves the gratitude concept of this special day.

Etiquette question:
If we invite Americans for Thanksgiving, would it be disappointing-to-offensive (pick a level) to serve a different menu? Would they need advance warning?

Menu question:
And if we did serve a non-traditional menu, what substitutions that would be more acceptable than others?

It's as offensive as a Christian serving a Seder and not serving the typical foods.

+1

I am glad you like the idea of giving thanks, but it really is a special US holiday. I have hosted foreigners but would not want to go to your house for a lovely meal that does not reflect our traditions on this particular holiday.

Holy xenophobia. Thanksgiving is literally about IMMIGRANT colonizers and gratitude. And there are a bazillion threads in this forum about white people who “don’t like turkey so we’re doing Chinese this year”. If you want to cook a lovely meal and invite people that is what Thanksgiving is. Yes, let people know it won’t be turkey because you are GIVING THANKS in a way you know best to do it and they will be touched by the gesture.
I love my Thanksgiving favorites, and dh’s family does it totally differently. So I make a few dishes if my own w a turkey breast and enjoy leftover week at home. It will be totally fine, pp.

^This. This is not remotely comparable to messing with a Seder menu, which has religious meaning. Americans don’t all eat the same foods for Thanksgiving! Read this thread. Some families have mashed potatoes, some have sweet potatoes, some have both, some have neither. Some families think it’s not Thanksgiving without dinner rolls or creamed onions or pumpkin pie, and other families never serve those things. There are American families who eat ham or lasagne or enchiladas on Thanksgiving. People who have a narrow vision of Thanksgiving will decline your invitation, but other people might always remember fondly their non traditional Thanksgiving with friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am bringing Thanksgiving dinner to my elderly mom’s house this weekend - about 10 of us. She lives 35 minutes away, and I should be there at least an hour before we eat. What to do with the darn turkey? Fully cook at home and reheat? Spatchcock it and go earlier than I’d like and cook there? Can I bring it up to 140degrees or so and then wrap it up for the drive and then finish cooking there? What would you do?

Finish it completely at your house. The turkey needs thirty minutes to rest anyways. The other thing you could do is go cook at your moms house.

My brother hosts at my elderly grandma's house each year. She has a big open house still, but no longer cooks. He gets up and spends the morning cooking at her house. Prepping a little at his house the days before. It's easier than hauling everything cooked, and it's one of their annual bonding times. She drinks her tea and gives out suggestions (she hosted for over 40 years). Sometimes they bicker a bit, but both enjoy it.

I love this! Your family sounds like lovely people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Foreigner here who has no emotional attachment to any traditional Thanksgiving food but loves the gratitude concept of this special day.

Etiquette question:
If we invite Americans for Thanksgiving, would it be disappointing-to-offensive (pick a level) to serve a different menu? Would they need advance warning?

Menu question:
And if we did serve a non-traditional menu, what substitutions that would be more acceptable than others?

It's as offensive as a Christian serving a Seder and not serving the typical foods.

Your ignorance is astonishing.

First off, Thanksgiving is a *secular* holiday and can be celebrated by absolutely anyone, anywhere, and at any time. A day of giving thanks: I certainly hope that has universal appeal. Stop trying to insert religion into a SECULAR holiday.

Secondly, while there may have been a scraggly-arse turkey or two at the first Thanksgiving, no you are not serving "traditional" foods at your house, unless you're also serving like venison and uncooked corn, dumbazz. You think they had Libby's freeze-dried onions on a Campbell's green bean casserole, or marshmallows on top of yams, or even mashed poatatoes with cream and butter? GTFO.

Finally, unless you are an actual Native American, you need to take several seats in yammering about the sanctity of "your" holiday, with your Irish-German or whatever ancestry. You suck.

All are welcome and all cosines are welcome on Thanksgiving, in my book. If my Indian neighbors invited me over and wanted to serve a different menu, I'd be honored to attend and to partake of delicious food. And then another time, I would invite them to a Friendsgiving meal at my house, and pass around my favorite dishes to share.

[Anonymous]

^^all cuisines are welcome

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I cross the threshold for low class and trashy per DCum, but I loved canned cranberry (and how it's a long blob that falls out of the can) and purposely slice it (cutting it, too, is satisfying) next to the mashed potatoes on my plate so that there's a happy harmony of subtle mixing.

Anyone else have secret indulgences (that may or may not be low class or gross to others)?

I love the green bean casserole with canned green beans, canned soup, and fried onions on top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Foreigner here who has no emotional attachment to any traditional Thanksgiving food but loves the gratitude concept of this special day.

Etiquette question:
If we invite Americans for Thanksgiving, would it be disappointing-to-offensive (pick a level) to serve a different menu? Would they need advance warning?

Menu question:
And if we did serve a non-traditional menu, what substitutions that would be more acceptable than others?

Yes, I’d give your guests a heads up that you are not serving traditional Thanksgiving food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Foreigner here who has no emotional attachment to any traditional Thanksgiving food but loves the gratitude concept of this special day.

Etiquette question:
If we invite Americans for Thanksgiving, would it be disappointing-to-offensive (pick a level) to serve a different menu? Would they need advance warning?

Menu question:
And if we did serve a non-traditional menu, what substitutions that would be more acceptable than others?

It's as offensive as a Christian serving a Seder and not serving the typical foods.

+1

I am glad you like the idea of giving thanks, but it really is a special US holiday. I have hosted foreigners but would not want to go to your house for a lovely meal that does not reflect our traditions on this particular holiday.

Holy xenophobia. Thanksgiving is literally about IMMIGRANT colonizers and gratitude. And there are a bazillion threads in this forum about white people who “don’t like turkey so we’re doing Chinese this year”. If you want to cook a lovely meal and invite people that is what Thanksgiving is. Yes, let people know it won’t be turkey because you are GIVING THANKS in a way you know best to do it and they will be touched by the gesture.
I love my Thanksgiving favorites, and dh’s family does it totally differently. So I make a few dishes if my own w a turkey breast and enjoy leftover week at home. It will be totally fine, pp.

^This. This is not remotely comparable to messing with a Seder menu, which has religious meaning. Americans don’t all eat the same foods for Thanksgiving! Read this thread. Some families have mashed potatoes, some have sweet potatoes, some have both, some have neither. Some families think it’s not Thanksgiving without dinner rolls or creamed onions or pumpkin pie, and other families never serve those things. There are American families who eat ham or lasagne or enchiladas on Thanksgiving. People who have a narrow vision of Thanksgiving will decline your invitation, but other people might always remember fondly their non traditional Thanksgiving with friends.

+2. If you invite people, just let them know you'll be serving a non-traditional menu. If they really decline because of that reason, know that they are not people you want to be around anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vegan side/main suggestions? We have two vegan guests coming. Thanks!

https://minimalistbaker.com/104-easy-vegan-thanksgiving-recipes/