Anyone else notice that Thanksgiving is barely two weeks away?

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desertjean

Well-known member
Holy crud. Top it off, we were supposed to go out of town but plans changed and now I have to plan dinner.

So other than the usual suspects of Turkey, stuffing (made with longanisa sausage) and Richards potatoes, what is new this year?

 
I can hardly deal with it being November....

and Thanksgiving means that I have another birthday...when does THAT end? (don't tell me)
No plans yet, but if it's with my folks, it will be at a restaurant. Not that they don't like my cooking, but they aren't keen on their kitchen being taken over.
I will need to cook some bird at home, if that's what happens, since remainders is what I really like about the meal.

 
Judy, as long as you keep having birthdays and fun between them......rejoice in each one and

celebrate to the max.

 
I'm having fun...

just not crazy about the age creep.
You are so correct-getting older beats the alternative. I am grateful for each day I'm still able to enjoy.

 
Looks like its out all together.

Hubby is working Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, 7 to 7. The man-child is working Friday and Saturday. On the upside, I will have plenty of time to myself smileys/smile.gif

I'll contact the local food pantry and see what they have planned for the holiday. I read that they would be needing drivers to deliver to shut ins and I suddenly have plenty of free time...

 
Are you kidding me?!? I have to get moving. Good thing I'm responsible for only 1/2 the dinner. smileys/wink.gif

 
Well the menu planning has been fast and furious with my family, is it wrong to have 8 side dishes??

I mean really, we'll either serve teaspoonful size helpings of everything or have to buy bigger plates!

So, trying something new this year, my mom is NOT ordering a fresh turkey, but a froz. butterball and she's going to brine it. The last time we has a frozen turkey the breast meat, although moist, shredded weirdly. eh.

The brine and roasting will be using Cooks Illustrated method, the new bible in my family. It will be fun to go up and visit the parental units in a few weeks! I like visiting there, besides the great food and mUm it's so pretty in the low hills of Calif. gold country that time of year, unlike foggy dreary San Francisco.

So here is our list of side dishes, it didn't sound like anything outside the norm really but 8!!!

* Mashed potatoes

* gallons of giblet gravy (we can never make enough)

* Granny's stuffing (with the exciting addition of chestnuts this year!), a bread stuffing with ground pork, apples, onions, celery, golden raisins, whole allspice, marjoram and sage

* Sweet potato casserole with orange sauce

* home made and jellied cranberry sauces

* orange tea garden molded salads (individual)

* Granny's German cabbage (it's one of those traditions, the house doesn't feel right without that funny cabbagey smell although we as kids hated it so much, now it's okay!)

* Green veggie from my produce box (I won't know what is available until the Friday before) - last year I made sauteed greens with meyer lemon (juice and zest) and butter.

* little raised rolls (which we never seem to have room to eat but are so terrific the next day as mini turkey sandwiches) - I think they are clover rolls.

Oh! and of course pumpkin chiffon pie.

Groan, better go find the fat pants in the closet! LOL

 
Italy was great!!!

The pizza was fantastic, as always, but this trip was farther south than previous ones, so more fish was on the menu.

We had one marvelous meal in Acireale at L'Oste Scura. It's not touristy, much more a place where locals eat. We (10 of us) were asked when we were seated if we would want meat or fish entree. Fish was the answer, and from there on out, we were treated to family style antipasti (about 9 different dishes featuring veggies or local fish), then a couple of big bowls of mussels and clams with very yummy broth. I claimed one of the bowls and proceeded to soak up the broth with the dense, crusty bread.
The entree was a selection of grilled fish, including calamari, prawns and swordfish.
All of this was washed down with great quantities of house red wine.
Dessert was lemon sorbetto. It was an ethereal concoction that was as close to lemon heaven as I have ever been. It was light, luscious, cool and just the right amount after our huge meal.

As soon as our pictures have been sorted and processed, will post a link to them.

I am still waiting for the description of your meal at Arrows, Richard...(tap, tap, tap)

 
Eight sounds good to me smileys/smile.gif

Of course, my lonely dinner will probably be pb&j. Maybe we'll break down and do turkey for Christmas...although I think hubby is working then, too. Hmmm...we did better having holidays together when he was still on active duty!

For what it's worth, it's the brining that causes the shredding I've had that happen if I brine for too long. I'm sure there's a science behind it, someone will probably speak up. The LA Times did a pretty good article on different methods and the results and that texture issue was the drawback to the brining. They actually preferred a salt baked turkey.

 
LOL, Judy that dinner sounds so wonderful.

You will be happy to know that I didn't let anyone touch their plates at Arrows before I could take pictures of every course. now I just have to get the pix downloaded. I snagged the daily menu so I can post a complete description of everything. Dinner was absolutely amazing.

Did Tim email you where the "surprise" destination ended up being? We stayed at "The Balsams" in Dixville Notch, NH that weekend. What a treat!

 
Aha! Thanks desertjean!

I will be sure to let Mom know. I just remembered that it was done a lot faster than we expected last year too, interesting.

I'm so sorry that your hubby has to work that day, but you know, when he's back you should do a mini Thanksgiving no matter when it is! My mom tells me stories of her dad being off in the Navy and missing holidays, so when he returned they would make up for Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas and she said those dinners were even more fun. My grandma didn't cook much so my mom did the bulk of it too!

How about doing a little game hen or smaller chicken for yourself with a few favorites? Wish I could have you over with us but I have the feeling you are far away!

Please thank your husband for me, I am very proud of his work and of his colleagues.

(((hugs)))

 
He had emailed me where your surprise took you

and it sounds like a good time. I have yet to get to the Balsams, but I've heard that it's fantastic.
I can't wait for the pictures and menu from Arrows.

 
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