Monthly Cooking Thread, Thanksgiving Edition, November 2019

[Jamestown1630]

I originally began this cooking thread because – during my many years as a ‘lurker’ here before signing up – I greatly enjoyed the annual Thanksgiving cooking threads that I would see. (Somewhere on my hard drive, I’m sure I have many Freeper recipes that were posted over the years before I officially arrived on the scene.)

Now, the holiday season is getting into gear, and Thanksgiving is on the near horizon once again. Please share with us your family favorites, traditions, and your memories of this very American of holidays.

We’ve noted many times before that people really don’t like Thanksgiving to ‘change’ - we enjoy, and enjoy looking forward to, the traditional family specialties that we have always relished on that day. But I encountered a potato recipe that some of you might find interesting as a slight change-up to your annual fare - (and who said you can have only one kind of potato dish, anyway?)

Here, Chef John of Food Wishes, presents his rendition of Potatoes Romanoff:

https://foodwishes.blogspot.com/2019/10/potatoes-romanoff-this-didnt-stay-in.html

My husband and I were thrilled with the first wet-brined turkey that we made many years ago – but that was before we discovered dry-brining. We have used the Russ Parsons method for several years now, and it results in the best turkeys that we’ve roasted.

Here is the Parsons Method (also known as 'The Judy Bird'):

https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/good-food/recipe-russ-parsons-dry-brined-turkey-a-k-a-the-judy-bird

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I recently lost a very stubborn 15 pounds that always seem to creep up on me over time, by following a very low-carb diet. One of my favorite dishes for Thanksgiving is the ubiquitous Green Bean Casserole, and we found this recipe from 'Dot2Trot' for a low-carb version. Haven’t tried it yet, but it looks more promising than a lot of others we have seen. (As of the last time she posted the numbers, Dot had lost 145 pounds on the low-carb diet, and her website and YouTube channel have a lot of really good recipes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP_lTI7Ji2I

(The painting at the start of this post is entitled ‘Home for Thanksgiving', and was painted by Anna Mary Robertson - “Grandma’ - Moses):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandma_Moses

-JT

[Qiviut]

If he needs a little motivation (the good kind) to really stick with it, I love reading the “success” stories on dietdoctor.com - here’s a link:

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/success-stories/all

This guy is one of my all-time favorite stories:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/with-one-foot-in-the-grave-robert-turned-it-around-and-lost-200-lbs

Another good one - just showed up on my FB feed the other day:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/the-keto-diet-from-inability-to-walk-to-flying-a-plane

Some of the stories are just amazing and every time I read one that particularly ‘speaks’ to me, I think “I’m doing this too!!”

The dietdoctor.com site has been my main support, with recipes, diet advice, etc. I got introduced to Dr. Jason Fung on their website & got his books. I’ve used his book on intermittent fasting to help get the weight off since I appear to be a “stubborn” case ... very insulin resistant, post-menopausal, etc.

[Jamestown1630]

Thanks. I will show it to him. Husband only gained back about 30 lbs., and lost it again easily. He says he got ‘lazy’ over the past year or two.

That’s the thing about this diet - if you have an enormous amount of weight to lose, it can take time; but it’s so comfortable compared with other kinds of diets that it’s easy - after a few days of real concentration, you lose hunger, and it’s not hard to eat what is good for you instead of what you ‘crave’ - because there are no more cravings.

[V K Lee]

Sweet Potato Casserole with PRALINE TOPPING
The recipe is also in the Southern Living recipe books (which is the one used at the time -unfortunately still in a packing box after the move) Can’t guarantee this is the same, but it appears to be. Potatoes baked, not boiled, before mixing in the eggs and milk The result is like a souffle, praline topped and the compliments are numerous. :-)
https://www.southernliving.com/dish/casserole/kathy-g-sweet-potato-casserole-praline-topping-video

If it’s Thanksgiving, one NEEDS sweet potatoes!

[Jamestown1630]

If it’s Thanksgiving, one NEEDS sweet potatoes!

Amen!

[V K Lee]

That Indian maiden...
Oh never mind! :-)

[Jane Long]

Same recipe our family has made, for Thanksgiving, for years.

The best!!

[reformedliberal]

...one of those ‘Aerogarden’ thingies...
________________________________________
I had several of those at one time.

Baby Bok Choy does well

Micro greens

cherry tomatoes

Problems:

Build up of salts from the growing solution; need for regular solution exchange and cleaning of tank; need the trellis system/taller version for tomatoes; need several if you actually want to grow enough to feed more than one person at one meal.

They are actually a lot of work for a small harvest.

[Jamestown1630]

I actually got it to try and grow herbs, and maybe a few flowers now and then. But I’ve been thinking that it might be good for starting things early. We bought a little poly ‘greenhouse’ thing that fits on our balcony, and want to try starting some stuff in it on the balcony next year.

Our main problem has been that even if we grow things that can stand the hot Southern exposure, the birds come and eat everything up. We figure that starting them in the ‘greenhouse’ and getting them established, will obviate that, somewhat.

One year we did manage to grow lettuces early; but only a couple of meals worth ;-)

[Moonmad27]

Thanks for the Brussels sprouts recipe. I’ll definitely try it!

[b9]

Yum

[Dave W]

Rural areas can be a challenge, but there are plenty of good churches in large metro areas - try a Bible church...as in Phoenix Bible Church or where ever they may be. They are non denominational.

[V K Lee]

Confession: Oh! Nuts! a possible picky eater here. Why have melted marshmallows when a praline can easily be made? Pecans win every time! :-) OTOH, marshmallow cream is favored on other items

[V K Lee]

It was yum yum. More souffle than casserole, so light. The topping made the dish!

[terart]

thanks for the recipes...hoping to follow this up to Thanksgiving :)

[outofsalt]

"Guy living on my own right now. Thanksgiving Dinner? Trader Joe’s Turkey and Stuffing en Croute."

Paired with a bottle of Wild Turkey, friends and Football!

[texas booster]

Carlo Morelli is a professional chef and graced our board with his recipes for many years. His health has declined but he still posts occasionally.

I will see if I can link to his old cooking threads and add to the festivities.

[miss marmelstein]

Last year, we moved to Alabama in November. Thanksgiving was spent in a hotel and we bought a cooked chicken, cranberry sauce, slaw, champagne at Fresh Market and ate in our hotel suite, feeding bits to our dog. We were so happy!

This year, I’ll be making a stuffed turkey with green beans, a butternut squash gratin straight from my garden, corn bread or biscuits or maybe just a decent loaf of bread from Whole Foods, mashed potatoes and some sort of homemade pie. I’m saving the champagne for Christmas.

Everyone have a blessed holiday and God Bless America!

[Jamestown1630]

I’m glad you are so pleased with your new home. I had a feeling you’d like it and fit right in.

Another thing I like for Thanksgiving is Corn Casserole, or Corn Souffle. Here’s one from Paula Deen, but if anyone has a family favorite, please post:

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/corn-casserole-recipe-1943617

[Jamestown1630]

I remember some of those threads.

[Qiviut]

Just posted (FB) .... a roundup of “The Best Keto and Low Carb Thanksgiving Recipes” (from All Day I Dream of Food)

https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/best-low-carb-thanksgiving-recipes/

From link:

How to have a Low Carb Thanksgiving

Are you still wondering what to cook for Thanksgiving this year? Or at least, what to cook that will fit your ketogenic diet and yet still be delicious enough to satisfy? Never fear, I’ve got you covered. I searched high and low for the best keto and low carb Thanksgiving recipes the internet has to offer. I worked on this list for a long time, trying to find you the classics made low carb, gluten free, and sugar free.

Here’s the deal. I figure you know how to make turkey low carb. Slap some butter on that bird, sprinkle it with herbs, and toss it in the oven. If you’re desperate for gravy, collect the pan juices, reduce them in a pan and add your thickener of choice – I like xanthan gum or glucomannan. Just a 1/2 teaspoon will do, and whisk it in quickly to keep it from gumming up.

If you’re still uncertain, check out this primer on low carb gravy by Laura Dolson. Or go hog wild and make this BACON GRAVY from Fluffy Chix Cook to go with your turkey (bacon and turkey? A match made in heaven!).

Sugar free cranberry sauce? That’s ridiculously easy to make low carb as well. You don’t need me for that. Just grab a bag of berries, put them in a pan with a cup of water and the low carb sweetener equivalent of a cup of sugar, bring to a boil and cook until most of the berries have popped (about 10 minutes). Bam!

But it’s all the other Thanksgiving recipes that get tricky on a keto diet. Apps and sides and dessert, that’s where you might find yourself floundering. But you don’t have to suffer without all of your favourites, believe me. There are delicious keto recipes to replace all your old standards. From low carb stuffing to sugar free pumpkin pie, there are recipes here to make your holidays perfect.