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OT - Tuesday Turkey Talk

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Let's talk turkey! Or goose. Or ham. Or whatever your preference is for Thanksgiving.

What IS your preference?
I grew up eating turkey. So did DH and it's what we both prefer to have. (Ham is Christmas tradition for us and - now - for the skids, too.)

What are your plans?
Originially, we were going to stay home and have Thanksgiving for Two. I even bought a 9.5 lb turkey! After a little debate (and much reluctance on my part), we decided to continue with recent tradition and go to my sister's for Thanksgiving for Three. I am NOT looking forward to that as my sister has been an absolute PITA and I don't want to deal with her craptasticity. However, this will eliminate some holiday hostility and gets me (us) off of the hook for EVERY OTHER traditional get-together until March (longer if we're still under house arrest - er, lockdown - I mean, quarantine). Maybe her head will pop out of her backside by then...

What fixings do you like with your bird/pig/tofu/lettuce leaf?
A big spoonful of stuffing (I like it better than dressing), a small spoonful of mashed potatoes, a roll, a big ol' double spoonful of homemade cranberry orange relish, and a small piece of pumpkin pie. Don't forget to plop a generous dollop of cool whip on top! Oh, and some white wine (preferably pinot grigio - which is what we're having since I'm brining the wine!).

Do you watch football or movies or play music?
No football. My sister will have a Christmas movie playing - most likely her favorite, Elf. (I'd rather watch Diehard...)

Are you shopping on Friday?
HELL NO. I'd rather get a hundred paper cuts on my hands than be within 10 miles of any store on that day. In fact, when possible, I will opt for delivery until December 26th.

What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?
Being with family. I miss the stuffing out of my Dad being here for this day. For me, it is THE day I reflect on all things for which I am thankful. My family, my friends, all of the blessings I have which are too often taken for granted (house, car, clothes, job, food...). That's not to say that I don't reflect on these things throughout the year, but this IS Thanksgiving, so...

 

Even if you do not celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you and yours a blessed day. For those who are struggling, I hope that you are able to find something meaningful that brings you happiness.

Truly thankful for my STalk family,
Aniki 

 

Comments

ESMOD's picture

What IS your preference?
My preference would be ham or Roast Beef.  Growing up we always had traditional turkey since my brother and dad loved it.. but sometimes my mom would also get a small "side ham".... My husband loves turkey.. so we cook one a few times a year.  In fact, I am just making pot pie and turkey soup with the remains of one I cooked last week.  that will be the totality of this year's turkey day meal though.

What are your plans?
My brother and his family are coming to my area but renting an air bnb.  We will see them 2x in outdoor settings while they are here.. they are more covid risky since his wife and son are attending school daily... but he really wants his son to go fishing with us.. so that's what we will do the "best" day for weather they are here.  But for the actual "day/meal".. we have zero plans. it will just be my DH and myself.

My DH and I already went to see my 91 yo dad and were going to cook him oysters.. but he said that he wanted something simpler.. so he asked for a Big Mac... not lying.. I guess when you are 91... you get what you want..lol.

 

What fixings do you like with your bird/pig/tofu/lettuce leaf?
I like the dressing/mashed potatos/gravy/cranberry sauce traditional when I do have to eat turkey.  Maybe some green veg or sweet potatoes thrown in too.

Do you watch football or movies or play music?

Neither... if we have the meal.. people just usually hang out and talk.. but this year won't have anyone around..
 

Are you shopping on Friday?
I am with Aniki on the shopping.  No way. no way.

What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?
The day off work.. well two days.  I don't like the start of winter cold weather.  I'm not a huge family celebration fan.  I don't like turkey.... I am thankful for things I have but that isn't just thought about on one day..

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Mmmmmmm.... nothing like a good roast beef! We only have turkey once a year. This will be an exception since we now have a bird in the freezer! Along with all of the fixings... so we will have a second Thanksgiving in early December. (I now want to make roast beast...)

Love that your 91yo Dad wanted a Big Mac! There's something to be said for that combo. 

My work doesn't close on Friday, so I would have to take a vacation day. Since I'm working from home, I decided to save the vacay day and work. 

JRI's picture

Back in the day, Thanksgiving was the one and only day of the year all 5 kids were gone all day so DH and I stayed in bed late and ate out.  My happiest Thanksgivings are some version of that, including this year when we plan to have pizza.

Speaking of sisters, mine was a world-class cook. She was also a sick nut but still a great cook.  For several years, when Mom lived out of town, my sister would make a wonderful Thanksgiving meal and invite DH & I and another couple.  We would drive up to the house and a beautiful Christmas tree would be gleaming from the window.  We'd walk in and there was a great fire in the fireplace and the house smelled wonderful.  She made every single thing from scratch and it was all delicious.  Afterwards, she'd show me and the other woman her newest handmade ornaments and give us some.  Thanksgiving and Christmas were her "things".  When we left, I'd have that "pearls before swine" feeling because we had really wanted to stay home.  She is gone now after  much suffering.  RIP,  I think about her every Thanksgiving.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

JRI, I'm sorry that your sister suffered so much. It was generous of you to put her over your wants and let her shine in that element. 

Gotta say... pizza at home sounds wonderful! *fool*

advice.only2's picture

Happy early Thanksgiving Aniki to you and yours!

What IS your preference?
Turkey, but we are making a ham as well.

What are your plans?
Nothing much, sit around, stuff our faces, play some family games.

What fixings do you like with your bird/pig/tofu/lettuce leaf?
Stuffing or mashed potatoes (either one I like)
Sweet potatoe souffle (mostly for the roasted marshmallows on top)
Cranberry sauce (I make is homemade)
Rolls (any type really)
Veggies, this years it's corn and brussell sprouts.

Do you watch football or movies or play music?
I love to listen to music, but my parents get annoyed with it so we turn it down so low you can't even hear it.

Are you shopping on Friday?
Nope, not unless there are some really good cyber deals

What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?
I think all the prep that goes into it and enjoying having my family and friends around, the meal is sort of the end of Thanksgiving for me and then I'm ready to move on the Christmas.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Advice, do you play board games? That was one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving and Christmas (until we started scattering). We always dragged out The Game of Life. Every game, my oldest brother never had any less than 6 children. LOL!

advice.only2's picture

Lol oh that is funny. We play board games, card games, digital games for groups...when I was growing up we would always get one new board game or card game for Christmas and then play it the evening of Christmas.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

We only played board games (I'm the only one inherited our parents' love of card games). Such good times!

NoWireCoatHangarsEVER's picture

12 hours too.  From 5 am to 5 pm but someone has to keep the electricity going.  And of course I know if someone's power goes out on Thanksgiving due to a tree or a squirrel or whatever, they will get particularly nasty with me because they are cooking.  But I'm getting paid a butt load of money.  Its going to pay for my Christmas fo rmy four girls.  I am on a low carb keto diet.  What I want to do is make low carb homemade egg nog and get some kind of alcohol.  I'm not much of  a drinker but  I want some egg nog and want to sit and look at my Christmas tree and just sit down and rest.  I worked 8 (12 hour days) had one day off and now I have six more 12 hour days in a row.  I just cleaned my one day off. 

Dawn-Moderator's picture

We always have turkey.  We have gone to my brother and sister-in-law's house for the last 15 years.  Not this year.

Dh will be in charge of the turkey and the homemade cranberries.  I'll make a pumpkin pie.  I'm also trying a crockpot dressing.  See how that goes. Probably a couple other sides.

That's about it.  I might think about getting out some Christmas deco.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

When I get 'round to making that turkey, I'm sure DH will be instructing me. He's cooked a lot of turkeys over the years! He hates cooking, but has actually started helping a bit in the kitchen: stirring a pot, getting me something from the fridge...

Homemade cranberries are sooooo good! 

Merry's picture

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! It's sort of like Christmas without the drama. My Mom would do the full feast.

What IS your preference?
Turkey. This year it's just DH and me, and I have a small turkey. He doesn't like any type of dressing or stuffing, but I like a apple/raisin/celery type. My Mom was a pretty simple cook, and this is what she made. Simple, but yummy.

What are your plans?
Maybe watch some football, maybe walk the dogs, maybe nothing at all other than cooking and eating, and eating again.

What fixings do you like with your bird/pig/tofu/lettuce leaf?
Besides the stuffing, I like:mashed potatoes, cranberry-orange sauce, roasted veggies of almost any variety. And Aniki's beer bread (I think I'll chop up some cranberries and walnuts this time). For dessert pumpkin, sweet potato, or pecan pie.
 

Do you watch football or movies or play music?
DH and I both play piano, so probably some of that. Probably some football too. Probably movies in the evening. More of a Diehard fan than Lifetime Movies fan.

Are you shopping on Friday?
No. Hell no.

What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?
I like the planning and the cooking and the eating. We don't live near family, so it's usually just DH and me, but in other years I've enjoyed being with family. Well, except for my exH's. Not them.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

That beer bread was such a game changer for me! I want to try some different ones: cheddar and jalapeño, pear and gorgonzola, herb and cheese, nut bits and chopped cherries (using a cherry beer)...

Cover1W's picture

What IS your preference?
No turkey. see below.

What are your plans?
DH and I usually travel somewhere during this week, I make sure I have it off at work very early in the year. The SDs always are at BMs this holiday week. Yay! This year obviously no travel. On the off years we don't travel we/I make a gourmet meal. That's this year too.

What fixings do you like with your....

Spanish style roasted chicken. The rule for this meal is no turkey (save that for another day) and no worries about what SDs would like or not.

Polenta

Fresh greens

Champagne and a good wine to complement the meal.

Fancy cheeses and crackers for appetizers.

Homemade espresso ice cream and homemade almond biscotti for dessert.

Do you watch football or movies or play music?

Movies or a show before and after.
 

Are you shopping on Friday?
I never go out day after. I used to when I still went to my parents for the day, for something to do. The stores are closed around here due to mandatory shut downs.

I'll do some Amazon shopping as I have some things I need but the rest will wait till I can buy local as possible.

What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?

Vacation, no kids, nothing I need to do but for what I want to do. Luxury!
 

Cover1W's picture

Yes! It's easy. DH loves ice cream and he came with an ice cream maker. I got us an ice cream cookbook a couple years ago....we don't use it too much because he has no control over ice cream intake!

Aniki-Moderator's picture

DH and I rarely buy ice cream. Better for me to get a cone in lieu of anything bigger!

So... no ice cream maker! Will have to look into making a tiny freezer batch.

DPW's picture

Let's talk turkey! Or goose. Or ham. Or whatever your preference is for Thanksgiving.

What IS your preference? Turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas in my family. Sometimes a ham thrown in as extra. Always with pineapples... lol.

What are your plans? Our Thanksgiving has passed (in October), but we were by ourselves, offgridding at our cabin in peace.

What fixings do you like with your bird/pig/tofu/lettuce leaf? If my aunt is cooking - plain bland boiled potatoes with nothing on them, plain mushy carrots and stove top stuffing. If I'm cooking - garlic and onion mashed potatoes with butter, cream cheese and a splash of milk, brown sugar glazed carrots with fresh herbs, homemade orange and cranberry sauce, nut loaf, croissants and finally for dessert, pecan pie. (I hate pumpkin pie)

Do you watch football or movies or play music?
During dinner, we talk. After dinner, movies and playing with the kids while getting sauced. When kids are in bed, we play cards and board games.

Are you shopping on Friday?
I don't shop.

What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?
The long weekend... lol. Time to chill with friends and family. 

All my best to the American ST gang! Enjoy your holidays.