Southern California - What Are Ya Cooking up for Turkey Day? Oh, and Recipes...

I think we had one of these type threads last year, but I'm lazy and there are more (new/exciting) members this year. :D So, I'll start. I'm having dinner at a very good friend's house at which there will be over 30 people. Everyone brings a dish and I've been asked to bring something green, but not green beans. Thus, I was thinking a sautéed broccoli dish. Any recipes for that?

What are the rest of you cooking up? I know Mo Phat is going to make my Whiskey-Sour Sweet Potatoes. :p

I will be deep frying my birds. They are so juicy that way. Yumm, fried turkey.

I will be deep frying my birds. They are so juicy that way. Yumm, fried turkey.

+1 only I'm not deep frying anything. Frickin Weight Watchers! :cry: :p

This year I feel like some dry (relatively speaking) western style turkey, not the wet Spanish style. I don't have any idea where we're heading out to this year. I guess I'll find out when I come home from work on turkey day.

Mary, are you sure when the hostess said "bring something green" she didn't mean cash? Show up with a wad.

I'm in charge of my family's T-dinner for 15-17 people. I've already ordered two fresh birds from Bristol Farms. A third (thawed) bird will be sacrificed to make my stock, which will take all day Wednesday.

One of the fresh birds will be brined in a beer brine, then will be baked with a lemon zest/parsley spread in between the skin and meat. The other will go into a traditional salt/stock brine, and will be baked in the other oven with the traditional apple/chestnut stuffing. (I'm glad mom has multiple ovens!)

I will have two other stuffing choices: one with apples, spiced bread and walnut; the other with cornbread, chestnuts and a touch of persimmon. My gravy will be handcooked with the excellent stock (it's the stock that make it!). Of course, green beans almondine and baked yams. Mmmmm.

Mom is in charge of the appetizers and the guests will be bringing dessert and other sides. Hopefully, I won't have to do cleanup as well. ;)

..Everyone brings a dish and I've been asked to bring something green, but not green beans.
...
What are the rest of you cooking up? I know Mo Phat is going to make my Whiskey-Sour Sweet Potatoes. :p


You should make collard greens, the good buttery southern way. Or Green Smoothies. :)

Now then, explain this Whiskey Sour Sweet Potato thing. Sounds tasty.

I'm in charge of my family's T-dinner for 15-17 people. I've already ordered two fresh birds from Bristol Farms. A third (thawed) bird will be sacrificed to make my stock, which will take all day Wednesday.

One of the fresh birds will be brined in a beer brine, then will be baked with a lemon zest/parsley spread in between the skin and meat. The other will go into a traditional salt/stock brine, and will be baked in the other oven with the traditional apple/chestnut stuffing. (I'm glad mom has multiple ovens!)

I will have two other stuffing choices: one with apples, spiced bread and walnut; the other with cornbread, chestnuts and a touch of persimmon. My gravy will be handcooked with the excellent stock (it's the stock that make it!). Of course, green beans almondine and baked yams. Mmmmm.

Mom is in charge of the appetizers and the guests will be bringing dessert and other sides. Hopefully, I won't have to do cleanup as well. ;)


What time should I arrive? :D

You should make collard greens, the good buttery southern way. Or Green Smoothies. :)

Now then, explain this Whiskey Sour Sweet Potato thing. Sounds tasty.

Ooh..didn't think of the collard greens. Unfortunately, I already said broccoli to my friend. I guess I could make green smoothies with broccoli :p

Oh, and here is the WSSP recipe - http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=5593144&postcount=1781

Warning, you eat just a little and you may keep going back for more. It's wicked delicious. :D

Ooh..didn't think of the collard greens. Unfortunately, I already said broccoli to my friend. I guess I could make green smoothies with broccoli :p

Oh, and here is the WSSP recipe - http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=5593144&postcount=1781

Warning, you eat just a little and you may keep going back for more. It's wicked delicious. :D

OMG, you had me at 1 pound s. potatoes, 1 stick butter

I'll be trying this soon.

OMG, you had me at 1 pound s. potatoes, 1 stick butter

I'll be trying this soon.

:lol: I can't have any as even a whiff of it would be like 22 points. :mad:

What time should I arrive? :D

Depends. How good are you at deboning? :p

Depends. How good are you at deboning? :p

I'm so good, I never need to use a hand.

http://www.tofurky.com/images/p_TofurkyUSRoastGravyFlat.jpg
We're trying something new this year.

I might cook a pumpkin pie, if oven is fixed. :mad:

http://www.tofurky.com/images/p_TofurkyUSRoastGravyFlat.jpg
We're trying something new this year.

Are you vegetarian? If not, might I suggest you don't do it. I used to be vegetarian and tried Tofurky (granted, a few years back) and it was awful. I mean, dreadful awful.

Hell, you can drown it with the Whiskey-Sour Sweet Potatoes and it would still taste like crap. :p

Are you vegetarian? If not, might I suggest you don't do it. I used to be vegetarian and tried Tofurky (granted, a few years back) and it was awful. I mean, dreadful awful.

Hell, you can drown it with the Whiskey-Sour Sweet Potatoes and it would still taste like crap. :p

+1. My daughter likes tofurky, I can't even be in the same room with the stuff. It even smells unholy. No offense to the non meat eaters.

I'm in charge of my family's T-dinner for 15-17 people. I've already ordered two fresh birds from Bristol Farms. A third (thawed) bird will be sacrificed to make my stock, which will take all day Wednesday.

One of the fresh birds will be brined in a beer brine, then will be baked with a lemon zest/parsley spread in between the skin and meat. The other will go into a traditional salt/stock brine, and will be baked in the other oven with the traditional apple/chestnut stuffing. (I'm glad mom has multiple ovens!)

I will have two other stuffing choices: one with apples, spiced bread and walnut; the other with cornbread, chestnuts and a touch of persimmon. My gravy will be handcooked with the excellent stock (it's the stock that make it!). Of course, green beans almondine and baked yams. Mmmmm.

Mom is in charge of the appetizers and the guests will be bringing dessert and other sides. Hopefully, I won't have to do cleanup as well. ;)


Seriously, who do I have to bribe to get on that guest list.

+1. My daughter likes tofurky, I can't even be in the same room with the stuff. It even smells unholy. No offense to the non meat eaters.

My little sister is vegetarian, and I often plan and cook the thanksgiving dinner (once a completely veggie one). It's always really good and you won't find a tofurky anywhere near my kitchen.

I do like tofu pumpkin pie and tofu chocolate cream pie though.

My little sister is vegetarian, and I often plan and cook the thanksgiving dinner (once a completely veggie one). It's always really good and you won't find a tofurky anywhere near my kitchen.

I do like tofu pumpkin pie and tofu chocolate cream pie though.

Yeah, we have a pretty big vegetarian contingent in our family. I do like tofu, and plenty of other meat alternatives, but there's just something about tofurky...

I do like tofu pumpkin pie and tofu chocolate cream pie though.

Oh, I have no issues with tofu...its the toFURKEY that is the freak food. It's toFARTY...:p

I like tofu, too (though my mom fears it, and refuses to even try the pie, so I have to make regular ones, too), but in general I don't see the point to trying to fake meat with it when there are so many things you can make that are naturally vegetarian. The exception is at restaurants like Happy Family, where they have a long cultural history of fake meat and do a good job of making it taste good.

It's toFARTY...:p

Oh, is that why our house smells like dead cats?

The exception is at restaurants like Happy Family, where they have a long cultural history of fake meat and do a good job of making it taste good.

My sister-in-law loves that place. Is it really that good? They're always trying to get me to go.

It's pretty good but because it's Buddhist (or at least the flavor of buddhist that they are) it's relatively bland for my taste. I prefer the spicy places that use real animal parts.

My sister-in-law loves that place. Is it really that good? They're always trying to get me to go.

If it's the one in Montebello we ate there almost daily when I worked in Monterey Park.

The cooks in my family (dad & sis) are coming over to visit me in SD. I'll finally have good food! :D

If it's the one in Montebello we ate there almost daily when I worked in Monterey Park.

Dats the one.

I've been known to eat neighborhood pets.

I've been known to eat neighborhood pets.

:rolleyes: I said "Clint" not "Dirty Harry." :p

Vegetables are what food eats.

Vegetables are what food eats.

So I take it you're just having turkey.

Claim Jumper
http://www.claimjumper.com/hypertext/images/thx_head.jpg

we still don't know what or where we're going, I just want to eat that day and watch some football

Are you vegetarian? If not, might I suggest you don't do it. I used to be vegetarian and tried Tofurky (granted, a few years back) and it was awful. I mean, dreadful awful.


My wife has been a vegitarian for 18 years and I eat fish but no cow, pig or bird. So our diet consists mainly that of Mycoprotein (http://www.quorn.us//cmpage.aspx?pageid=488) meat alternatives and plenty of fruits and veggies. We normally buy Quorn (http://www.quorn.us/) products because we like what they make.

So I take it you're just having turkey.

Actually, no... I sorta gave up on holidays after my mother died.

Actually, no... I sorta gave up on holidays after my mother died.

:(

My wife has been a vegitarian for 18 years and I eat fish but no cow, pig or bird. So our diet consists mainly that of Mycoprotein (http://www.quorn.us//cmpage.aspx?pageid=488) meat alternatives and plenty of fruits and veggies. We normally buy Quorn (http://www.quorn.us/) products because we like what they make.

+1 :)

My little sister is vegetarian, and I often plan and cook the thanksgiving dinner (once a completely veggie one). It's always really good and you won't find a tofurky anywhere near my kitchen.

I do like tofu pumpkin pie and tofu chocolate cream pie though.

Any special recipes you'd like to share? This will be my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian, have no interest in Tofurkey :). I kind of figured that with all the other food one would hardly miss the turkey. (Well maybe my non-veggie family might. ;))

found out we're going to my step mom's parent house for the 1st stop, meaning DEEP FRIED TURKEY YUMMMMMM

Time one a year or so post in So Cal. I'll be making this menu for my friends this weekend as an early Thanksgiving party:

Traditional Roast turkey with secret apple chicken sausage stuffing (My fiance's dad's recipe I'm not allowed to divulge)
Roasted Garlic mashed potatoes
Sweet Potato Casserole with crumb topping
Green Bean casserole
Gravy made from homemade chicken stock (did that last week and it's sitting in the freezer...stock not gravy)
Sour Cream Chocolate Bunt cake
Possibly pumpkin bread pudding

As for the fried Turkey, the escaping moisture pretty much keeps the oil out of the turkey so you'll be good on points Merider as long as you don't overdo everything else. As for broccoli, my favorite sautéed method is as follows:

heat pan over med-high heat. Add olive oil to pan followed by broccoli. Cook until, florets are bright green (1-2 minutes). Add 1/4-1/2 (depends on how much broccoli your cooking) cup of chicken broth, cover and drop temp to medium. Steam till tender, usually 3-5 mins. Remove lid, crank it up to high and cook till broth is evaporated out. Season with salt, pepper, and a little lemon juice. Yum! Note that this is not a vegetarian dish. Chicken broth can be substituted with water or vegetable broth but it won't have the same flavor.

Time one a year or so post in So Cal. I'll be making this menu for my friends this weekend as an early Thanksgiving party:

Traditional Roast turkey with secret apple chicken sausage stuffing (My fiance's dad's recipe I'm not allowed to divulge)
Roasted Garlic mashed potatoes
Sweet Potato Casserole with crumb topping
Green Bean casserole
Gravy made from homemade chicken stock (did that last week and it's sitting in the freezer...stock not gravy)
Sour Cream Chocolate Bunt cake
Possibly pumpkin bread pudding

As for the fried Turkey, the escaping moisture pretty much keeps the oil out of the turkey so you'll be good on points Merider as long as you don't overdo everything else. As for broccoli, my favorite sautéed method is as follows:

heat pan over med-high heat. Add olive oil to pan followed by broccoli. Cook until, florets are bright green (1-2 minutes). Add 1/4-1/2 (depends on how much broccoli your cooking) cup of chicken broth, cover and drop temp to medium. Steam till tender, usually 3-5 mins. Remove lid, crank it up to high and cook till broth is evaporated out. Season with salt, pepper, and a little lemon juice. Yum! Note that this is not a vegetarian dish. Chicken broth can be substituted with water or vegetable broth but it won't have the same flavor.

What time is dinner served and when should I arrive? :D

Any special recipes you'd like to share? This will be my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian, have no interest in Tofurkey :). I kind of figured that with all the other food one would hardly miss the turkey. (Well maybe my non-veggie family might. ;))

Here's last year's menu (just the veggie stuff):
- mashed potatoes with garlic and gorgonzola
- small red potatoes
- spinach sauteed with garlic
- broccoli raab w/pasta (don't remember what noodles, but bowties work ok, long spaghetti noodles don't) with garlic and fresh anaheim chillis
- steamed asparagus sauteed with a water based saffron sauce (to coat the stalks with saffron, but not be greasy or anything with oil or butter)
- breaded cauliflower cooked in teh convection oven
- wild rice mix
- roasted root vegetables (including potatoes, taro, purple yams, and various other things from Shun Fat) with vegetable bullion, a little soy sauce, and some honey). this is sort of the main filling dish for my sister
- carrots and green beans in a ginger/mustard/coconut curry (from the curries without worries book).
- cheese rolls (from the Cheese Board cookbook)
- tofu pumpkin pie
- non-tofu pumpkin pie (I butcher fresh pumpkins for both kinds)
- apple pie (made with macintoshes), crumb topping
- tofu chocolate cream pie (from the Mori Nu pudding mix recipe)
- banana bread (I had some bananas going bad and had to do something with them)

In the past I've also done a Cauliflower Biryani as the main veggie entree, where I used I think a chicken biryani recipe from the Curries Without Worries book and substituted cauliflower for chicken.

I think usually the only thing that's not veggie is the turkey, stuffing (my sister isn't into it so I don't make any veggie on the side), and gravy.

The carrots/green beans in curry is really good-- the curry is made from scratch from the recipe in the book, whcih is one of my favorite cookbooks. There's also lots of good stuff in the various Green's cookbooks (Greens Cookbook, Fields of Greens, etc). The enchiladas verde are really excellent.

Here's last year's menu (just the veggie stuff):
- mashed potatoes with garlic and gorgonzola
- small red potatoes
- spinach sauteed with garlic
- broccoli raab w/pasta (don't remember what noodles, but bowties work ok, long spaghetti noodles don't) with garlic and fresh anaheim chillis
- steamed asparagus sauteed with a water based saffron sauce (to coat the stalks with saffron, but not be greasy or anything with oil or butter)
- breaded cauliflower cooked in teh convection oven
- wild rice mix
- roasted root vegetables (including potatoes, taro, purple yams, and various other things from Shun Fat) with vegetable bullion, a little soy sauce, and some honey). this is sort of the main filling dish for my sister
- carrots and green beans in a ginger/mustard/coconut curry (from the curries without worries book).
- cheese rolls (from the Cheese Board cookbook)
- tofu pumpkin pie
- non-tofu pumpkin pie (I butcher fresh pumpkins for both kinds)
- apple pie (made with macintoshes), crumb topping
- tofu chocolate cream pie (from the Mori Nu pudding mix recipe)
- banana bread (I had some bananas going bad and had to do something with them)

In the past I've also done a Cauliflower Biryani as the main veggie entree, where I used I think a chicken biryani recipe from the Curries Without Worries book and substituted cauliflower for chicken.

I think usually the only thing that's not veggie is the turkey, stuffing (my sister isn't into it so I don't make any veggie on the side), and gravy.

The carrots/green beans in curry is really good-- the curry is made from scratch from the recipe in the book, whcih is one of my favorite cookbooks. There's also lots of good stuff in the various Green's cookbooks (Greens Cookbook, Fields of Greens, etc). The enchiladas verde are really excellent.

Thanks! http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/happy065.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org) Now to plan my menu...http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/eatdrink051.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

Wild pig, elk, moose, what-ever my brother has killed lately. He cooks it.

Thanks! http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/happy065.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org) Now to plan my menu...http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/eatdrink051.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

Debbie, I love your avatar. You are one very pretty lady. :)

Here's last year's menu (just the veggie stuff):
- mashed potatoes with garlic and gorgonzola
- small red potatoes
- spinach sauteed with garlic
- broccoli raab w/pasta (don't remember what noodles, but bowties work ok, long spaghetti noodles don't) with garlic and fresh anaheim chillis
- steamed asparagus sauteed with a water based saffron sauce (to coat the stalks with saffron, but not be greasy or anything with oil or butter)
- breaded cauliflower cooked in teh convection oven
- wild rice mix
- roasted root vegetables (including potatoes, taro, purple yams, and various other things from Shun Fat) with vegetable bullion, a little soy sauce, and some honey). this is sort of the main filling dish for my sister
- carrots and green beans in a ginger/mustard/coconut curry (from the curries without worries book).
- cheese rolls (from the Cheese Board cookbook)
- tofu pumpkin pie
- non-tofu pumpkin pie (I butcher fresh pumpkins for both kinds)
- apple pie (made with macintoshes), crumb topping
- tofu chocolate cream pie (from the Mori Nu pudding mix recipe)
- banana bread (I had some bananas going bad and had to do something with them)

In the past I've also done a Cauliflower Biryani as the main veggie entree, where I used I think a chicken biryani recipe from the Curries Without Worries book and substituted cauliflower for chicken.

I think usually the only thing that's not veggie is the turkey, stuffing (my sister isn't into it so I don't make any veggie on the side), and gravy.

The carrots/green beans in curry is really good-- the curry is made from scratch from the recipe in the book, whcih is one of my favorite cookbooks. There's also lots of good stuff in the various Green's cookbooks (Greens Cookbook, Fields of Greens, etc). The enchiladas verde are really excellent.

Okay, so, here is the plan for Thanksgiving:

1. Get up and ride bike for 2 hours
2. Throw some steamed broccoli in a bowl with oil and salt and call it sauteed
3. go to friend's place...eat
4. go to Happytime's place...eat
5. go to Huyskigod's place...eat
6. go to Bitingduck's place...eat
7. Next???? :D

Debbie, I love your avatar. You are one very pretty lady. :)

http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/flowerysmile.gif (http://www.millan.net)

Okay, so, here is the plan for Thanksgiving:

1. Get up and ride bike for 2 hours
2. Throw some steamed broccoli in a bowl with oil and salt and call it sauteed
3. go to friend's place...eat
4. go to Happytime's place...eat
5. go to Huyskigod's place...eat
6. go to Bitingduck's place...eat
7. Next???? :D

Maybe you'd better start with a 4 hour ride. :D

We let my sister and her in-laws take care of the thanksgiving day dinner. After mom died, there hasn't been anything we really get excited about on thanksgiving ... Besides, when my sister puts on a dinner, we usually have about 15 people, and lots of football fans at dinner.