Thanksgiving Dinner Pole (1 Viewer)

[Da Guru]

What is everyone doing for Thanksgiving?

Seems like many people I know are ordering a pre-made complete turkey dinner from a market or restaurant.  To me preparing the bird is the fun of it.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Planning on a nice Beef Wellington - Yorkshire Pudding, green bean bundles, sweet potato casserole with brown sugar pecan crust, cranberry w/nuts and apples jello, and a cream cheese pumpkin roll for dessert.  

Also, watching football and liquor.  

 

[DA RAIDERS]

We do thanksgiving lunch at the ski resort and then do sushi, thanksgiving night. 4th year in a row. We love it. 

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Working

 

[brun]

nothing listed in your poll. We have a great breakfast and then watch football.

 

[shadyridr]

Going to a family members house, they are cooking. Where's that option?

 

[Tom Servo]

What is everyone doing for Thanksgiving?

Doing a one day out and back roadie to Columbus for "Thanksmas" with my in-laws.

 

[Angry Beavers]

Cooking 2 birds.. one traditional in the oven and one deep fried;

Making a couple of sides.. mashed potatoes,  stuffing,  sweet potatoes 

The rest gets brought by the 20+ coming over for a day of food, laughs,  alcohol, football etc. My favorite holiday by far. 

 

[Grahamburn]

Traditional dinner at the mountain house on Wednesday.  Driving home to Florida on Thursday to avoid traffic. 

 

[eoMMan]

Going to a family members house, they are cooking. Where's that option?

Yeah, I'm doing this (but we are bringing some side dishes).

 

[Sullie]

Everyone in my family agrees that Turkey is dry and it sucks so we're going to smoke two large chickens again with all the sides, there's only 4 of us.

 

[Da Guru]

Planning on a nice Beef Wellington - Yorkshire Pudding, green bean bundles, sweet potato casserole with brown sugar pecan crust, cranberry w/nuts and apples jello, and a cream cheese pumpkin roll for dessert.  

Also, watching football and liquor.  

Added an edit for something different than turkey.

 

[Da Guru]

Going to a family members house, they are cooking. Where's that option?

Done

 

[The General]

Going to the in-laws this year (actually their friends place who we sort of know) Will be ok, not sure how good of cooks they are though.

Live in Scottsdale though so will play golf the day before which will be a bonus.

 

[Epic Problem]

I must say that I have it pretty good. I walk across the street with a bottle of scotch in hand. Enjoy the feast, except for those awful sweet potatoes, that my SIL and her husband provide. Various family members empty the bottle of scotch as well as some other libations. Then I stumble back across the street when done. 

 

[jamny]

This is the first year without my father-in-law and my MiL is having her kitchen renovated, starting today, so we are taking her to our favorite Italian restaurant for Thanksgiving.

 

[Mr. Ected]

Getting a whole meal at a great local restaurant here in VA (Tuscarora Mill for the VA peeps!)m but I may make a Turkey breast myself, because the turkey in the meal isn't big enough.

Keeps it nice and simple and easy.

ETA: I love to cook; but since it is just my family, it's too much for me to do by myself.

 

[Ilov80s]

Kind of a weekend long thing. Thanksgiving itself, cooking non-turkey brunch and then drinks/apps with friends. Friday night will be cooking non turkey with wife's family. Saturday will be traditional Thanksgiving menu with my family. 

 

[MAC_32]

Thanksgiving is my mother-in-law's thing.  We help in the latter stages just to get everything on the table still hot, but starting sometime Wednesday until then - all her.  Every Thanksgiving for us is little different and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Morning Turkey Trot

Go to a friend's house who lives directly behind my in-law's, drink whiskey and roast donuts

Decide to watch the 2nd half of the Lions or nap

Feast

Decide to watch the 2nd half of the Cowboys or nap

Whiskey and pie at my aunt's

Decide to watch the 2nd half of the night game or drink more whiskey then usually just do both

If still functional go to the bar and meet up with friends, if not then go home

Leave the kids with my parents and sleep in Friday

I love this holiday.

 

[kutta]

Cooking 2 birds.. one traditional in the oven and one deep fried;

Making a couple of sides.. mashed potatoes,  stuffing,  sweet potatoes 

The rest gets brought by the 20+ coming over for a day of food, laughs,  alcohol, football etc. My favorite holiday by far. 

We do pretty much the same thing, except I grill a bird and the wife cooks one in the oven. We’ve done it this way for about 15 years and it’s awesome.

 

[Mike Damone]

Planning on a nice Beef Wellington - Yorkshire Pudding, green bean bundles, sweet potato casserole with brown sugar pecan crust, cranberry w/nuts and apples jello, and a cream cheese pumpkin roll for dessert.  

Also, watching football and liquor.  

Sounds yummy

how easy/hard is the Wellington?

what are green bean bundles?

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Staying at my aunt's for the Thanksgiving weekend.  Different family members are prepping different parts of meal.  My job is grilling the turkey and saving most of my drinking for once the bird comes off the grill.  Mom lives close to my aunt, and sometimes she'll make a bunch of paella either Wednesday or Friday.  Not sure if she's doing that again this year, though.  

 

[TheFanatic]

What? No ThanksGrilling option?

 

[Chemical X]

With no family to speak of and limited friends, it has been me and my wife and the dog for a long time.  

turkey

sweet potato mousse

veggie tart

snausage stuffing

cranberry sauce

desserts depend on how much i want to bake....

 

[facook]

What? No ThanksGrilling option?

We are going to my parents (just across town) and my mom hates cooking turkey and doesn't much like eating it either.  I'll be cooking trip tip on my Traeger Tailgater and we'll do mashed sweet potatoes, cole slaw, and rolls with a marionberry pie and vanilla ice cream for dessert.  I'm fired up for it. 

 

[Capella]

Cooking. Have all our family in from out of state. 

Smoked turkey 

smoked brisket 

every side in the world imaginable 

5 pies 

homemade ice cream 

I take the day before off to get ready. Favorite day of the year. It’s a big dumb feast. 

 

[TheFanatic]

We are going to my parents (just across town) and my mom hates cooking turkey and doesn't much like eating it either.  I'll be cooking trip tip on my Traeger Tailgater and we'll do mashed sweet potatoes, cole slaw, and rolls with a marionberry pie and vanilla ice cream for dessert.  I'm fired up for it. 

Now we're talking!

 

[TheFanatic]

Cooking. Have all our family in from out of state. 

Smoked turkey 

smoked brisket 

every side in the world imaginable 

5 pies 

homemade ice cream 

I take the day before off to get ready. Favorite day of the year. It’s a big dumb feast. 

Another ThanksGiving miracle. It's the holiday for the rest of us 

 

[General Malaise]

Yeah, my favorite holiday too.  Smaller crowd this year with my mom gone; miss her dearly, but I won't miss her creamed onions that were a family tradition. 

Get up early and start in on the bird.  Will pour mimosas for me and my wife right around the early kick for the Lions' game.  

Have never stuffed the bird with stuffing but am considering it this year.  Pros/cons?  

 

[fantasycurse42]

Best holiday of the year. Going to sister-in-laws. 

She cooks a turkey & ham, we're picking up sides from Whole Foods and pie from Delicious Orchards (best pies on Earth). Alcohol is a BYOB and pick your poison.

Kids will play in the basement (or backyard depending on how cold) and watch movies in their home theater room. I'll camp out on the couch, drink, and watch football. 

The next day my BIL, nephew (5), son (turning 6), and myself are heading to Great Adventure if it is over 50 degrees, give the kids a good day.

Pretty excited for Thanksgiving!

 

[TheFanatic]

Wanted to add this is my favorite holiday. It's all about the food and family and hopefully giving thanks. No costumes, not jolly elf getting all the credit. Just food, family and football

 

[fantasycurse42]

Yeah, my favorite holiday too.  Smaller crowd this year with my mom gone; miss her dearly, but I won't miss her creamed onions that were a family tradition. 

Get up early and start in on the bird.  Will pour mimosas for me and my wife right around the early kick for the Lions' game.  

Have never stuffed the bird with stuffing but am considering it this year.  Pros/cons?  

Pros - stuffing

Cons - you might enjoy it and come to the realization you're into stuffing birds

 

[wikkidpissah]

I plan to bite the head off a chickadee and molest a cornucopia

 

[Da Guru]

I loves this day but it is also a sad day for us.  Years ago we used to have 20-24 people over. now both sets of our parents have passed, my wife and I have both lost siblings in unexpected deaths. We have had other siblings and their families move to different states. My daughters both have boyfriends but  this year they will be at our house. So we are just going to have 4 this year for dinner. My daughter boyfriends are coming over after dinner with their families. 

So we are putting the bird on and then driving to Detroit to tailgate with friends at Eastern Market, will hit Nemo's for a drink as well always know people there.  At kickoff we will watch the first quarter at a bar and then drive back to our home and watch the rest of the game and baste the bird.

 

[Capella]

Another ThanksGiving miracle. It's the holiday for the rest of us 

My favorite day of the year. I revel in the chaos. 

 

[TheFanatic]

I loves this day but it is also a sad day for us.  Years ago we used to have 20-24 people over. now both sets of our parents have passed, my wife and I have both lost siblings in unexpected deaths. We have had other siblings and their families move to different states. My daughters both have boyfriends but  this year they will be at our house. So we are just going to have 4 this year for dinner. My daughter boyfriends are coming over after dinner with their families. 

So we are putting the bird on and then driving to Detroit to tailgate with friends at Eastern Market, will hit Nemo's for a drink as well always know people there.  At kickoff we will watch the first quarter at a bar and then drive back to our home and watch the rest of the game and baste the bird.

That sounds pretty divine what you have going this year. Sorry for the losses,.

 

[Lehigh98]

Wanted to add this is my favorite holiday. It's all about the food and family and hopefully giving thanks. No costumes, not jolly elf getting all the credit. Just food, family and football

Going to try smoking a turkey for the first time.  Going to my parents' and my mom has an extra bird so going to bring the WSM down and give it a shot.  Getting there Tues night so should have time to brine.  Only thing is she's got a 13 lb self baster and a 20 lb regular bird.  So not sure whether to take the big one and brine or just use the self baster with no brine and just rub.  Any good turkey brine / rub / etc posts?  I'll be heading over to your site eventually.

 

[TheFanatic]

Going to try smoking a turkey for the first time.  Going to my parents' and my mom has an extra bird so going to bring the WSM down and give it a shot.  Getting there Tues night so should have time to brine.  Only thing is she's got a 13 lb self baster and a 20 lb regular bird.  So not sure whether to take the big one and brine or just use the self baster with no brine and just rub.  Any good turkey brine / rub / etc posts?  I'll be heading over to your site eventually.

My favorite brine. Came out soooooo good. Brined with hard pear cider. 

 

[Capella]

My favorite brine. Came out soooooo good. Brined with hard pear cider. 

I’ve brined previous years but may skip it this year. I can keep it juicy smoking it and I didn’t like how some of the meat seemed watery last year. 

Edit: also it’s hard to get that skin where you want it after it’s been soaking like that. 

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Sounds yummy

how easy/hard is the Wellington?

what are green bean bundles?

The Beef Wellington is not hard.  Here is a decent recipe.  

Green bean bundles are bacon-wrapped bundles of canned green beans (full-length, not cut green beans) covered in a garlic, brown sugar sauce (and a little soy sauce).  These things go fast.  

green bean bundles

ETA:  here is the sweet potato casserole also just for kicks (note: we go with a little over an inch thickness on the sweet potato layer so you get more pecan topping to potato ration) - yeah, both side dishes are sweet vegetables.  Goes great with the rich beef gravy and Yorkshire pudding and the sharpness of the rasp-cran jello stuff.  

sweet potato casserole with pecan topping

 

[eoMMan]

No chinese food and casino option?

 

[Lehigh98]

My favorite brine. Came out soooooo good. Brined with hard pear cider. 

I definitely want to try that.  How would you modify for a whole turkey or do you recommend removing the breast halves and doing just as described?  No idea how long a 20 lb bird would take if I tried that one whole though. 

Have you tried any tweaks to which veggies you included?  Do you think having the pan of veggies on the bottom rack with the turkey just above on the top rack would be sufficient on my WSM? 

What else can I throw on the smoker since I have it going?  Any smoked desserts?

TIA!

 

[Lehigh98]

By the way, we have historically done my side of family on Thursday and my wife's side of the family on Saturday.  It works out well because my wife's side all goes to their other side on Thurs so all 40+ of us can get together Saturday.  However, I just learned that this year the Saturday crew is going to veer away from turkey and go with an Italian theme to mix things up.  Host is making a bunch of baked ziti but don't know what others are bringing along yet.  Was thinking of doing a "Philly" Italian roast pork (Dinic's knockoff)  but not sure if I'll have time between family dinner Thurs and potential "Friendsgiving" Friday which I'll have to come up with something for too.

 

[Scoresman]

We are definitely living our best life on Thanksgiving.  I think this is the tentative menu

BBQ turkey

Potato Leek soup

Stuffing from scratch

Artichoke Bacon Tart

Brussel Sprouts with bacon

Potatoes au Gratin

Caesar salad

Mixed Roasted Root Vegetables

Apple and Pecan pie

Cereal Milk ice cream

8 month aged homemade egg nog

 

[Phil Elliott]

Definitely cooking turkey dinner.  Second best part of the meal is the stuffing.  Best part of the meal is the leftover turkey/stuffing sandwiches for a few days.

 

[TheFanatic]

I definitely want to try that.  How would you modify for a whole turkey or do you recommend removing the breast halves and doing just as described?  No idea how long a 20 lb bird would take if I tried that one whole though. 

Have you tried any tweaks to which veggies you included?  Do you think having the pan of veggies on the bottom rack with the turkey just above on the top rack would be sufficient on my WSM? 

What else can I throw on the smoker since I have it going?  Any smoked desserts?

TIA!

You can absolutely do a whole turkey. Doesn't change the physics at all.

And you can swap out the veggies for whatever you want. Dad was going for color in that post. 

As far as the positions of the bird and veggies and such in a WSM, I don't have much advice. I've never owned one so I've never used one enough to confidently comment there.

Smoke a pie. Trust me here. You won't go back. 

Oh, just make sure for all this you use light smoke wood. Apple, Pear, Peach, Apricot. Do not even think about hickory

 

[Chemical X]

Yeah, my favorite holiday too.  Smaller crowd this year with my mom gone; miss her dearly, but I won't miss her creamed onions that were a family tradition. 

Get up early and start in on the bird.  Will pour mimosas for me and my wife right around the early kick for the Lions' game.  

Have never stuffed the bird with stuffing but am considering it this year.  Pros/cons?  

not a fan of the in bird stuffing.  always get too moist, fatty and swampy.  I prefer the side tray.  if its gets too dry, add some stock.

 

[TheFanatic]

Definitely cooking turkey dinner.  Second best part of the meal is the stuffing.  Best part of the meal is the leftover turkey/stuffing sandwiches for a few days.

I LOVE the turkey sammich on Friday. Sourdough bread, cheddar cheese, iceberg lettuce, mayo and turkey. I look forward to it almost as much as the bird on Thursday

 

[Mike Damone]

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday but I enjoy the leftovers more than the dinner . The sandwiches and the croquettes we always have for dinner on Friday

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday but I enjoy the leftovers more than the dinner . The sandwiches and the croquettes we always have for dinner on Friday

God, I love me some ham croquettes