Thanksgiving

[Michael]

So, anyone have any travel plans for the Thanksgiving holiday?

According to statistics, this long weekend is one of the most heavily traveled in the USA.

[The Drunk Girl]

We went home this past weekend due to my fucked up schedule.

Thursday/Friday: 230p-11p
Saturday/Sunday: 630a-3p
Monday: 230p-11p

(I am the only one at my job that has to work all 5 days in a row. :mad:)

My mom baked a ham with all the sides, and the future mother-in-law made homemade pizzas the next night. I think we might hit up someplace before I head into work tomorrow afternoon. If not then we might cook a little turkey for us to have Saturday or Sunday.

[Donkey]

I'll be heading to Pittsburgh tomorrow morning to my brother's fiance's family's celebration.

I should probably go down tonight, but I don't particularly feel like it.

[Americano]

My policy has long been no travel on holidays. It's always seemed masochistic to get on crowded roadways with mostly amateur drivers concentrating on something other than driving. Going to airports operating at maximum capacity with the usual resultant chaos for what has been pointed out as the heaviest US travel period of the year is, IMO, not a celebratory event.

[Americano]

We went home this past weekend due to my fucked up schedule.

Thursday/Friday: 230p-11p
Saturday/Sunday: 630a-3p
Monday: 230p-11p

(I am the only one at my job that has to work all 5 days in a row. :mad:)

My mom baked a ham with all the sides, and the future mother-in-law made homemade pizzas the next night. I think we might hit up someplace before I head into work tomorrow afternoon. If not then we might cook a little turkey for us to have Saturday or Sunday.

We're doing a turkey breast. Club sandwiches with fresh baked turkey, maple smoked bacon, sliced heritage tomatoes (surprisingly Canadian hot-house grown), mayo, iceberg lettuce on toasted potato bread with homemade onion rings. I know this will shock a southerner, but we use an oven to bake the bacon and onion rings. Far better and tastier than being deep-fried in grease. We've also purchased three spiral cut bone-in cooked hams (dirt-cheap this time of year) for sandwiches, ham steak and soups which I re-cut and package by portion for the freezer.

[Michael]

We're doing a turkey breast. Club sandwiches with fresh baked turkey, maple smoked bacon, sliced heritage tomatoes (surprisingly Canadian hot-house grown), mayo, iceberg lettuce on toasted potato bread with homemade onion rings. I know this will shock a southerner, but we use an oven to bake the bacon and onion rings. Far better and tastier than being deep-fried in grease. We've also purchased three spiral cut bone-in cooked hams (dirt-cheap this time of year) for sandwiches, ham steak and soups which I re-cut and package by portion for the freezer.

Not surprising about those tomatos! Seems that "Canadian" tomatos are available all year round! :lol:

Maple smoked bacon sounds mighty Canadian-like as well I might add! ;)

Doesn't shock me about avoiding the deep-fat fryers. Everyone I know does bacon in the microwave (I don't do that cheap-crap strip bacon stuff since I consider it too salty and fatty, I only buy peameal bacon - aka Canadian back-bacon - way more expensive, but way better!).

I must admit that a BLTT (Bacon, lettuce, tomato & turkey) makes an awesome sandwich! :)

[Donkey]

Bacon in the microwave?

Ew.

[Michael]

Bacon in the microwave?

Ew.
I never buy that bacon so I can't comment, but I wouldn't knock it unless you try it because some of the people who recommend this are serious food-lover types.

Vegetables are another product that tends to microwave very well. :shrug:

[Americano]

Bacon in the microwave?

Ew.

Even better in the oven. No mess, perfectly done and not swimming in grease.

[Donkey]

Even better in the oven. No mess, perfectly done and not swimming in grease.
I do like it from the oven. How do y'all like your bacon? I like mine pretty crispy.

[Americano]

Not surprising about those tomatos! Seems that "Canadian" tomatos are available all year round! :lol:

Maple smoked bacon sounds mighty Canadian-like as well I might add! ;)

Doesn't shock me about avoiding the deep-fat fryers. Everyone I know does bacon in the microwave (I don't do that cheap-crap strip bacon stuff since I consider it too salty and fatty, I only buy peameal bacon - aka Canadian back-bacon - way more expensive, but way better!).

Try onion rings in the oven and you'll never eat another that's been deep fried.

I must admit that a BLTT (Bacon, lettuce, tomato & turkey) makes an awesome sandwich! :)

We like the middle slice of toast in a club to keep the bacon from overpowering the turkey.

[Americano]

I do like it from the oven. How do y'all like your bacon? I like mine pretty crispy.

Crispy right before the point of burned.

[The Drunk Girl]

We're doing a turkey breast. Club sandwiches with fresh baked turkey, maple smoked bacon, sliced heritage tomatoes (surprisingly Canadian hot-house grown), mayo, iceberg lettuce on toasted potato bread with homemade onion rings. I know this will shock a southerner, but we use an oven to bake the bacon and onion rings. Far better and tastier than being deep-fried in grease. We've also purchased three spiral cut bone-in cooked hams (dirt-cheap this time of year) for sandwiches, ham steak and soups which I re-cut and package by portion for the freezer.

I don't mind baked foods at all. I have had bacon that has been oven-baked, but I don't believe I have had onion rings made that way. I'll look into that sometime.

I have an aunt up in Northern Kentucky that does deep-fried turkeys. Evidently someone has made a lot of money coming up with the contraption, but I still prefer the oven-baked turkey over it.

[The Drunk Girl]

Anyone ever used buffalo meat to cook with? Some guy was telling me how he uses it in his chili :shrug:

[Americano]

Anyone ever used buffalo meat to cook with? Some guy was telling me how he uses it in his chili :shrug:

I've eaten quite a bit of it. It's a common item in Northern Idaho and Montana markets. Lean with a pleasant taste. Also sold as ground beefallo, a mix of beef and buffalo. I actually prefer pork in chili.

[Michael]

I have an aunt up in Northern Kentucky that does deep-fried turkeys.

:eek:

[Michael]

Btw, I was brought up eating turkey on a regular basis all year long.

Seems odd to me that other people only eat turkey at Thanksgiving or Christmas. :shrug:

[Donkey]

Btw, I was brought up eating turkey on a regular basis all year long.

Seems odd to me that other people only eat turkey at Thanksgiving or Christmas. :shrug:
Except lunch meat.

Part of it is that turkeys are often huge. Families aren't always.

[Americano]

Except lunch meat.

Part of it is that turkeys are often huge. Families aren't always.

Sandwiches, hot and cold, are the best of turkey.

[Michael]

Sandwiches, hot and cold, are the best of turkey.
That's precisely the reason my mother cooked turkeys all the time. All those leftovers were excellent for a variety of uses (not to mention boiling the carcass for turkey soup), but especially for turkey sandwiches.

I suppose my mother is rather old-school when it comes to cooking, but the fact is, this type of cooking is way cheaper and more healthy than any other way of eating.

[Americano]

That's precisely the reason my mother cooked turkeys all the time. All those leftovers were excellent for a variety of uses (not to mention boiling the carcass for turkey soup), but especially for turkey sandwiches.

I suppose my mother is rather old-school when it comes to cooking, but the fact is, this type of cooking is way cheaper and more healthy than any other way of eating.

Old school cooking requires time/effort and most Americans are completely immersed in instant gratification. I'd wager that turkey day dinner is the number one big cooking meal of the year for a majority of Americans.

[The Drunk Girl]

I've eaten quite a bit of it. It's a common item in Northern Idaho and Montana markets. Lean with a pleasant taste. Also sold as ground beefallo, a mix of beef and buffalo. I actually prefer pork in chili.

I wouldn't mind to try it sometime...he said it has somewhat of a sweet taste to it that goes well with spicier items. He also mentioned it was pretty pricey and there is only one store in Lexington that he knows of that sells it. But I guess that's just due to where we are located.

:eek:

Yup and she's even white! :rofl:

Btw, I was brought up eating turkey on a regular basis all year long.

Seems odd to me that other people only eat turkey at Thanksgiving or Christmas. :shrug:

I think it goes with traditions and possibly with what Donkey mentioned.

Traditions (an absolute must) in my family include:

New Years Day/Easter:
-Corned beef
-Potatoes, cabbage, and carrots

Thanksgiving:
-Ham (used to be turkey, but Mom decided to hold off since Christmas is so close and we tend to have more visitors)

Christmas:
-Turkey and Ham
-"Cement" (potato filling)--lots of sage, parts of the turkey, onions, celery, potatoes all mixed together and baked. It does have the color of cement but damn is it good!
-Homemade cornbread and bread dressing

I know that not of these foods are traditions for people, but these foods are the only time my family and I eat them. Maybe it makes them more worthwhile when you only get to eat them once or twice a year :)

[Americano]

The only thing my wife misses about Las Vegas are the buffets, especially at times like Thanksgiving. Every traditional delicacy (and some not so traditional) cooked to perfection, ham/turkey carved to your desire and even the favorite dishes in endless supply. For less money than it can be done at home. The very best part? no mess to clean up and casino gambling after dessert.

[wphelan]

The only thing my wife misses about Las Vegas are the buffets, especially at times like Thanksgiving. Every traditional delicacy (and some not so traditional) cooked to perfection, ham/turkey carved to your desire and even the favorite dishes in endless supply. For less money than it can be done at home. The very best part? no mess to clean up and casino gambling after dessert.

I spent two Thanksgivings in Las Vegas when I lived there. It was great. Great Thanksgiving food at the buffets and a full day of poker afterwards. Those were good times.

[Michael]

The only thing my wife misses about Las Vegas are the buffets, especially at times like Thanksgiving. Every traditional delicacy (and some not so traditional) cooked to perfection, ham/turkey carved to your desire and even the favorite dishes in endless supply. For less money than it can be done at home. The very best part? no mess to clean up and casino gambling after dessert.

There are several higher end restaurants that I know of that will tell you that the busiest days of the year for them are Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both require reservations for these special days (and are often filled with families). I've been to a few and it is wonderful to have these huge meals provided without any labor required.

Very upscale type places for sure (totally WASPish clientele).

[partofme]

There are tons of people that deep fry turkeys around here in Western Kentucky and places you can pay to have yours fried.

And I like my bacon limp.

[Michael]

I think it goes with traditions and possibly with what Donkey mentioned.

Traditions (an absolute must) in my family include:

New Years Day/Easter:
-Corned beef
-Potatoes, cabbage, and carrots
Is it your tradition to serve this with a Chardonnay or perhaps a Reisling? :ummm:

Thanksgiving:
-Ham (used to be turkey, but Mom decided to hold off since Christmas is so close and we tend to have more visitors)
Chardonnay with the ham, I'm sure is an old family tradition. ;)


Christmas:
-Turkey and Ham
-"Cement" (potato filling)--lots of sage, parts of the turkey, onions, celery, potatoes all mixed together and baked. It does have the color of cement but damn is it good!
-Homemade cornbread and bread dressing
I'm thinking a full-bodied red (Merlot comes to mind, but perhaps a Pinot Noir?) is your family tradition here.

Btw, that "cement" is known as "bubble and squeak" in British slang, though you are missing the brussel sprouts! :lol:

[Michael]

There are tons of people that deep fry turkeys around here in Western Kentucky and places you can pay to have yours fried.
I'll remember that. If I have need of having a turkey deep-fat fried, I'll be heading to Western/Northern Kentucky! :lol:

And I like my bacon limp.
I prefer bacon to be on other people's plates. ;)

[Lily]

So, anyone have any travel plans for the Thanksgiving holiday?

According to statistics, this long weekend is one of the most heavily traveled in the USA.

I'm moving this weekend. Packing, then the UHaul Sunday. Closing on Monday. I have a frozen turkey dinner for tomorrow. :lol:

[Americano]

There are tons of people that deep fry turkeys around here in Western Kentucky and places you can pay to have yours fried.

Having grown up in Texas I'm truly surprised someone hasn't marketed a deep fryer for a side of beef. Daddy did love his chicken fried steak with gravy.

And I like my bacon limp.

[wphelan]

Crispy bacon is good because bacon is good. However, I prefer chewy bacon. And doing it in the microwave is the only way to do it. If you haven't, you should try it.

[dilettante]

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.