Thanksgiving Menu

cover2

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So what did everyone prepare and enjoy? Did you go traditional, smoked meat, Peking Duck at the Chop Suey Palace? Even though we really enjoy smoked turkey and ham, traditional is the way we always go for Thanksgiving.

We do the turkey in a browning bag with flour after rinsing, patting dry, seasoning with salt and pepper, stuffing the cavity with celery, onion, apple, and a bay leaf, and then rubbing down with butter. Put the bird in the bag breast down in a roasting pan with 3 cups of water. 15-1/2 pound bird cooked at 325 for 3-1/2 hours. Very moist, but not to the point that it couldn't be carved. Cornbread dressing with cornbread, 4 slices of toasted bread, a sleave of saltines, a beaten egg, 2 boiled eggs, celery, onion, pepper, and chicken stock stirred and baked. Make a roux with 1/2 cup of butter and 1/2 cup of flour, then add 4 cups of turkey stock, 2 boiled eggs (chopped), shredded turkey, and giblets (cooked and chopped liver and gizzard, but my bunch won't eat this, hence the shredded turkey). The gravy ties it all together. Guaranteed to induce a great nap by mid-afternoon.

Sides were collard greens, sweet potato soufflé, green bean casserole, zipper peas, brown rice, and homemade yeast rolls. We cheated on the cranberry sauce and used a can instead of making it fresh, but this was a mild concession. Desserts were all pies with pumpkin, coconut custard, pecan, and apple. I hate to admit, but most of us guys sat around after lunch with our belts and pants undone (stretch pants and warm up suits are for the south Florida geriatrics). After a nap and a walk, we do it all over again, just slightly smaller portions.

The best part was the family getting together and enjoying each other and being thankful for our blessings, even those we don't realize sometimes. I hope the Chatter bunch all had a great day and that Saturday will bring good results. Please share what you did and how you did it. Always looking to find ways to up my culinary game!
 

Spearo Gator

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Not sure I can top that Cover.
Spent my Tgiving with a close friend and his mother in central GA hunting while my family was in FL. We hunted this morning then came back and put a turkey on the smoker for about 6 hrs. His mothers homemade sides (green beans, squash casserole, stuffing, giblet gravy and pecan pie was pretty damn good though. Southern woman cooking after hunting morning/afternoon and doing some chores hit the spot.
I’m a sucker for giblet gravey over stuffing!! Don’t know how they do it but it’s mmmmm mmmmmm good!
 

crosscreekcooter

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I hate to admit, but most of us guys sat around after lunch with our belts and pants undone (stretch pants and warm up suits are for the south Florida geriatrics). After a nap and a walk, we do it all over again, just slightly smaller portions.

The best part was the family getting together and enjoying each other and being thankful for our blessings, even those we don't realize sometimes. I hope the Chatter bunch all had a great day and that Saturday will bring good results. Please share what you did and how you did it. Always looking to find ways to up my culinary game!

You old cawkbite. You're prolly like me, I usually have to sit around like that all the time cause my britches keep shrinking. But it ain't so bad, it makes it a lot easier to scatch when your butt itches.
My sister and her husband and son were with us, he brought his new wife and my new 2 month old nephew. He's a good looking little turd (takes after his good looking momma) who slept the whole time he was here smiling. I usually smile too whenever things come out ok.

I roasted a 19 pound bird in the oven. Dry brined, rubbed with canola oil, and made Simon and Garfunkle rub. Injected the breasts with a 1/2 stick of butter, 2 tbls Franks wing sauce, 1/2 cup chicken stock and roasted on a high rack uncovered at 330 for 2 1/2 hrs. Got a great shade on some crispy skin. I usually cook at 225 but goosed it a little, the bird wasn't stuffed so it hit 165 in the thighs a little quicker than usual. Bird was squirting when i sliced it, great flavor. I used a couple cups of stock in the pan and strained the drippings after removing the turkey to rest from which I made giblet gravy, Momma made a clear gravy for those that don't like the giblets. She also made a mexican style corn pudding (awesome) an ambrosia salad, and cornbread dressing with cranberries and walnuts. Sister brought roasted brussel sprouts and carrots, garlic mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, and a huge sweet potato pie. Like you we had canned cranberry sauce, one with whole berries. The food was awesome, it's always great to spend time with your family.

I hope all you Gators had a wonderful Thanksgiving, it is by far my favorite holiday. We have been truly blessed.
 
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NVGator

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Here’s my bird. A 14lb. bird that was brine since Monday. Brine was 2 cups sugar, 2 cups salt reduced and put in a 5 gal. pickle bucket filled for 3 days. Finally, salt/peppered prior to smoking. My friend @crosscreekcooter thouht it was dropped in dirt (jerk).

I smoked it for 2.5 hours, buttered and wrapped in foil for another hour. It was done and rested for an hour or two.

Company brought stuffing, sweet potatoes, broccoli casserole, cranberry sauce, we made gravy. Deserts were pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate pie and pecan pie.


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bradgator2

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My brother-in-law’s brother-in-law smokes about 25 birds in a massive smoker. People stop by their house all day picking up one they “ordered”. They are incredible. We bring a Honeybaked ham, which is also incredible.

And all wimmens cook all the classics: green beans, sweet potato casserole, spicey greens, mashed potatoes, cornbread, jalapeño cornbread, stuffing that is made in this 70 year old cast iron skillet, squash, cranberry, yams.

You go around and try to place just a tiny bite of everything but when you finish making your plate it weighs 8 pounds.

Today for me is the best: leftover turkey & stuffing sandwich on white bread.
 

Gulfstream

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Damn fine postings here! Thanksgiving is at the top for me as well Cooter. There's something surreal about starting the day off in either a duck blind, (my preference) or a deer stand the lends to the traditions of this special day. I was unable to do either this year but the day was still special.

I usually fry a bird or several for friends and family but due to unforeseen circumstances was unable to so Mrs.Gulf cooked her first bird in a oven and hit it out of the park. She started with a modest 12 lb. bird that was seasoned with various items she then covered the bird in a well soaked and seasoned cheese cloth and roasted it in the oven at 325 for 3 1/2 hours.

Sides included: Green bean casserole, corn casserole,, sausage breading, garlic mashed potato's ( the little red ones) and home made cranberry sauce,

Deserts included the traditional pumpkin pie and a new recipe, Chocolate Pecan Pie that was slap yo mama good!

Like Brad, I too look forward to this day just as excited as I do Thanksgiving day as there is nothing better than those cold turkey sandwiches.

Happy Holiday fellow Gators!! May the blessings of the season be bestowed upon each one of you and your families.
 
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crosscreekcooter

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@Gulfstream
Reading your wife's roasting cloth method reminded me that my momma used to do the same thing. When she made a ham she would cover it (seems like she used a thin white kitchen towel) and would pour Coke or 7up over the towel. That's some old school right there. ;)
 

Swamp Queen

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My parents use an infrared fryer for the turkey, always turns out delicious! Sides were 2 types of stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, broccoli casserole, corn casserole, whipped sweet potatoes, and lots of wine. I made a pumpkin pie for dessert.
 

bradgator2

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So does everyone basically do the same menu for your Christmas dinner?

I absolutely love the Thanksgiving giving feast. But we had to change it up years ago due to everyone was just sorta tired of it after all the work parties, friend parties, etc, etc.

We still go all out, just a different menu theme. We’ve done: fish fry, low country shrimp boil, chicken wing fry, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, high-end steak house. But nobody can come up with a theme for this year. Any suggestions?

We’re all big BBQ eaters, so we have always avoided that menu.
 

gingerlover

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The menu at my in-laws is usually the same. This year a lot of extra family from that side so we had a traditional and fried turkey. The sides were two types of sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, stuffing, cornbread, gravy, and a few random things. Dessert usually has a few different pies and some different types of pastries.

My side of the family is just your plain honey baked ham with a few sides.

Christmas is pretty similar except it’s ham instead of turkey.

The great part is I usually get the left overs. No one else is a big leftover fan so I debone everything and put it in the freezer.
 

CaseyGator

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So does everyone basically do the same menu for your Christmas dinner?

I absolutely love the Thanksgiving giving feast. But we had to change it up years ago due to everyone was just sorta tired of it after all the work parties, friend parties, etc, etc.

We still go all out, just a different menu theme. We’ve done: fish fry, low country shrimp boil, chicken wing fry, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, high-end steak house. But nobody can come up with a theme for this year. Any suggestions?

We’re all big BBQ eaters, so we have always avoided that menu.

What about breakfast for dinner?
 

MJMGator

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So does everyone basically do the same menu for your Christmas dinner?

I absolutely love the Thanksgiving giving feast. But we had to change it up years ago due to everyone was just sorta tired of it after all the work parties, friend parties, etc, etc.

We still go all out, just a different menu theme. We’ve done: fish fry, low country shrimp boil, chicken wing fry, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, high-end steak house. But nobody can come up with a theme for this year. Any suggestions?

We’re all big BBQ eaters, so we have always avoided that menu.
I think I’m gonna do shrimp, scallops and lobster tails for Christmas Eve this year. Probably ham for Christmas Day.
 

stephenPE

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At my brothers. Two boston butts with bourbon honey and the turkey with citrus inside. He also fried two turkeys. I did mine in the bag like cover. Only thing I really missed was greens this year.
 

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