Need some help....

[180Brandy]

When it comes to Thanksgiving what is the one food item you must have? Also does anyone have a good salad idea? Thank you...

[reefgeek84]

Pizza or steak...You think I am kidding...I am not a big fan of the food on thanksgiving, so I go a different route...love the "getting together aspect" but the food..not so much.

[nu2reef-n]

I like the traditional food stuffs on Thanksgiving. You know Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, cranberries, etc....
Oh yeah, don't forget the fresh baked pumpkin pie.

[rmhuntley]

Vodka....must have Vodka

[BADBaxter]

The one thing?
People... more important... FRIENDS!
The food is always wonderful... fattening...
But .. without someone to share it with.. worthless...

On that note... If anyone needs socialization/food this Thanksgiving... My house will be open.
Because of work conflict with my children... we are not traveling.

[CCR]

We also get a spiral cut ham from costco, along with turkey, potato rolls, costco pumkin pie, peas. smashed potatos. I make my own cornbread stuffing. My son makes the green bean caserol, I have been stuffing and cooking the Thanksgivin turkey for 30 years. I always use the renalds cooking bag. NOT poking any holes in it. Always a great bird. I don't get them with the popup "It's done"... It's done when the meat on the leg is folling off to tuch..... I'm hungry... A cliant of mine raised and had dressed out a 36 pounder that I'm making for x-mas. Now that will be an adventure!!!!!!

[rmhuntley]

As for Salad ideas, you can.t go wrong w/ a Waldorf salad, unless you're allergic to walnuts

[spayne]

Deviled eggs? (devil)

Have you checked out All Recipes.com (http://allrecipes.com/)? You can find some good recipes in there... plus you have the added benefit of reading reviews from people who made the chow. You might get some good ideas in there for a side salad dish. Green bean casserole? Something using cranberries might be a nice tie in to the dinner.

[180Brandy]

What is waldorf salad?


Thanks for the recipes.com I will check it out. I just wanted to add something different to the menu this Thanksgiving. The one thing I cant live without is candied yams. Keep those ideas coming :D

[rmhuntley]

INGREDIENTS:

* 2 cups coarsely chopped apples, about 2 medium apples
* 1 1/4 cups chopped celery
* 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
* 1/3 cup mayonnaise
* 2 teaspoons sugar
* dash allspice
* 1 teaspoon lemon juice

PREPARATION:
To make Waldorf salad, place chopped apple, celery and walnuts in a bowl. Combine mayonnaise, sugar, allspice and lemon juice. Toss mayonnaise mixture with apple mixture. Serve waldorf salad over salad greens if desired. Waldorf salad serves 4 to 6

[Ronjunior]

Our family is rather large, so we usually do about 4 different turkeys...though not home raised by father-in-law like our prime rib for X-MAS...maybe some day, but I'm not plucking them....gives me the heebee jeebees.
We deepfry one, and in a commercial BBQ, do 2 in there with different herbs in each and a regular old baked one. Also the rest is potluck, bring a side dish and a desert or salad. We get so much variety and never eat the same thing each holiday.
For the herbed ones, use a gigantic syringe to inject herbed oils and whatnot into the meat.

And Nu-2Reefn, I'm surprised anyone actually eats those cranberries :)

[180Brandy]

I've heard of deep frying turkeys. Does the turkey come out dry doing it that way?

Thanks for the recipe Roy!! :D

[R-3]

Deep frying them is sooooooo good. Its the best way to do it. Havent baked one for 5 years. So nice and moist. Yummmm.. Later Ryan

[180Brandy]

So how do you deep fry a turkey? What kind of oil do you use?

[rmhuntley]

http://www.eatturkey.com/consumer/cookinfo/fryturk.html

[180Brandy]

thanks!! Keep the ideas coming!!!

[Ronjunior]

How about Kentucky Fried Turkey, extra crispy :).....just kidding, I dislike fast food....and not just because of my name.

[180Brandy]

rofl rofl rofl

[Nyles]

Honey and pinapple glazed ham... OMG...
Badbaxters home brewed beer to top it off... heaven
Did someone say Vodka? LOL
We also make a pasta salad that has some crazy stuff in it but noone has ever not liked it, has some sort of vinegrette, avocados, and who knows what else, all good stuff.

And the best part? We are going to someone elses house this year for thanksgiving!! WOO HOOOO!

And have to have some Porto (Quinta do naval LB) to end the night or cook it up with some granny apple smith apples and top with ice cream.. if your not driving of course. That will make you crazy if nothing else.

[Ronjunior]

We also make a pasta salad that has some crazy stuff in it but noone has ever not liked it, has some sort of vinegrette, avocados, and who knows what else, all good stuff.
All this talk is making me hungry, and I'm not even near ready for dinner....goes to show the power of the mind. I want that pasta salad recipe please!!!!! Never had one with avocados, but darned willing to try it!

[Nyles]

I will get it from my wife... gimme a few

[Michael7979]

Ok to me you must have mashed taters, gravy, deviled eggs, rolls, and corn(why I don't know, just do). Turkey or ham either way its all good.

But we like to add in stuffed mushrooms, texas eggrolls(like at Roadhouse), and you gotta have beer......lots of beer!!!! Sometimes we will have wine or a mix drink but it always ends up being beer in the end!!

[180Brandy]

I think whoever invented sweat pants must have had Thanksgiving in mind......:D

[spayne]

I will get it from my wife... gimme a few
Hurry up! Now I want to know the recipe for that. Anything with avocados is YUMMY in my book!

[180Brandy]

I want to know too.:D

[Ronjunior]

(hungry)We're still waiting and so is my wife :)(drooler) .
My In-laws never have alcohol at their holiday gathering, so I just have to make sure my fridge or kegarator is stocked for when I get home....you know that time when you cannot take any more in....but beer is ay OK.(drinking)

[Nyles]

here is what i use, i dont have measurements cuz really its just something you throw together

Tri color rotini pasta
chopped tomato or halfed cherry tomatos
sliced olives
chopped avacado
squeeze lime or lemon juice on avacodo
mix all together with Kraft Zesty Italian dressing
top with crumbled blue cheese or feta cheese (optional)
you can also add any other veggis or even some chopped salami or pepperoni would be good.

[Nyles]

better late than never! AND DAY BEFORE TG! Woo Hooo! I am on my way to store to prep for seafood stuffed mushrooms! Mwaaa haaa haaa

[180Brandy]

Wait your holding out on us!!!! Seafood stuffed mushrooms.... Yum!!! How do you make that? :D

[Nyles]

12 large fresh mushrooms (I prefer portobello)
2 Tbsp. sliced green onion
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, divided
3 Tbsp. fresh bread crumbs
3 oz. PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 pkg. (6 oz.) frozen crabmeat, thawed, drained and flaked (I add fine diced shrimp too)



PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Remove mushroom stems; chop enough stems to measure 1/3 cup. Cook and stir chopped stems and onion in 1 Tbsp. of the butter in medium skillet until tender. Stir in bread crumbs. Add to cream cheese in medium bowl; mix until well blended. Gently stir in crabmeat. MELT remaining 2 Tbsp. butter; brush evenly onto mushroom caps. Fill caps with cream cheese mixture; place, filled sides up, in shallow baking dish.

Bake 20 minutes.

I add fine diced olives to this mixture as well, but you can do whatever you want. Mmmmm Good.

[Nyles]

Oh and spray or wipe Olive oil on top to get a nice browning over the top!

[Nyles]

maybe dice some capers too, cook them with onoin, or I would cook seperate in white wine, but whatever.

[180Brandy]

Thank you so much Nyles! Now I have to go to the store and get crab meat. Thanks for sharing!!

[Nyles]

sound like a plan.... he he

[Nyles]

We should start a recipe thread. LOL I could do this all day!

[180Brandy]

Another good idea!!! (clap)

[Nyles]

ok I will start on... you better contribute.. LOL

[180Brandy]

Ok I will!!!...LOL

[Ronjunior]

Ya know, if we did potlucks at the meetings, sounds like there are plenty of cooks in the kitchen! My enchaladas were always required for me to come even if I was putting on the night! If I wanted leftovers, I left a few at home.