Looking for Recipe Suggestions for Thanksgiving

[Jade Emperor]

Ahhh…didn’t know that! Admittedly, there are very few areas where we get below freezing temperatures in Australia. Perhaps our snow field areas in NSW. Maybe some areas of Tasmania. Aside from those, the majority of Australia is subtropical, Mediterranean or ****ing HOT! Climate wise.
Probably not much opportunity to have maple trees growing here.

 

[caseydog]

Well they are not planted here like a crop - they are just a natural woods and some farmers are lucky enough to have a regular forest of them.
Our neighbours at the cottage took a 99 year lease on some Provincial Park land behind the cottage - and run lines, even have a sugar shack and boil it off in the spring. They don't sell it, just get enough for their family but they are a very large family. Pretty much every farmer in Quebec has some sugar maple and make good use of them! LOL

We have beautiful oaks here, but no maples. Even these Canadians can't fix this problem...

CD

 

[taxlady]

 

[medtran49]

I don't like maple anything, but yes it's expensive. A couple of restaurants offer real maple syrup in bottles like the airplane booze bottles, but there's an upcharge for them.

 

[Linda0818]

I have gotten complaints when I tried something new. People prefer tried-and-true.

Same here. My family doesn't like anything out of the ordinary. On a year that I was the host of Thanksgiving, I decided to make pineapple stuffing. Not in the bird or anything, just a big casserole of it on the side. I also made traditional stuffing, but I really wanted to try the pineapple. Nobody touched it, except for me and my son's grandma. It was delicious.

But needless to say, I never did that again.

 

[Jade Emperor]

Sad, because stuffing is a very good dish to play around with.

 

[Linda0818]

Sad, because stuffing is a very good dish to play around with.

It is indeed. I also love oyster stuffing. But, again, no one in my family would eat it. So if I'm ever in the mood for it, I have to make a small casserole just for myself. At home. I wouldn't dare take it to a family gathering. They are the pickiest (or should I say humans with very limited palates) bunch of people I've ever had to cook for.

 

[dragnlaw]

maple trees don't produce maple syrup if they don't get cold enough

what??? Well, yes and no. It needs explanations. Sugar maples (and there are many types of maple trees) produce sap, which all trees do. This is turned into syrup and yes freezing helps them to draw in and replenish the water that helps create the sap, but their sap would still be sugar maple sap. Yes, without the freezing would be more difficult and bleeding the tree might kill it.
Like rubber trees - which are not bled for the latex until about 6 years old (yes, had to look it up). With proper care they can be bled for 5 or 7 years but after that... I don't know, think the quantity is reduced? Whereas sugar maples can last for well over 100 years, maybe even 150 to 200 yrs?
Rubber trees... ahh, found it
"The economic life of a rubber tree is around 32 years, with the first seven years being considered an immature phase."

 

[caseydog]

View attachment 71676

You can't see a video by Canada's most famous band in Canada?

CD

 

[caseydog]

I always cook the turkey after dad reached a certain state of health. This year I'm just doing a 7 pound turkey breast. I'm going to wet brine it overnight.

My sister does the rest, and it comes from boxes and cans.

CD

 

[bethzaring]

For my pre-Thanksgiving meal last week, I made Julia Child's cranberry relish. It was easy, delicious and very reminiscent of the cranberry dish from my childhood. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php/?story_fbid=477612615616443&id=477598385617866

 

[dragnlaw]

@caseydog Nope, often the way. Same as an artist in Texas could block a video for Texas. Wants you to come to the show and pay.
Other than watching it Live at the time, subsequently the main part of Celine Dion's song was blocked from video's here.

 

[caseydog]

@caseydog Nope, often the way. Same as an artist in Texas could block a video for Texas. Wants you to come to the show and pay.
Other than watching it Live at the time, subsequently the main part of Celine Dion's song was blocked from video's here.

The song was The Trees by legendary Canadian band Rush. It's about maples and oaks.

CD

 

[medtran49]

We've tried different stuffings/dressings but always go back to the same ole the next year.

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest lamb for Christmas dinner instead of the usual prime rib this year. We'll see how that goes because Craig loves his prime rib and mushroom bread pudding side.

 

[dragnlaw]

@wm.m.thompson
Turkey Wrapped in Cheesecloth why don't you check this one out? I have heard of using cheesecloth before, don't know where, perhaps my Aunt or mom.
I have lots of ideas from a Reader's Digest Canadian Living book on Christmas. Have done many of these and all are good.
Pearl Onion and Orange Braise
Creamy Onions and Carrots*
Beet and Pear Puree*
Pear and Rutabaga Casserole
Sprouts and Chestnuts*
The asterisks are the ones I have done. Just let me know if you are interested in any and I can posts them.

 

[dragnlaw]

OMG

mushroom bread pudding side.

I have a recipe by Ina Garten that is to die for!

 

[msmofet]

We've tried different stuffings/dressings but always go back to the same ole the next year.

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest lamb for Christmas dinner instead of the usual prime rib this year. We'll see how that goes because Craig loves his prime rib and mushroom bread pudding side.

Funny you should say that. I have a nice big piece of boneless leg of lamb and an eye round in the freezer. I’m leaning towards lamb for Christmas.

 

[dragnlaw]

Funny you should say that. I have a nice big piece of boneless leg of lamb and an eye round in the freezer. I’m leaning towards lamb for Christmas.

One for Christmas and one for New Years?

 

[medtran49]

OMG

I have a recipe by Ina Garten that is to die for!

Ours is from Emeril, with a little tweaking from me, basically more mushrooms.

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

I remember seeing a Martha Stewart recipe that covered the turkey breast with a cheesecloth soaked in wine and all I could evision was the damn thing bursting into flame when no one was looking!

My menu never changes, except the last few years I have been deconstructing the turkey because there was never enough stuffing. I make a HUGE batch of stuffing, place it in the bottom of the roasting pan, place the turkey pieces on top of the stuffing and roast in the oven. The stuffing ends up tasting like stuffing, not dressing baked separately.

My standard menu is turkey; Italian sausage, apple, and fennel cornbread stuffing; gravy; mashed potatoes; mashed sweet potatoes with no maple syrup, marshmallows, etc (they are called SWEET potatoes for a reason!); sufferin' succotash, cranberry orange compote, Portuguese dinner rolls, and Asti Spumante. They were originally called Portuguese sweet rolls but that made everyone think they were dessert. They were the inspiration behind King's Hawaiian rolls. If you want any recipes, just ask.