Holiday Preparations

[Andy M.]

It has begun. Last Friday I bought a 10 Lb. "parts" turkey. ($0.59/LB).

Over the last couple of days I have been sharpening my knives in preparation for some heavy duty use. I didn't finish today as I managed to give myself a decent cut on my left forefinger. Got all but one knife sharpened, my butcher's knife will have to wait.

Tomorrow I plan on attacking the parts turkey. I'll break it down to its component parts, debone all those parts and reserve the two thighs and breasts for meals. The wings, drumsticks and all the deboned bones will go into a pot to make turkey stock for Thanksgiving dinner.

My daughters and I have discussed what they will be bringing this year. Now I can plan the menu. Things will be reduced in size as we are leaving for FL the Saturday after Thanksgiving for five days to celebrate SO's and my milestone birthdays (80 and 75) with her family. Her daughter is flying us down, putting us up and providing the entertainment. We'll be with SO's children, grandchildren and their spouses and their children. First time seeing the youngest great grandchild.

That's as far as we've gotten. how about you guys?

 

[Aunt Bea]

Andy, thanks for reminding me to give my knives their annual sharpening.

Not much to do here, I’ve checked the pantry and made a list of odds and ends.

I picked up a fresh box of Bell’s poultry seasoning, sticker shock at $3.79 but still worth every penny to maintain the tradition.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and combined birthday celebration.

 

[HeyItsSara]

I invited the guests. Made the menu. Got out my recipes. Bought "foraged cranberries".

 

[bethzaring]

I have two Thanksgivings to prepare for and I have done some work; assembled recipes, made grocery list. I am hosting bridge on Friday with 7 players converging at my house. This coming Tuesday I am hosting a pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving lunch for 5 of us. Going to brine and roast a turkey, make gravy, green chile, cheddar cheese mashed potato casserole, herbed dinner rolls, cole slaw and a chocolate carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Then on Thanksgiving Day, for the third time, we are going to a friends house where the hosts will be smoking turkeys and making dessert, and the rest of us will be bringing sides. Haven't heard what I will be bringing. I'm psyched.

 

[dragnlaw]

At first I thought WOWSER, you guys are planning Christmas dinner already!!!!????
Then realized you haven't had your American Thanksgiving yet... whew!

 

[taxlady]

At first I thought WOWSER, you guys are planning Christmas dinner already!!!!????
Then realized you haven't had your American Thanksgiving yet... whew!

Yeah, my first thought was that this was about Xmas too. Even the mention of turkey didn't alert me. It was first when I read, "The wings, drumsticks and all the deboned bones will go into a pot to make turkey stock for Thanksgiving dinner." that the penny finally dropped. Oh yeah, they haven't had Thanksgiving yet.

I'll just follow along and enjoy the reading.

 

[dragnlaw]

LOL, me too taxy.

 

[Andy M.]

At first I thought WOWSER, you guys are planning Christmas dinner already!!!!????
Then realized you haven't had your American Thanksgiving yet... whew!

If you could see ll the Christmas sales items and decorations for sale around here you'd think Christmas was next week!

 

[dragnlaw]

Other than the grocery stores I have not been anywhere but I fully expect to see them all decorated here too.
Personally I think it should be illegal before December 1st.... ok, I'll give them the weekend of...

 

[caseydog]

Holiday preparations...

Airline, rental car, and hotel reservations... and kennel reservations for mom's dog. Check!

Stock up on Tums, Ibuprofen and Ativan. In progress.

CD

 

[GaryHyslop]

Sounds like you're off to a great start with your turkey prep! Homemade stock is always the best. We’re still planning our menu but it's always a family effort here too. Your Florida trip sounds amazing, what a great way to celebrate your birthdays! Enjoy!

 

[Jade Emperor]

I thought Christmas too, but that would be because we don’t have thanksgiving down here

 

[medtran49]

If you could see ll the Christmas sales items and decorations for sale around here you'd think Christmas was next week!

They put out Thanksgiving and Christmas decor items as soon as Halloween stuff got put away here.

Haven't done much other than decide about the turkey. Craig wanted to smoke a turkey breast and, since they were BOGO last week, got 2 large breasts for $33 total. Last year, we did 1 in oven and 1 on the smoker. We'll just do the smoked 1 this year, and keep the other in the freezer.

Sure we'll have dressing, gravy, and I've been wanting homemade green bean casserole. Craig likes to do a Bananas Foster take with sweet potatoes, so probably that. As far as dessert, who knows.

As far as Christmas, I was thinking about suggesting rack of lamb or just lamb chops.

 

[taxlady]

I thought Christmas too, but that would be because we don’t have thanksgiving down here

You can't even just substitute a harvest festival. It isn't exactly harvest time in Australia right now, eh?

 

[caseydog]

I went to Walmart for a few things, and the Salvation Army bell-ringer was at the front door.

CD

 

[Steve Kroll]

I'm heading to former in-law's for T-day. For Christmas, my daughter and her husband have hosted dinner the last 4 years. I haven't planned anything yet, but I'm normally asked to bring the wine.

 

[Jade Emperor]

You can't even just substitute a harvest festival. It isn't exactly harvest time in Australia right now, eh?

No it’s not. And I would only want a celebration event if it held some importance for us.
Down here, the Halloween celebration has become steadily more popular over recent decades.
The problem I have with this is that Halloween has its roots in history particular to the USA. Really nothing down here that lines up. So it’s just a matter of getting dressed up and begging strangers for sweet treats. Very bizarre.

 

[taxlady]

No it’s not. And I would only want a celebration event if it held some importance for us.
Down here, the Halloween celebration has become steadily more popular over recent decades.
The problem I have with this is that Halloween has its roots in history particular to the USA. Really nothing down here that lines up. So it’s just a matter of getting dressed up and begging strangers for sweet treats. Very bizarre.

That's what my Danish mum had to say about Halloween too.

 

[dragnlaw]

Germany (plus Europe?) has oktoberfest. I remember Mom made these fantastic matching costumes for her and dad. They were green bugs, tights and turtlenecks, she made beige felt shorts and with a harness created wings for their back attched to their arms. Green hoods complete with antennas that lit up (via battery). I believe they even had green grease paint on their faces.
Back in the late 50's, those costumes were a big hit. But when they got back mom said the other costumes were incredible.
We lived in Hamburg at the time and they went to Munich (?) for the weekend to the big festiva .

 

[Aunt Bea]

It used to be a tradition in some parts of the country to dress up on the night before Thanksgiving and go door to door begging, “Something for Thanksgiving!”