# Who doesn't do turkey for Thanksgiving? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-doesnt-do-turkey-for-thanksgiving/603132 "2011-11-16T16:38:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-doesnt-do-turkey-for-thanksgiving/603132/41 "2011-11-17T21:39:12Z")
The one time I was in charge of Thanksgiving dinner, I just did the sides. Those are the best parts of Thanksgiving, AFAIC. I’m a vegetarian, so I don’t ever eat the turkey. My family doesn’t do a big Christmas dinner. It’s usually buffet-style cold cuts and side dishes. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-doesnt-do-turkey-for-thanksgiving/603132/42 "2011-11-18T03:31:35Z")
We do Cornish game hen. One hen per person, and the cats get the leftovers. I could eat stuffing and cranberry sauce until the world ended. I love Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-doesnt-do-turkey-for-thanksgiving/603132/43 "2011-11-18T05:12:25Z")
We usually do have turkey, but this year it’s just going to be me, my boyfriend, and my brother, so we’re doing Cornish game hens. 🙂 (Speaking of which, I should probably make a thread about cooking the things, because I haven’t a clue what I’m doing.) ETA: ha, ninja’d by **chizzuk** ---
**Author:** ![catflea12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@catflea12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catflea12)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-doesnt-do-turkey-for-thanksgiving/603132/44 "2011-11-20T12:36:36Z")
I’m making brunswick stew with multigrain bread and black cherry pie for thanksgiving this year. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-doesnt-do-turkey-for-thanksgiving/603132/45 "2011-11-20T18:01:31Z")
I loathe turkey AND Thanksgiving. Wasn’t always the case, we used to travel to a rich relative’s in NYC and have an awesome time, but no more. I think putting on the Big Honkin’ Thanksgiving Spread is OK if you have a big jolly family to gather round the Big Honkin’ Feast, but…sadly, we are down to a small handful. Dementia and mental illness, anyone? I used to have to buy/prep/cook TWO Thanksgivings in years past, one for them, one for us. No more. Now I take them out to a buffet restaurant on the Big Honkin’ Day (hopefully there will be a Chinese buffet open). The next day I still have to cook a small turkey for the one of us who claims to like it, but it’s no biggie, I stick it in the oven, buy instant mashed potatoes and crescent rolls, and there you go, that’s it, knock yourself out turkey man. For myself and anyone else, I stick in a couple of stuffed Cornish game hens, nestling alongside the big bird. (I also buy pre-made side dishes and appetizers that I like, I will gladly pay $8 a pound for roasted vegetables and glazed sweet potatoes. Our vegetarian appreciates those, too, won’t touch turkey. And a bottle of ‘good’ wine!) One more day of turkey sandwiches on marble rye for all (even the vegetarian can’t say no to a good sandwich), and then I get the go-ahead to stuff the rotting carcass into the trash can - bring on the pizza and antipasto! ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-doesnt-do-turkey-for-thanksgiving/603132/46 "2011-11-20T18:02:38Z")
Me. I haven’t had a regular Thanksgiving meal with the fam since I was 12. They were always working. So I eat pizza and do a movie. My son is 7 in a couple of weeks and we’re making homemade pizza. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-doesnt-do-turkey-for-thanksgiving/603132.md?page=2)