# What's Cookin' for Thanksgiving? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 19, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955 "2015-11-19T03:51:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/21 "2015-11-19T16:28:12Z")
I’ve always called Thanksgiving the perfect holiday. You eat and eat and eat and don’t have to buy anyone a present. It just doesn’t get any better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/22 "2015-11-19T16:29:40Z")
I am slowly moving my family away from wanting any of these traditions. The compromise this year is to get a pre cooked turkey and a limit of three other dishes. Cooking should be a minor pain in the ass this year instead of a major one. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/23 "2015-11-19T17:50:26Z")
Ever since my DIL became a member of the family, our holiday meals have become vegetarian ones, as she is a vegetarian. This year she is cooking the meal, so I am unsure what we’ll be having. I’m contributing candied sweet potatoes and a pumpkin pie, but the rest is a total mystery. I miss turkey. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/24 "2015-11-19T18:07:09Z")
I ordered half a brisket from the grocery store to be picked up Tuesday. My menu is chili sauce rubbed brisket in wine sauce with sour cream potato casserole. All for me! ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/25 "2015-11-19T18:22:06Z")
I am not fond of turkey so unless we (my wife and I) dine with somebody else we keep it non-traditionally simple. Rolled roast-beef (not ground-beef) tacos, Refried beans Dressing Pumpkin pie As I said, I am not fond of turkey. I hate sweet potatoes. I will tolerate mash potatoes. As for cranberries…well, I can tolerate them. My feeling is, if I am going to be thankful for food, it should be food I really enjoy. And I really enjoy those four I listed. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/26 "2015-11-19T19:22:53Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > It has become a tradition in recent years for my book club to meet at my house for Thanksgiving dinner. This year I decided to plan a menu of traditional foods but with some twists. (narrows eyes) Mom? ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/27 "2015-11-19T19:41:58Z")
We’re going to the bar to have Thanksgiving with some of the other regulars. Don’t know what we’re having . ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/28 "2015-11-19T20:36:17Z")
Since I’m far from North America and the day here is almost over, I will tell you that this afternoon I had two hot dogs topped with homemade Cincinnati chili (YUM-O! :o ) and cheddar cheese, followed by canned pears covered in evaporated milk. For Christmas, I plan on cooking a goose with all the trimmings! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/29 "2015-11-19T21:25:30Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > For Christmas, I plan on cooking a goose with all the trimmings! Or goose the cook and get some ‘trim’. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/30 "2015-11-19T21:27:54Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Or goose the cook and get some ‘trim’. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/31 "2015-11-20T00:37:23Z")
As a baker professionally I usually bring the bread to holiday family dinners. This time it’s croissants made from scratch. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/32 "2015-11-20T02:14:01Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > As a baker professionally I usually bring the bread to holiday family dinners. This time it’s croissants made from scratch. What time are you stopping by? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/33 "2015-11-20T02:18:03Z")
I was thinking maybe a turkey. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/34 "2015-11-20T03:10:21Z")
I’m taking my parents to a local restaurant, menu [here](http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-55752663975619/Thanksgiving2015.pdf). We went there for Easter last year. This is the first time I’ve ever had Thanksgiving dinner not in someone’s home. ---
**Author:** ![eulalia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eulalia/32/457_2.png) [@eulalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eulalia)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/36 "2015-11-20T10:18:23Z")
My younger sister’s husband is cooking the turkey at Mom’s house. Mom is making cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, and probably pecan pie, with some help from her grand-kids. I’m doing a salad, my brother will probably do some veggie thing and my middle sister is doing rolls and probably another pie. We do this for every holiday. So nice to live close to my family and get along with them all reasonably well. My dad is getting out of the nursing home for the day to be with us; we won’t have him for many more holidays. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/37 "2015-11-20T14:21:05Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I’m taking my parents to a local restaurant, menu [here](http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-55752663975619/Thanksgiving2015.pdf). We went there for Easter last year. This is the first time I’ve ever had Thanksgiving dinner not in someone’s home. Looks good! Maybe when I become matriarch, we can do the restaurant thing. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/38 "2015-11-20T15:10:59Z")
The casino is serving Thanksgiving dinner for $42 per adult. There are about 20 choices for appetizers, 20 choices of salads, 20 choices of EVERYTHING, and it all sounds uttlerly delicious. If I went, I would want to stay overnight after eating and drive home in the morning. The only thing is, there would be no leftovers for the rest of the weekend at home, so it’s cooking or having it catered. I’m looking forward to my spiral ham. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/39 "2015-11-20T15:27:07Z")
This year we are having Thanksgiving dinner at [Delmonico](http://www.emerilsrestaurants.com/article/spend-thanksgiving-us-delmonico-steakhouse). That way the wife can get her traditional turkey dinner and I can get a big-ass bone-in ribeye. Win-win. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/40 "2015-11-20T17:38:29Z")
I bought some Italian parsley last week for meatballs, but I decided to use only ingredients that were in Alton Brown’s recipe and used parsley flakes instead. So I have this parsley in the veg drawer of the fridge. Assuming it’s still good on Thursday, I’m thinking of chopping it up and putting it in the stuffing. (Hm… Maybe I’ll put some Jimmy Dean’s sage sausage in the stuffing this year.) ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955/41 "2015-11-24T21:45:15Z")
20+ folks showing up on Thursday. My cousin brings the appetizers, my aunt brings the pies. I handle: - Turkey from a farm in San Diego. Will be killed on Wednesday, delivered Wednesday night. Will be stuffed with sausage fennel stuffing, and drippings will be made into gravy (supplemented with the turkey stock I will start making overnight on Wednesday with some Turkey necks I have). - Two geese to smoke. White meat will be eaten, dark meat will be shredded into a cassoulet over the weekend. - Brussel sprouts with pancetta - Riced potatoes (then mashed with cream, buttermilk & butter) - Yams au gratin (we don’t like it sweet) - Alton Brown green bean casserole (or, if I get lazy, just blanched then tossed in almond butter) - Bread tbd (sister-in-law bringing that) - Cranberry / pineapple / orange dressing (sister-in-law owns that one too) Plenty of wine (father-in-law brings a case), rye whiskey (me), martinis (for my aunt with the pies), lagers (cousin likes those). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-cookin-for-thanksgiving/737955.md?page=3)