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

[Liz]

To me, a turkey is just an excuse to serve multiple vegetable dishes.
Here's a sumptuous French restaurant presentation---multiple vegs all in one pot.

Vegetables served by a French chef-----an earthy, fragrant, visually striking composition:
butternut squash, Romanesco broccoli, potatoes, celery root, tomatoes, and mushrooms---
artistically sliced---gently seasoned and cooked in broth.

Served with a lemon-scented farmer’s-cheese crostini on the side.

The sommelier will suggest a $55 bottle of 2007 Dobbes Family Estate “Vanjohn Vineyard” Pinot Gris.

[Jamestown1630]

Fluffy Chix looks like a very good site - and the Bacon Gravy is interesting:

https://fluffychixcook.com/easy-bacon-gravy/

[Jamestown1630]

I bet the Alfredo Sauce would be good on spaghetti squash or ‘zoodles’.

[miss marmelstein]

Anything with corn I approve of!!!

[Jamestown1630]

To me, a turkey is just an excuse to serve multiple vegetable dishes.

I agree - I'm not really crazy about meat in general (unless it's bacon, a hot dog or hamburger). I like Thanksgiving - and potluck parties - because I like meals made up of a little bit of many interesting things. I can make a restaurant meal of shared appetizers...

[Qiviut]

Oh, I think I’m doing bacon gravy this year!

Last year, I took the Brussels Sprouts Casserole, some keto stuffing, & the pumpkin cheesecake bites as my contribution to the family feast. When I added turkey (I’m partial to dark meat anyway ... perfect!), I had no problems staying Keto & getting comfortably stuffed! I think I just used some pan juices (maybe added a little heavy whipping cream? can’t remember) on the stuffing when I ate it, to moisten it up.

The bacon gravy would be an awesome addition - I might have trouble getting some for myself because my nephew (17 - has 2 “hollow” legs & is eating my brother out of house & home), is a Type 1 diabetic so he’s really happy when I bring low carb food & he likes what I like, including Brussels sprouts (the main reason why I had few casserole leftovers last year). He’ll be heavily into the bacon gravy, for sure!

The bacon gravy recipe I saw that I wanted to use is not the one that uses the Alfredo sauce .... it’s this one from the same fluffychix site (I love mushrooms, too):

https://fluffychixcook.blogspot.com/2013/04/low-carb-southern-bacon-gravy-with-low.html

Low Carb Southern Bacon Gravy - so delicious
Ingredient list:

8 slices bacon
½ cup onion — chopped finely
2 cloves garlic — peeled and sliced thinly
1 ½ cups mushrooms — sliced
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons bacon grease
4 ounces cream cheese — cubed
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon parsley, freeze-dried
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons water (optional)
¼ cup green onions, whites and greens — chopped (optional)

[Jamestown1630]

Oh, Yes - bacon grease and heavy cream. That one is even better.

[Jim W N]

Where do you get that & how good is it?

[outofsalt]

Yankee Candle is a nationwide candle seller. Those are just scented candles. I don’t recommend eating them.
My wife doesn’t appreciate my sense of humor, in the least.

[Jamestown1630]

I’ve used a similar Ina Garten recipe - garlic-smashed with some Parm. cheese; always good.

[Jim W N]

Thanks Dave.

In my 50+ years Christian pilgrimage, I have come to the place where the true Gospel of the Grace of Christ is absolutely essential in my life and in anyone who wants to live victoriously and reign in life (Rom. 5:17).

During most of my Christian pilgrimage, I was in bondage to the condemnation of the law due to false teaching in most churches. But today, I know God is moving by his Spirit in these last days across the Body of Christ using anointed, called preachers like Joseph Prince to do exactly what Jude prophesied: “[E]arnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) - the Gospel of the Grace of Christ revealed to and disseminated by Paul the Apostle and explained in detail especially in the Book of Romans.

God bless.

[Jim W N]

My wife doesn’t appreciate my sense of humor, in the least.

I thought they looked like candle jars. Your wife needs a paradigm shift (as unfortunately most American women do these days). Anyway, that was a good one.

[bgill]

Had the best pulled pork soup and used the leftovers last night for the best burritos.

Pulled Pork Soup

1 pint baggie of cooked and basic seasoned shredded pork shoulder
2/3 C apple cider
1/2 C Mexican green sauce
1/2 C uncooked rice
1/2 a diced onion
1 T chili powder
1 T chicken bullion
2 t paprika
1 t cumin
powdered garlic
salt and pepper

Cook until rice is done.

---

Pork Burritos

Use the leftover pork soup but simmer out the liquid. Portion out onto flour tortillas. Add sour cream, fresh onions and cheddar cheese.

---

Flour Tortillas - yields 7 thin 7” tortillas

1 C flour
1 T oil/butter/bacon grease or whatever you have on hand
water to made a dough

Divide dough into golf ball size portions. Roll out on floured surface one at a time. Cook in dry skillet a few seconds to toast up. Flip to brown other side.

[Jim W N]

Thanks bgill.

At this point in time, my goal is less time cooking and cleaning up and more time enjoying - hence the attraction to me of the offerings at Trader Joe’s and Costco.

Happy (early) Thanksgiving.

[bgill]

Oh my, no one needs to cook Thanksgiving or Christmas all day. Here’s may trusty schedule of many decades.

The day before - make the pies and cornbread for the dressing.

7 am on turkey day, put the foil covered 20 lb. bird in the oven at 375.

Prep the sides and dough for rolls.

Go sit down.

11 am, the bird comes out of the oven and the sides go in.

11:40 am, the sides come out and the rolls go in.

Noon - ring the dinner bell.

[bgill]

There’s really no need to scald milk these days as it is already pasteurized.

[bgill]

Good catch!

Oh, the horrors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jim W N]

Yeahbutt...

who cleans up...?

Nobody cares if you’ve got a family gathering except for maybe crazy Uncle Bob.

But if you’re by yourself, after eating, I want to watch football or the parade something, not wash and clean.

[bgill]

I recently made our first fried brussels sprouts. Who knew they were so yummy.

Cut the sprouts in half and cook them into frying oil until they turn ugly brown. Sprinkle a bit of salt when they come out of the oil and let drain.

In a small bowl, combine sriracha sauce and sweetener. Toss on the sprouts.

[bgill]

Make a low carb pumpkin pie and serve with a piece of bacon. You’ll be dreaming about it until next Thanksgiving.