THANKSGIVING WEEK

[username]

I demand a gravy cook off. I'm not sure how we're going to manage this but it must happen. Perhaps you two can start by posting ur recipes and we'll vote. If that doesn't work I will pay to have fed ex ship me a sampling of both.

*drools*

[Duchess]

I forgot to buy a throw away roaster so now I've got this big, honkin' pan that I don't think will even fit in my sink. I might have to take that big bitch outside to the hose in order to wash it.

[Maggot]

Does Australia have some kind of Thanksgiving? I feel they and other countries are left out.

[HairOfTheDog]

I demand a gravy cook off. I'm not sure how we're going to manage this but it must happen. Perhaps you two can start by posting ur recipes and we'll vote. If that doesn't work I will pay to have fed ex ship me a sampling of both.

*drools*

How would you taste-test the gravies of Six, sally, blueberry et all and pick a winner, userjudge?

Right off the spoon? Adorning the mashed potatoes, or dressing, or turkey, or biscuits...or all of the above?

(Inside a biscuit turkey sandwich is my optimal gravy place -- somebody else's gravy -- mines always too thick or too salty).

[SIXFOOTERsez]

LOL, that would be a fun challenge to play in.
HOTD you have to sneak up on the salt, add it in a very small but at a time. I don't use much salt so I have to have someone else taste it to tell me when its right.
Here is my table before the carnage got going, the old guy is a friends dad.

[HairOfTheDog]

Your table with your grandmother's china really looks great, Six.

There were only four of us yesterday, so we ate around the new coffee table watching football. I had the guys bring up an old (new for me, though) rug that I picked and cleaned in the garage last week. The 20 year old coffee table/bench leg had become immune to gorilla glue and I was getting tired of the mission/Santa Fe look anyway, so I re-purposed some things and modernized the living room.

I'll snap and post a pic in one of the soup chicken threads later today when I get off my butt and finish picking things up; I've got a few hours before the golfers return. Busy lounging and working on Bloody Mary #2 at the moment. (Those energetic bastards will be very lucky if there's any stuffing left when they return. It's even good cold.)

[Duchess]

I hope all you sweeties had a fantastic holiday. I'm so glad the pee-cahn pie is history. It called my name every time I walked through the kitchen.

I love long weekends.

[Duchess]

Tis Thanksgiving week, Mockers. I'm psyched for the holiday. I wasn't going to have a big day but I had a change of heart because I'm missing my family so much so I'm going to surround myself with some of the people who I love like they are family.

I'm not cooking. Surprise! I'm going to do other things though, like shop for the food, set a pretty table and ply people with booze.

I may even go to Mass and pray for Clang.

[Love Child]

It's a holiday week, Mockers, aren't you excited?

Tell me your plans, I'm interested in what your week will consist of. Do you have family coming in or are you going to them? If you're cooking dinner, what's on the menu?

Are there things in your life that you're thankful for or are you just a sour bitch who finds fault with every goddamn thing and Thanksgiving is nothing more than one big fuckin' chore?

I love thanksgiving. I love time with family. I love preparation of a big meal and having left overs for a week. I love the planning. No details yet this year, I will tell you after it is over.

Just seeing your post above. That sounds wonderful! I love preparing. I am glad you will be hanging out with some people.

[HairOfTheDog]

My younger sister and her two youngest are driving up for Thanksgiving. She hasn't been to visit her oldest daughter since my niece moved up here with me 2 ¹⁄₂ years ago.

I hope my sister doesn't flake again, but we'll enjoy the day either way.

Anyway, we bought a turkey, stuffing, biscuits, and potatoes on Friday and my niece and I will be making Thanksgiving dinner. We're looking forward to it.

[username]

I'm in So Cal visiting my mom with my ENTIRE immediate family. It's been...2 or more years since we've traveled together?

Returning Tuesday for Thanksgiving at my FIL's house on Thursday.

I am thankful not to be cooking.

[QueenBee]

Having a couple family members over. My two guy cousins who have no one else here. So there will be three guys in the living room watching Football...and me. In the kitchen. Cleaning. I need to invite another woman next year.
I am off all week, just came home from an odds and ends shopping trip for dinner. Just need to get a couple more things and done.

[Duchess]

I've never had cornbread stuffing and I'd like to try it, I'm actually thinking about hunting down a recipe so I can attempt it. I'm also thinking about baking some bread. I have no idea what has come over me but I'm a little jazzed thinking about cooking/baking.

I've been doing some holiday decorating too. It was dusk out the other night and I was walking through my home turning on low lighting. An undecorated Christmas tree in a darkened room is damn creepy looking. It's big & hulking. I scared the shit out of myself.

[QueenBee]

Do you bake bread from scratch, or use a bread machine? I have the machine. Have done scratch bread and mix in it.
I still use my mom's stuffing recipe. After a million or so years. My only new thing this year is I am going to do twice baked taters, rather than mashed. Never made them before, so am doing a practice run with the recipe today.

[blueberryhill]

I've never had cornbread stuffing and I'd like to try it, I'm actually thinking about hunting down a recipe so I can attempt it. I'm also thinking about baking some bread. I have no idea what has come over me but I'm a little jazzed thinking about cooking/baking.

I've been doing some holiday decorating too. It was dusk out the other night and I was walking through my home turning on low lighting. An undecorated Christmas tree in a darkened room is damn creepy looking. It's big & hulking. I scared the shit out of myself.

I have always done the cornbread stuffing and is a favorite with most people....I usually make up batch of cornbread from mix, and use 75% cornbread (put in plastic bag) and crumble, and i use about 25% dry bread crumbs....any ole' bread will do. I saute onions and celery, add poultry seasonings, i.e., sage, thyme, etc....I start simmering giblets to make gravy and use broth from that to add to stuffing mix, and then add turkey juices to "wet" consistency. add salt and pepper to taste....to dry bread crumbs, just put out bread on counter overnight..then put in plastic bag and use kitchen mallet to make crumbs. Add to crumbled cornbread, then add celery and onions (which you have sauteed
in butter), then drippings/juices from turkey and giblets....Save broth from cooking giblets for basis of your gravy. P.S. Why make bread when Rhodes does it for you. It comes frozen in loaves, buns, dinner rolls, etc. and tastes like homemade bread.

[sally]

In Clang's memory I'm going to stuff my turkey with crab rangoons and Totino's pizza rolls. No one ever raves about my stuffing anyway and it'll make for good conversation at the dinner table.

[Duchess]

I have always done the cornbread stuffing and is a favorite with most people....I usually make up batch of cornbread from mix, and use 75% cornbread (put in plastic bag) and crumble, and i use about 25% dry bread crumbs....any ole' bread will do. I saute onions and celery, add poultry seasonings, i.e., sage, thyme, etc....I start simmering giblets to make gravy and use broth from that to add to stuffing mix, and then add turkey juices to "wet" consistency. add salt and pepper to taste....to dry bread crumbs, just put out bread on counter overnight..then put in plastic bag and use kitchen mallet to make crumbs. Add to crumbled cornbread, then add celery and onions (which you have sauteed
in butter), then drippings/juices from turkey and giblets....Save broth from cooking giblets for basis of your gravy. P.S. Why make bread when Rhodes does it for you. It comes frozen in loaves, buns, dinner rolls, etc. and tastes like homemade bread.

I think I'm going to try your recipe. Can I use chicken broth to moisten the mixture? I ask because I know nothing about simmering giblets. I'm sure it's as easy as it sounds but I'm not going to be messin' around with giblets.

I've made bread with those frozen loaves you mentioned. It tastes wonderful and couldn't be easier to make. I just made pumpkin bread and my home smells divine.

[blueberryhill]

I have always done the cornbread stuffing and is a favorite with most people....I usually make up batch of cornbread from mix, and use 75% cornbread (put in plastic bag) and crumble, and i use about 25% dry bread crumbs....any ole' bread will do. I saute onions and celery, add poultry seasonings, i.e., sage, thyme, etc....I start simmering giblets to make gravy and use broth from that to add to stuffing mix, and then add turkey juices to "wet" consistency. add salt and pepper to taste....to dry bread crumbs, just put out bread on counter overnight..then put in plastic bag and use kitchen mallet to make crumbs. Add to crumbled cornbread, then add celery and onions (which you have sauteed
in butter), then drippings/juices from turkey and giblets....Save broth from cooking giblets for basis of your gravy. P.S. Why make bread when Rhodes does it for you. It comes frozen in loaves, buns, dinner rolls, etc. and tastes like homemade bread.

I think I'm going to try your recipe. Can I use chicken broth to moisten the mixture? I ask because I know nothing about simmering giblets. I'm sure it's as easy as it sounds but I'm not going to be messin' around with giblets.

I've made bread with those frozen loaves you mentioned. It tastes wonderful and couldn't be easier to make. I just made pumpkin bread and my home smells divine.

yes, you can use chicken broth, but be sure to use drippings from turkey to add richness to it.....I always start with a small pan with giblets and i keep on stove cooking and use the broth in dressing, then I add more water and keep the giblets on stove until I make gravy, then I add cream, and cut up giblets for the gravy along with drippings from turkey. The stuff which comes out of turkey during cooking needs to go in your dressing and gravy.....you can throw giblets out (I always throw neck out) but you get a lot of flavor from giblets. Just throw them out after you cook the hell out of them. i just looked at my recipe and I put an egg in dressing....also says you can add milk.....

[Maggot]

Every year I cannot find my electric knife. I'm ready this year and will cut through that bird like Darth Vader on meth.

[QueenBee]

Every year I cannot find my electric knife. I'm ready this year and will cut through that bird like Darth Vader on meth.

With me it is the meat thermometer. Still have not found the thing.