Another year, another Thanksgiving! What are your plans this year? Are you hosting, guesting, traveling, or just staying home?
I'm driving to the usual location and will be eating turkey and trimmings with the usual slightly wacky crowd. Booze has been purchased. All I'm required to bring are empty containers for leftovers.
Back to the old traditions.
Friend's house on Thursday.
Friday's Leftover Surprise Party is back after the COVID hiatus! Drop-in, everyone brings leftovers and/or wine. I cook up a storm and this year I'm trying all new recipes for pre-leftovers.
Tomorrow I place an order for turkey, and we just hired a few helpers from the local CC culinary program to help host.
Planning to go to my parents' house, as every year--and thankful above all that they are still there for that. And my brother and some of my nieces are supposed to be there, for the first time in years. Looking forward to it greatly.
I'm taking Thanksgiving week off. Unfortunately we're staying home again. Bummer!
When my aunt resumed hosting our annual family Thanksgiving Day reunion after the pandemic, it was locally based extended family members who came. Those further away didn't go.
I caught up with one of my cousins in person over the summer which it was great.
One of my friends is hosting Friendsgiving again.
I see the Food section of "The Washington Post" has Thanksgiving recipes available online.
My wife caught the cooking bug right before COVID, and it has only bloomed and expanded since then. She is already planning what she will cook for the in-laws in town, although they are still meat-eaters and we are mostly vegetarian. We will just eat the sides.
But this will get increasingly stressful as the holiday approaches.
No one heeds my call to order pizzas.
Planning our last year traveling to the fringelet's college and hosting her friendgroup in an AirBnB there.
I had considered doing a research trip but wound up decided to stay home, which is allowing me to catch up on some work and volunteer tasks. I'm looking forward to some solitude, relaxation, and recharging.
For the first time in 10 years, not doing Thanksgiving with the in-laws. I don't live anywhere close to my family so I'm not making the trek to them. Most of my town clears out for the holidays, but I think enough of my friends will be around that we can do a Friendsgiving.
If we do a potluck, I'll make my go-to Thanksgiving side: baked macaroni.
Hopefully I know someone who knows how to make that jello salad with the pretzels.
MrsFishProf's family has a lot of bad actors in it. They cause trouble, swear off each other, stew, and then do the forgive and forget schtick. Until the next blow-up, and then neither forgiving nor forgetting seems to have taken.
The last big blow up was so hurtful to MFP and Smolt that I had to get involved (I usu. let MFOP handle her family) and put a hard stop to the nonsense.
That was six months ago. Now the family is feigning ignorance of any conflict, much less what the issues were. So all is forgiven for TGiving and Xmas. Without apologies or acknowledgements of any wrongdoing.
Not for me. I still think we should steer clear of them. This is going to be a challenging month and a half.
I'm fortunate enough to live close enough to my parents and several family members to not have to drive more than a couple of hours to get together.
I personally don't care much for turkey so I usually bring a rib roast. I imagine I'll make some cranberry chutney and a few pies as well, maybe a challah or some brioche. I'm a much more adventurous eater than most of my family, they usually prefer the basics. I might make something fun but I'll keep it small.
Thankfully I think everyone has learned to play nice at these gatherings. We definitely vary in our beliefs but the one or two zealots who might start something have significant others who have clearly set some boundaries for them. The last blowup was years ago, it's been very nice and I completely recognize that I am really lucky.
Officially, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is a 'reading day', so no classes. Staff will be able to leave early as well.
Im teaching online classes now, and am encouraging the students to do the assignments due after Thanksgiving (on Sunday) to do them this weekend. (Anyone giving odds that they do?)
I bought a frozen turkey yesterday. I will move it to the fridge on Sunday afternoon/evening. Im cooking the bird at home, slicing it here, and then taking it to the Inlaws.
My in laws were not born in the US, and did not have the Norman Rockwell experience, nor the practice of baking a turkey. The product that they served was ... lets just say 'well done'... One year, the bird was done with a temperature of 190 or higher, but it was too soon, so my MIL suggested that we leave it in the oven, but turn off the oven. I dont think that they even owned a meat thermometer until I gave them one! .... The first year I cooked a turkey and brought it over to carve, was not much better. My sister in law 'sampled' a lot and then was too full to have more for dinner, and I perfectly cut off the breast so slice it and my Brother in law took 2 forks and shredded it! With that, I said, 'Ill be over here, it looks like you all have this under control".
Anyway, THESE Days, I cook the bird at my house, carve it and then bring them the sliced meat. A day or 2 before hand, I get a clue on what else will be htere, and I know what else I need to bring... like stuffing/dressing because it may not be on the list, and AYE need that to make it Thanksgiving!
But I digress, and I ve probably told these stories before.
When are you free from your teaching next week?
What will you be cooking this year??
What do you NEED to have to make it Thanksgiving?
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 09, 2023, 06:27:45 AMAnother year, another Thanksgiving! What are your plans this year? Are you hosting, guesting, traveling, or just staying home?
I'm driving to the usual location and will be eating turkey and trimmings with the usual slightly wacky crowd. Booze has been purchased. All I'm required to bring are empty containers for leftovers.
Plans? Thanksgiving was last month, the first Monday in October. I took the train up on Friday before Thanksgiving's to visit my mom, who is dealing with inflammatory breast cancer, and the train back to my city on the actual holiday, the Monday.
Why would I make plans for this year's Thanksgiving when it's in the past. :p
Quote from: MarathonRunner on November 17, 2023, 06:33:56 PMQuote from: Langue_doc on November 09, 2023, 06:27:45 AMAnother year, another Thanksgiving! What are your plans this year? Are you hosting, guesting, traveling, or just staying home?
I'm driving to the usual location and will be eating turkey and trimmings with the usual slightly wacky crowd. Booze has been purchased. All I'm required to bring are empty containers for leftovers.
Plans? Thanksgiving was last month, the first Monday in October. I took the train up on Friday before Thanksgiving's to visit my mom, who is dealing with inflammatory breast cancer, and the train back to my city on the actual holiday, the Monday.
Why would I make plans for this year's Thanksgiving when it's in the past. :p
Exactly Where Thanksgiving is still a harvest festival rather than a holiday to mark the beginning of the genocide.
But, we live stateside. So we will mark the day with a lasagna. Both Mrs Artem and myself find few things more repulsive than the apparently required green beans drowned in mushroom soup or the worse than execrable sweet potatoes and marshmallows. Such a meal should be served with a side of insulin and a Lipitor sauce.
WTOP Radio has its best/worst time for driving Thanksgiving week in the metro DC area:
https://wtop.com/local/2023/11/want-to-get-around-thanksgiving-gridlock-leave-at-inconvenient-times/ (https://wtop.com/local/2023/11/want-to-get-around-thanksgiving-gridlock-leave-at-inconvenient-times/)
Posted online 11/16/23
I'm scheduled to work this weekend so I'll see some of the getaway crowds on the interstate.
We'll be following tradition and going to see Mr. Larimar's side of the family. Though my mother-in-law is technically hosting as always, she has been getting more frail and is not up to a lot of work or stress, so the rest of us are doing the cooking. I'll be bringing my usual garlic mashed potatoes and green beans amandine.
QuoteI perfectly cut off the breast so slice it and my Brother in law took 2 forks and shredded it!
I would have bopped said individual on the head with a rolling pin or other handy object.
Late to this, but back to my pre-COVID tradition of hosting a big dinner for students who aren't able to go home. Looking forward to it! Always a fun time.
Bah humbug.
Ban, bah, bah.
Class of six students today. Half have already begged off attending today.
That's too bad. We are playing a game today for the easiest lab points of the semester.
Yes, that was intentional.
Quote from: eigen on November 20, 2023, 02:23:40 PMLate to this, but back to my pre-COVID tradition of hosting a big dinner for students who aren't able to go home. Looking forward to it! Always a fun time.
That sounds like a great tradition.
Heading home tomorrow. Looking forward to it.
Anyone reconsidering their travel plans from the storms predicted this week?
Staying home. Just spouse and youngest daughter. I made pies, sweet potato casserole, scalloped corn, and fixed all the dressing mix-ins this morning; all I have to do tomorrow is put the boneless turkey breast in to roast and put the sides in to bake. I had a larger bone-in turkey breast in the freezer for awhile, so I put it in to roast now; I'll cut and package it up for other uses later today.
If not for ALHS and daughter, I'd prefer to have a PBJ and do nothing tomorrow. But I hope all here who celebrate, travel, and visit have a good day. I'm not anti-holiday; they just aren't my thing (probably largely because growing up and when our girls were little, my mom insisted we were all going to have a by-God-happy-Thanksgiving/merry Christmas if it killed us).
I put the turkey in the refrigerator on Sunday. It was feeling pretty solid last night! Today it was still icy. Tonight, if it is not showing significant signs of being defrosted, I will do the water bath defrosting method to give it a boost. Id rather have it fully defrosted tonight than be worrying about it in the morning.
Not going anywhere or doing anything which suits me just fine. Thanksgiving has never been a favorite holiday, as a vegetarian who doesn't eat or dislikes both most of the traditional dishes (except pie), and football.
Passover takes its place as the travel home no matter what, cook for days and gather all the people holiday in my family.
So tomorrow is working from home on a grant (the bliss of uninterrupted writing time!), in my cozy spot in front of the fire with the cats, and eating pumpkin pie. Sounds about perfect.
We're staying home to avoid family drama. The standard TG fare will be present: turkey, gravy, dressing (cornbread), mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, something green (salad or peas), cranberry relish, pumpkin pie.
And... our host's houseguest got COVID so we decided not to go over there, despite being vaxxed. Apparently the overall vax rate is low and we don't want to risk bringing it back to our big party which is Friday Leftover Surprise.
So that's fine, actually. Can relax and prepare.
Quote from: clean on November 22, 2023, 03:50:06 PMI put the turkey in the refrigerator on Sunday. It was feeling pretty solid last night! Today it was still icy. Tonight, if it is not showing significant signs of being defrosted, I will do the water bath defrosting method to give it a boost. Id rather have it fully defrosted tonight than be worrying about it in the morning.
Probably late for this, but you can cook from frozen. Just use a thermometer and adjust the cooking time. I do it almost every year.
And the family drama has been reduced to a phone call. At least I can make faces without them seeing me.
Happy Holiday, everyone. Hope it was awesome.
Happy Thanksgiving, all who celebrate! We are having a quiet but delicious dinner this evening (Cornish hens, yummy stuffing, bagna cauda brussels, roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes). Tomorrow and Saturday evenings will be simpler dinners with the vegetarian child and their partner of several months. We are planning on kid's favorite chili tomorrow night with some variations available (e.g., add baked potato, bacon, egg...). Saturday will be eggplant lasagna, which we have not made before but which sounds good and easier to make than eggplant parm. Eldest kid is out in my old neck of the woods with her dad, one side of my ex-in-laws, and my mom (hopefully), not all at the same time. We usually decorate the tree during Thanksgiving holiday, but I think we will try some new traditions this year.
Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!
Phone calls and texts with family and friends with Thanksgiving Day greetings. Along with dinner, I had a can of Goose Island IPA that I brought at Sheetz earlier this week.
Parent announced two weeks ago that parent wanted to come to our house for Thanksgiving. We weren't planning to "do" Thanksgiving (spouse was supposed to work) but planned a small, festive non-Turkey dinner anyway. Parent arrived Tuesday, then announced midday Wednesday that parent wanted to go to the home of parent's significant other (and family) for dessert at 4 p.m. today and needed to leave a little after 1 p.m. So festive dinner became semi-festive lunch, with parent dashing off after. Why did parent bother to come? Grumpy here, which is not the way to spend Thanksgiving, but Happy Thanksgiving anyway.
AR.
Our TGiving with MFP's family was remarkably....calm. MIL has apparently internalized the ultimatum we gave her and she was...fine.
I am still pleasantly surprised. And stuffed.
But now the madness that is Christmas in my house has begin...
What are your plans for Left Overs?
We dont have too much. I baked a turkey, carved and took it to the Inlaws for dinner last night.
Not too much turkey came home.
I m going to try turkey soup, though. I boiled the bones last night and put it in the fridge to cool because it was too late to continue with it.
Ill warm it up, take out the bones, onion and celery I started with it. Then I will heat it up, add fresh green beans, caned corn, and heat that up til done. I will cook some noodles to add before dinner. (Otherwise, the noodles either expand or fall apart).
With the turkey that did come home (one drumstick), I will make a box of Stovetop and make some gravy and mix the drumstick and stuffing.
I also have a second box of stovetop or some rice if The Bride is too tired of stuffing (though HOW could that be?) I will heat a can of mushroom soup, add the turkey to heat and pour over either the rice or stuffing.
That should finish the turkey and leave me good for another year!
(I used to cook a turkey every semester, carve it and freeze the meat in ziplock bags. ... You 'get' to eat turkey at least a few times a week all year!!... By the time I graduated, I could not really stand to smell turkey cooking! But after nearly 30 years, I can eat it a while once or twice a year!).
Grocery store Update: Plenty of parking! Lots of restocking going on, but there are lines because only 4 checkouts (plus the self check outs ) open. I got most of what I wanted, but some of the things I searched for were sold out.
A good Thanksgving was had by all. Good food, good company, so much fun that a couple of people were pleasantly buzzed. Some of the menfolk (men and boys) went hunting after the meal, the youngest got a deer, and in true hunting fashion had to take care of the preliminary prepartions before taking animal to the place where they do the actual preparations so that they can bring the meat home. Since it was getting dark, dad and uncle helped. Another sibling or a cousin got a deer earlier this week, so they have a well-stocked freezer.
As for leftovers, the hostess usually asks people to bring empty containers. This time, she found a set of takeout containers in a store, so we had containers in addition to the leftovers to bring home. I will probably eat most of the food before heading home.
AR, Parent needs a bop on the head or a good talking to.
It was originally going to be just Mr. Buster and myself, but got a text Wednesday night from an old college friend. She was in town with her college age daughter, with the original plan to meet up wither her Dad. Dad had caught RSV so now they were in town with no plans. So we had them for dinner as well and had a great time showing the daughter pictures of us from college and catching up. Its great to see friends who you can just pick right up with- no awkwardness at all.
So just shows, always plan Thanksgiving with more food than needed. You never know when a friend will arrive at your door.
My TG was the same as every other year. Evaluating T&P dossiers. Only 6 this year so could be worse.
We got leftover pork loin in the fridge from last night. I'll be taking some of it for lunch to the library when I go back on Monday.
Mom and I did our usual Costco run this afternoon. The parking lot was busy but it wasn't too bad when we went inside. There were still balsam wreaths and garlands available.
Parade Magazine online has a compilation of Thanksgiving leftovers (https://parade.com/849260/felicialim/thanksgiving-leftovers/#gid=ci02abee05f0002539&pid=leftover-thanksgiving-pizza) recipes from its Thanksgiving (https://parade.com/thanksgiving/) section.
We had a little bit of leftover garlic mashed potatoes and green beans amandine. Both went into the pot of vegetarian "beef" stew we made yesterday. It turned out pretty well.
oops wrong thread.
The Annual Thanksgiving Leftover Surprise Party went well. Now I have leftover leftovers, including 3 cups of cranberry sauce. Making a breakfast casserole this morning out of walnut stuffing, sandwich cheese, plus eggs and milk.
What to do with 3 cups of cranberry sauce? Thinking about adding more sugar and making a tart out of it. Any other suggestions?
Quote from: ciao_yall on November 25, 2023, 08:39:29 AMWhat to do with 3 cups of cranberry sauce? Thinking about adding more sugar and making a tart out of it. Any other suggestions?
These are really good if you like lemon bars:
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021641-cranberry-lemon-bars
What kind of cranberry sauce? I've been playing with cranberry curd and cranberry meringue pie the past few years, but I usually start with raw cranberries. You could probably do either with a runny sauce, but not the solid cylinder some people use.
AR.
It's homebound traffic this weekend. Here's what to expect on DC area roads:
https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2023/11/what-to-expect-on-dcs-roads-after-thanksgiving/ (https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2023/11/what-to-expect-on-dcs-roads-after-thanksgiving/)
Posted on WTOP 11/25/23
Quote from: AvidReader on November 25, 2023, 12:00:24 PMWhat kind of cranberry sauce? I've been playing with cranberry curd and cranberry meringue pie the past few years, but I usually start with raw cranberries. You could probably do either with a runny sauce, but not the solid cylinder some people use.
AR.
Just the regular cranberries+sugar+water boiled until berries pop, add a few odds and ends.
I made a cranberry curd tart (https://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/13333-cranberry-curd-tart-with-almond-crust) this year as well - that's a keeper! Learned how to keep whipped cream solid - add a pinch of cream of tartar.
Also have a 1/2 bag of raw cranberries. May throw those in the freezer for the future.
Thanksgiving was great! My brother and I were both at Mom and Dad's house. Next day, Mom, brother, and I headed down to Louisiana to see two of brother's daughters and a two-year-old granddaughter whom none of us had yet had a chance to see. We stayed there with them through Saturday, and headed back to Mom and Dad's house Sunday. The visit went very well.
Dad stayed home because sitting in a car for long drives hurts him a lot now. He and Mom stayed in regular touch over the phone. He kept their dog and cat company, worked outside in the yard as best he was able raking and burning leaves (they have a big rural yard), and ate leftovers. The rest of us used leftovers for travel provisions, and I came home with some yesterday evening. We didn't have much leftover cranberry sauce because Mom, seeking to get another can at the store, grabbed the wrong thing from the shelf instead. She has been doing that an awful lot in recent years. That, and making it home without items she bought because the sackers at the store "failed to put it in her bag."
Dad's 80th birthday is today, but we had it early to celebrate while we were all home. We always celebrate his birthday at Thanksgiving.