LET'S TALK THANKSGIVING!
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Paula Dean's Southern Cornbread Stuffing!2
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pancakerunner wrote: »Let's talk about stuffing... so many mixed opinions on this! Pesonally, I like a more traditional, but I know people who make it with cornbread or make it with rice, etc. What's your favorite kind?
Also... stuffing > mashed potatoes any day
I grew up with stuffing made from cubed white bread (a store brand similar to but firmer than Wonderbread), sauteed with onions, celery, and poultry seasoning, combined with sauteed bulk (i.e., not in casing) sage-flavored sausage. I do something similar, although I've taken to subbing pre-cubed bread or cornbread, or even something like Stove-Top mix, but I do the onions, celery, and sausage and add it to whatever I'm using for bread cubes.
Can't really agree with you "any day" about the stuffing/mashed potatoes comparison. But on Thanksgiving, yes, stuffing > mashed potatoes. But I don't view mashed potatoes as so much of a holidays-only food, since I grew up with mashed potatoes on the table probably three or four days a week (at least in cooler weather). These days, cooking for one, I don't make mashed potatoes that often, but I still make them more often than stuffing.
ETA: Sometimes when I'm just making the stuffing for me, I'll add dried fruit -- usually cranberries -- and nuts, generally either walnuts or pecans.0 -
Chef_Barbell wrote: »Chef_Barbell wrote: »Were doing prime rib, turkey and ham... sides are TBD at the moment.
So I worked out the menu 😊
Appetizers:
Deviled Eggs
Shrimp Cocktail
Veggie Platter
Main:
Glazed Ham
Turkey
Prime Rib
Fried Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Candied Yams
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Green Beans with Smoked Hamhock
Bacon Stuffing
Gravy
Cranberry Sauce (canned cause I love it 😋)
Roasted Veggies
Yeast Rolls
Dessert:
Milk Bar Pie
Pecan Tarts
Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Pie
Can't wait now!! 😁
Yummy! Can I eat at your house!!!2 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »pancakerunner wrote: »Let's talk about stuffing... so many mixed opinions on this! Pesonally, I like a more traditional, but I know people who make it with cornbread or make it with rice, etc. What's your favorite kind?
Also... stuffing > mashed potatoes any day
I grew up with mashed potatoes on the table probably three or four days a week (at least in cooler weather).
We had mashed potatoes 6 days a week year round when I was a kid! Guess it was cheap and could be served with everything my mom cooked so 🤷🏻♀️0 -
It will just be the two of us because we are super strict about covid-19 protocols. Also, our adult son dislikes any holiday with food as the focus so he usually begs off anyway.
Faux turkey
Fruit stuffing (cinnamon raisin bread and cranberries)
Mashed potatoes
Cranberry sauce
Roasted asparagus
Pumpkin pie2 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »pancakerunner wrote: »Let's talk about stuffing... so many mixed opinions on this! Pesonally, I like a more traditional, but I know people who make it with cornbread or make it with rice, etc. What's your favorite kind?
Also... stuffing > mashed potatoes any day
I grew up with mashed potatoes on the table probably three or four days a week (at least in cooler weather).
We had mashed potatoes 6 days a week year round when I was a kid! Guess it was cheap and could be served with everything my mom cooked so 🤷🏻♀️
I'm sure the frequency with which we saw potatoes on the table had a good bit to do with costs, although it was also relatively easy and was always popular in our family.
We had mashed potatoes with beef and pork roasts and roast ham, with turkey (of course!) and with pork chops and meatloaf and what she called Swiss steak (more of a beef stew with no veggies except tomatoes , which doesn't appear to be exactly what the rest of the world calls Swiss steak) and with fried chicken and liver-bacon-and-onions and sometimes with sausage (like kielbasa), although more often sausage was served with scrambled eggs. As the family got smaller (older kids growing up and moving out) and my father moved up in his career and pay-scale, we started having mashed potatoes with steak on occasion.
But my mom had a number of meals in her rotation that she didn't serve with mashed potatoes, so I think three to four times a week is a good estimate.
She had meals that she served with rice instead, which is even cheaper than potatoes and even easier to make, although not quite as popular in our family. We kept a jar of mixed sugar and cinnamon to sprinkle on the rice for kids who wouldn't eat it plain. Oddly, I'm drawing a blank on what the mains were that she served with rice -- fish, maybe, but we didn't have fish that often, so there must have been others. Maybe sometimes she served it with stuff she normally would serve with mashed potatoes when she didn't have time to make mashed potatoes. I'm feeling like the rice often shared the table with peas or spinach as a veggie, maybe something to do with some older kid who had been easier to get to eat those veggies if they mixed them with their rice? I dunno.
Generals fight the last war; I often felt my mother was raising the last kid. The youngest three of us were not picky eaters, but for years we continued to see the same limited range of vegetables that she had been able to get the oldest boys to eat. I guess once you find yourself having to scrape dried lima beans out of the crevices under the seats of dining room chairs you want to reupholster, you give up the fight.
She also had meals that included potatoes in other forms (like beef stew with potatoes, or beef soup with potatoes, or ham and potato casserole or corned beef hash or corned beef boiled with cabbage and potatoes).
If we had hamburgers and hot dogs, we'd generally have potato chips if they were grilled outside, or if it was cold weather and they were cooked inside, we'd get a treat of french fries (made from commercial frozen french fries). We really thought those french fries were something special, because they were such a rarety.
And occasionally we'd have baked potatoes or (in warmer weather) steamed new potatoes.
She didn't serve mashed potatoes in meals with pasta (usually spaghetti with a ground beef and tomato sauce or sometimes egg noodles with beef stroganoff, but in later years on rare occasions lasagna or pasta alfredo or pasta carbonara or chicken and dumplings).
She didn't serve a starch side with tuna casserole (she usually made a flour-based tuna casserole, sort of like a souffle but not intended to rise, but occasionally she made a tuna noodle casserole), or with quiches, or with "impossible pies" -- the recipe was on the Bisquick box -- sort of quiche-like, but you didn't make a short crust, you just mixed all the ingredients together and poured them in pie pan and it made its own sort of bready "crust".
And if we were having "breakfast for supper," there weren't any potatoes, unless the extremely rare thing known as leftover mashed potatoes were in the fridge -- which practically [ETA: NEVER] happened until some of my older brothers grew up and moved out -- in which case she might make what she called potato pancakes, a sort of cousin of latkes.
****
Well, I'm sure that was TL;DR for most of you, but it made me happy to think about mom and all the meals she cooked for us, and all the love she put into those meals.10 -
We're downsizing to our nuclear fam of 5. And eating it outdoors because our 3 daughters live away (kinda, 2 in college staying home until Jan). I've been thinking about what I can do to simplify for outdoor feasting. There are usually lots of hands in the kitchen to help which will not be the case this time.
Also thinking of having the 2 sets of grands who are local over at 2 separate times for a shorter time for dessert only. Our tradition is my grandmother's pumpkin chiffon pie. Sometimes DH makes a derby pie (kind of like pecan pie with chocolate... wicked good).
We love turkey, and aside from the carving, it is really not that difficult to prepare. I'm not a big dressing fan but DH is so that is on him to make. I like scalloped potatoes which have the added benefit of being prepared ahead so they can just go in the oven for 30 min when the turkey comes out. (DD prefers whipped potatoes, but those are tricky to reheat if prepared ahead. Better just to make at the last minute, and obviously that adds to the last minute complexity with fewer hands.) I'm wondering about a fresh green vegetable I can put in the oven at the same time as potatoes and stuffing. Any casserole involving a cream of ___ soup is not a part of our family tradition, although I certainly appreciate the prepare ahead convenience. Maybe brussel sprouts with bacon slightly undercooked then reheated in the oven? Suggestions appreciated!
Another question is if I should make aluminum trays of Thanksgiving dinner for the grands to pop in the oven at home. So much more work to do that. But I feel it is the right thing to do.
Another question is how to serve. Tradition is having it all on the table & passing plates. Obviously not this year. A buffet makes more sense but it will be cold so I may need to round up some hot plates. And lots of wine, probably pinot noir. Maybe negroni's at some point when all the hard work is done.
There’s a make ahead recipe for mashed potatoes that you can pop in the oven after the Turkey is out. It involves cream cheese and sour cream. We’ve had it for years and it’s delicious.kshama2001 wrote: »
She forced me make the cream of mushroom sauce for the green bean casserole from scratch last year, but I thought it was horrid and made two casseroles, one with packaged soup As God Intended (although I have upgraded from Campbell's to Pacific or Whole Food's) and one with the overly-mushroom flavored soup I made, which my mother and sister did like quite a bit.I just heard my brother's brother in law, declare that he wants a Traditional Food Thanksgiving (TFT) and I could not agree more, no crazy aunt Betty's marshmallow licorice avocado salad, no burn the garage down deep friend turkey drum sticks, just your standard properly baked turkey with the stuffing on the inside like god intended, mash potatoes, green beans, and cranberries out of the can, like mama used to make, ha ha
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@kashama2001
I’ve done that too. Once. It WAS horrid.
Anyway, what I was going to reply above, is that Campbell has a new cream of mushroom soup, cream of cremini & shitaki.
No difference from the original that I could discern. There’s really something to say about Thanksgiving and traditional foods we grew up with. It brings back memories. I’m glad my mother isn’t here to see 2020.3 -
missysippy930 wrote: »@kashama2001
I’ve done that too. Once. It WAS horrid.
Anyway, what I was going to reply above, is that Campbell has a new cream of mushroom soup, cream of cremini & shitaki.
No difference from the original that I could discern. There’s really something to say about Thanksgiving and traditional foods we grew up with. It brings back memories. I’m glad my mother isn’t here to see 2020.
Agree, so many memories from my childhood Thanksgiving. My sister is carrying on the tradition. Both my parents passed away in 2018...It's bittersweet blessing they don't have to be quarantined in a nursing home without family being by their sides! To not be with my Mom at her last moments would have devastated me!6 -
pancakerunner wrote: »Let's talk about stuffing... so many mixed opinions on this! Pesonally, I like a more traditional, but I know people who make it with cornbread or make it with rice, etc. What's your favorite kind?
Also... stuffing > mashed potatoes any day
For thanksgiving I make my grandmother's stuffing which is literally just hamburger buns broken up super small, butter, salt, and pepper. It IS stuffed into the turkey, though there is often extra which I just wrap into foil and throw into the oven to heat up. It's basic but the perfect companion to the turkey and gravy.
When I was cooking for a larger group that included my mom who did not like grandma's stuffing, I made Pioneer Woman's Cornbread dressing. Super good. I also will make this recipe when I am making a whole chicken or something throughout the year.0 -
pancakerunner wrote: »Let's talk about stuffing... so many mixed opinions on this! Pesonally, I like a more traditional, but I know people who make it with cornbread or make it with rice, etc. What's your favorite kind?
Also... stuffing > mashed potatoes any day
Mashed potatoes > stuffing. I don't care about stuffing at all and usually don't make it. I let someone else bring the kind they like. I used to experiment with different kinds, but don't miss it if we don't have it.2 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »pancakerunner wrote: »Let's talk about stuffing... so many mixed opinions on this! Pesonally, I like a more traditional, but I know people who make it with cornbread or make it with rice, etc. What's your favorite kind?
Also... stuffing > mashed potatoes any day
I grew up with mashed potatoes on the table probably three or four days a week (at least in cooler weather).
We had mashed potatoes 6 days a week year round when I was a kid! Guess it was cheap and could be served with everything my mom cooked so 🤷🏻♀️
For me mashed potatoes tend to be a holiday food. They are easy and I could make them more, but I normally do roasted potatoes instead (which are lower cal, since I add butter to the mashed, among other things).0 -
Our wedding cake baker has ventured into other desserts - so, naturally, when she posted on Instagram some delicious fall treats - I pre-orders 2 pies!
Apple Crumb Pie and Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
Thanksgiving is a treat day, but not too much food. If I eat too much and past the feeling of full - I'm just a ball of miserable discomfort.0 -
Found the pie I am going to make!
https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-chocolate-pecan-pie/6 -
This year me & my best friend are hosting thanksgiving at my house. We will provide turkey, ham, cornbread, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, & Mac & cheese. All of our friends are invited so also whatever they will bring. This is my first year hosting so I am excited3
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pancakerunner wrote: »Found the pie I am going to make!
https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-chocolate-pecan-pie/
Just looking at a picture of this pie, has to be at least 300 calories!
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xodreamariexo wrote: »This year me & my best friend are hosting thanksgiving at my house. We will provide turkey, ham, cornbread, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, & Mac & cheese. All of our friends are [/b]invited so also whatever they will bring. This is my first year hosting so I am excited
I hope that they bring their masks and their commitment to stay 6 feet away from each other too.
https://robinschoenthaler.medium.com/should-i-hold-thanksgiving-during-covid-e3393ac842c2
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/reopening-coronavirus/visiting_family_friends.html13 -
I am actually really looking forward to thanksgiving this year as it will be just my immediate family. I'm just looking forward to a day spent with my mom, dad, brother, dogs and good food!5
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Most of the 25 people we have for T Day are afraid to come. So we are cooking and assembling our own takeout for everyone. They will pick up or we will deliver. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, brussels sprouts, green beans and ham, sweet potato casserole, fresh cranberry sauce and store bought dinner rolls. Chess pie.12
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wilson10102018 wrote: »Most of the 25 people we have for T Day are afraid to come. So we are cooking and assembling our own takeout for everyone. They will pick up or we will deliver. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, brussels sprouts, green beans and ham, sweet potato casserole, fresh cranberry sauce and store bought dinner rolls. Chess pie.
solid plan!1 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »Most of the 25 people we have for T Day are afraid to come. So we are cooking and assembling our own takeout for everyone. They will pick up or we will deliver. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, brussels sprouts, green beans and ham, sweet potato casserole, fresh cranberry sauce and store bought dinner rolls. Chess pie.
This is probably the same thing that we will be doing - our normal Thanksgiving get-together usually involves between 25 and 30 people - and we will definitely NOT have that many people in the house. My wife and I have already discussed this but we haven't landed on a menu yet. Definitely turkey, dressing, ham and GB cassarole, but other sides and desserts are still under discussion.0 -
wilson10102018 wrote: »Most of the 25 people we have for T Day are afraid to come. So we are cooking and assembling our own takeout for everyone. They will pick up or we will deliver. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, brussels sprouts, green beans and ham, sweet potato casserole, fresh cranberry sauce and store bought dinner rolls. Chess pie.
I wonder if I can do this for my dad and send it to him in the mail with ice packs and stuff. 🤔0 -
Chef_Barbell wrote: »wilson10102018 wrote: »Most of the 25 people we have for T Day are afraid to come. So we are cooking and assembling our own takeout for everyone. They will pick up or we will deliver. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, brussels sprouts, green beans and ham, sweet potato casserole, fresh cranberry sauce and store bought dinner rolls. Chess pie.
I wonder if I can do this for my dad and send it to him in the mail with ice packs and stuff. 🤔
Dry ice is the thing to use. Google where to buy it near you. Use a large US Mail "if it fits it ships" box. That is the cheapest way.1 -
pancakerunner wrote: »Found the pie I am going to make!
https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-chocolate-pecan-pie/
Just looking at a picture of this pie, has to be at least 300 calories!
LOL! Over 600! Check out link
https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-chocolate-pecan-pie/1 -
@yayamom3 Love the bonfire idea.
Not sure what the holidays this year will hold for dh and me. Our ds lives across the state so we might see him but our dds would have to fly and I don't see that happening for either of them anytime soon.
As for food, can't even think that far ahead right now. Taking it 1 day at a time.5 -
pancakerunner wrote: »Found the pie I am going to make!
https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-chocolate-pecan-pie/
Just looking at a picture of this pie, has to be at least 300 calories!
LOL! Over 600! Check out link
https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-chocolate-pecan-pie/
what? You mean it's not zero? Do calories REALLY count on thanksgiving?2 -
My MIL does the cooking, with my daughter's help. (Daughter = age 20.)
Turkey, homemade egg noodles cooked in turkey broth, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole (My contribution), stuffing, Hawaiian Rolls. For dessert, cherry pie and pumpkin pie.
I personally do not care for stuffing and I'm not a fan of green bean casserole. I'll have turkey breast, a reasonable portion of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, a little noodles. And a piece of pie.0 -
pancakerunner wrote: »pancakerunner wrote: »Found the pie I am going to make!
https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-chocolate-pecan-pie/
Just looking at a picture of this pie, has to be at least 300 calories!
LOL! Over 600! Check out link
https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-chocolate-pecan-pie/
what? You mean it's not zero? Do calories REALLY count on thanksgiving?
Actually yes. To me its about giving thanks more than over indulging. My body is so hyper reactive and I just do not like consequences! Its not that I won't have something special, I truly enjoy a normal amount these days🙂4 -
We never did green bean casserole as a family dish, but I usually do what we call fancy green beans, which is just green beans sauteed in a little olive oil with some mushrooms, dill, and slivered almonds. We do do a high cal broccoli and cauliflower with cheese and bread crumbs which my mom brought as one of her Thanksgiving dishes since I can remember (my sister now makes it), and at times I've done a creamed spinach as a side, but only when there are lots of people, so not this year.
We will likely have (1) turkey breast, (2) the green beans, (3) the broccoli-cauliflower dish, (4) mashed potatoes (although likely with some cauliflower mashed in, as my sister and I both like that), and (5) a regular salad. Neither of us considers sweet potato a special dish, so we likely will ditch that given the smaller numbers. I like a cranberry and orange sauce, which we will likely make a topping for vanilla ice cream. Someone will likely bring a pie. I used to always make an apple pie and my sister a pumpkin cheesecake, but likely won't bother this year as we will likely have 4 people only. I'm sure someone will bring rolls, but I probably will not eat them.
IMO, Thanksgiving is a huge meal, but we usually eat little the rest of the day and for the past several years most of the dishes have been pretty consistent with how I normally eat that it's not like some super high cal day. The individual meals for Christmas and Easter tend to be higher and even then not that out of whack.1 -
pancakerunner wrote: »pancakerunner wrote: »Found the pie I am going to make!
https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-chocolate-pecan-pie/
Just looking at a picture of this pie, has to be at least 300 calories!
LOL! Over 600! Check out link
https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-chocolate-pecan-pie/
what? You mean it's not zero? Do calories REALLY count on thanksgiving?
Actually yes. To me its about giving thanks more than over indulging. My body is so hyper reactive and I just do not like consequences! Its not that I won't have something special, I truly enjoy a normal amount these days🙂
TBH I'm the same. I don't over do it... but don't strictly count either. I give myself permission to eat foods I normally wouldn't, but keep it in check!1
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