So, Whatcha Cookin'?

[_KimberlyAnn]

I haven't a clue what's happening on the board today, as I haven't had a minute to read it! I've cooking to do.

I just put a cake in the oven and have a second to ask: What is everyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving, for me, will be spent with my extended Mormon family, and they think they can't survive without my homemade German chocolate cake. I make two large cakes, and there's still not enough. Also, I make ALL the mashed potatoes and gravy for everyone. Enough to serve nearly sixty people! I peel thirty pounds of potatoes and every year, my fingers are slightly swollen for a few days from the task. It's a huge chore, but I'm the only one willing to make real potatoes. I refuse to serve or eat fake ones! Blech!

I'll make deviled eggs later today and some fudge, too.

Really, it's too bad I'm not making the turkey this year. I only like my own turkey. Everyone else's seems too dry. Oh, well. I'll eat the ham. :)

So, what are y'all working on for Thanksgiving?

KA

[_The Nehor]

Deep fried birdie for tomorrow. Unfortunately extended family is in another state so it's only be about a dozen of us.

[_Who Knows]

So, Whatcha Cookin'?

Nothing. I have a good julie beck Mormon wife. She does it all. lol.

[_gramps]

What day is Thanksgiving this year?

[_KimberlyAnn]

What day is Thanksgiving this year?

It's tomorrow, Gramps.

And shame on you, Who Knows! Go help your wife.

Well, my husband doesn't help me, either, but I'm no longer a Julie Beck Mormon Wife. I'll find a way to make him pay...

Laughing Sinisterly,

KA

[_Always Thinking]

I've made a lemon tart already, and I'm going to be making an apple pie and a pumpkin roll tonight. I'll also be making the sweet potato casserole. If I have the energy, I'll also make a sweet potato pie.

Luckily, my mom always uses real potatoes, so I can trust them to make the mashed potatoes, lol.

Tomorrow, I'll be making orange rolls (a tradition in my husband's family). They are constructed similarly to cinnamon rolls, except instead of cinnamon and sugar, it has sugar and orange peel and orange juice concentrate rolled up in it.

We will be eating at my parents house, just them and us, and whomever else they can talk into coming. None of my siblings will be coming because none of them are local, and we will ALL be getting together at Christmas (no small task, only happens every 5 years, maybe).

[_Always Thinking]

oh yeah, and I'll be making homemade cranberry sauce. It is super easy to make and it is soooo much better than anything that comes in a can. It is as simple as boiling sugar, water, and cranberries for 10 minutes. It is so worth it!

[_skippy the dead]

We're having dinner with my in-laws. I'm going to try making sweet potato spoon bread. I've never had it, but it sounded good. With my limited cooking skills, it could end up tasting like ass, but I'll give it a shot.

For cranberry sauce, my MIL makes this delicious sauce (from scratch!) using orange and amaretto. Delish!

[_moksha]

There is just two of us, so everything is much easier. We were going to do roast beef, but the lure of a free turkey changed those plans. I hope I have the directions straight. I agree about the real versus instant potatoes. I wanted baked potatoes but my daughter insisted on mashed.



I ran across an article raving about brining the turkey. It sounded like too much work. Does anyone of you do this?

[_Blixa]

Here's my menu:

celery sticks stuffed with shrimp

"dip" made with seasoned cream cheese, seafood sauce and crab meat. with crinkled potato chips

roasted root vegetables (beet, sweet potato, turnip, leek and garlic)

steamed green beans

Turkey breast enshrouded in butter soaked cheese cloth and roasted (cheese cloth resembles Shroud of Turin when finished)

Stuffing: traditional seasoned bread crumbs (sage, thyme etc), sausage, chopped onion, chopped celery, chopped green apple and prunes macerated in Madeira

Gravy: pan drippings reduced with Madeira, then heavy cream added

Brioche rolls (not home made)

Cranberry sauce out of a can (tradition)

Dessert: assortment of chocolates, cookies and rasberry tart

Wine: Cahors and apertif made with cranberry juice and apfel schnapps