Thanksgiving Day

[PsychoCat]

What are your plans for the Thanksgiving holiday? Will you be traveling or staying home? Whats on the menu for the day? Any special traditions you have?



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We will be at home this year bothour daughters willbe coming home with their boyfriends joining them.....grandparents live to far away :( ....Thanksgiving day is a lazy be cozy kind of day for us….we enjoy watching the parades together, while having our traditional homemade sweet rolls….The dinner menu which we enjoy cooking together consists of turkey, cornbread/sausage stuffing made from scratch, garlic mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, fresh cranberry sauce, fresh green beans sautéed in olive oil, garlic and lemon juice, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, and Scott’s grandmothers baking powder biscuits …..for dessert we have Sweet Potato Pie, and Pecan Pie
During the day we watch the football games and play family games while dinner is cooking….we usually try to eat around 2:00 so we can pull out leftovers later that night lol….we like taking a family walk together after dinner….with the dog of course…….The day after I usually try to get up at 6am and hit a few stores for those early bird specials

[trublu]

We are going to stay home and have a traditonal turkey dinner. I usually make a couple of derby pies and a pumpkin pie for dessert. We gotta have lots of mashed potatoes and gravy. One thing that I am absolutely terrible at is making dressing. If anyone has a foolproofrecipe, I would be so grateful to have it.

I am worthless after eating all that turkey. So, we usually watch football and play cards. I do not shop the day after Thanksgiving. It's too crazy.


I hope that everybody has a great Thanksgiving.:)

[PsychoCat]

Ill get youour dressing recipe .... if we can get a derby pie recipe :)

[capcat]

We'll go to my in-law's house for an early lunch and then on to my parent's house for dinner. Mostly, it's a chance for everyone to get together for atraditional Thanksgiving meal, laugh and talk. We don'tsee each otheroften, so that's the best part, although some of my immediate familycan't be here. I'll cook a meal at home too, so we can have a few leftovers of our own. Oh, and the day will start bright and early for some family members with a 5K run calledThe Turkey Trot. That's become a Thanksgiving morning tradition I have resisted so far ;).

[UK Chic]

Thanksgiving Day is QUICKLY becoming my favorite holiday!! We normally hit my parents early and then to my in-laws. I make a couple dishes to take to both but since we are still considered the 'kids', we get out of all the big cooking (turkey, etc). I can deal with that. :)

Once the dinners are done, DH and I head home to start unpacking the Christmas decor. Okay, I unpack and he lays on the couch and tells me I am crazy. I absolutely love this time of year. Wish I could keep my tree up for months!

[fanaticfan]

We always head to the in-laws in west Virginia as this is the one time each year that they have all five of their children home together. The grandmothers, who both will be 90 this year, will be there. We play games and watch tv and just enjoy each others company. Everyone talks at the same time and there is much laughter and an all around warm and fuzzy feeling. The meal will be traditional andI get out of cooking because of travel. I am on clean-up patrol. Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year for me. I am humbled as to just how lucky I am. We all have to go around the table and tell what we are most thankful for this year. It is all about family.



Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[trublu]

PsychoCat, It's a deal. I willpost the recipe for you tomorrow. I'm not at home right now. I want to make sure that I get it right.:)

My family will thank you when they have edible dressing.:ggrin:

[CATHYnKY]

Since my mother died in the early 90s I have had the Thanksgiving Dinner. We will havearound 16 this year. This includes my sister's inlaws. Our traditional meal is Turkey, dressing, cheese grits, green beans, mashed potatoes, the specialty, scalloped oysters, sweet potato souffle and cranberry salad. Dessert will be a mixed berry pie and probably something chocolate with real whipped cream. The scalloped oysters are for me and my sibblings. This is the only time I make them. Don't know why. It is easy and yummy. For this meal there are no low fat things used. Whole milk, half and half, full fat cheese and real butter. Anybody in the Louisville area that needs a place to go...come on over. We will have more than enough.

[PsychoCat]

Can we get you to share your scalloped oysters recipe? :D:D

[capcat]

Cathy, add me to the list...my dad loves oysters andit looks like I may get to hostthe Thanksgiving meal this year. My mom deserves to relax and enjoy the day.

[trublu]

Mel, that sounds like an awesome Thanksgiving. Have fun!

BTW, what's the weather like in Colorado now?

[CATHYnKY]

Will do so later. Gotta a WCN football gather to get to. My Mom made the Southern Living cookbook recipe. I have a book she gave me in the 70s. Good thing it is hard bound. Its had a work over.

[capcat]

fanaticfan wrote: We all have to go around the table and tell what we are most thankful for this year.

I like that idea,it'sbetter than just one person saying grace. I think we'll include it this year.

[PsychoCat]

Dressing/Stuffing Recipe


Ingredients
4 Lg Sweet Onions (diced)

5/6 stalks celery (diced)

5 small cans mushrooms (stems & pieces)

2 lbs Jimmy Dean ground pork sausage (cook & drain)

Salt/Pepper

Sweet basil 1 tsp

Garlic 3 TBSP (minced jars in vegi section of grocery)

1-bag - Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing

1-bag - Pepperidge Farm Cornbread Stuffing

4 cups chicken broth

12 Tbsp butter

Directions
Sautee onions and celery in olive oil till soft

Add mushrooms and seasonings to onion mixture

Brown/cook sausage and drain, add to onion mixture

Stuffing
Heat butter and chicken broth to a boil.

Remove from heat

Add 6 cups cornbread crumbs

Add 6 cups seasoned crumbs

Toss lightly with fork till moist



Add onion mixture to stuffing mixture (Use abig bowl and toss with hands :D )

Spoon stuffing into turkey to but don’t pack in tight to allow room for expanding

Any extra stuffing bake in a covered casserole dish for 30 minutes @ 325

* Makes enough to stuff a 10 – 14 lb turkey with leftovers to bake

[bleedbluelady]

We go to our hometown for the weekend. Thursday lunch at my husband's parents. We have turkey & dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, homemade rolls, plus much more. On Saturday we are at my Mom's. Her entire side of the family will be there (between 30 & 40 people depending on how many girlfriends & boyfriends are brought). We always watch the UK/UT football game then we have turkey & dressing, and the usual. This is really our Thanksgiving and Christmas combined. We do a fun gift exchange where everyone brings a gift valued at around $10.00. You pick a gift and unwrap it. The next person can steal your gift or pick another. When it first started one of my cousins brought a HUGE pair of bloomers.:shock::D They are brought back each year with something added to them. This has started a tradition of anticipating who will get the bloomers. It is a blast.

[trublu]

Here is the Derby pie recipe that I use. I got it from a Kentucky restaurant guide.

La Taberna restaurant in Bardstown actually calls it Kentucky pie.

You will need the following ingredients:

*a 9-inch unbaked pie shell *2 eggs, lightly beaten

*one-half cup melted margarine *1 teaspoon vanilla

*1 cup sugar*3/4 cup English walnuts

*one-half cup flour * one-half cup chocolate chips

Mix margarine with sugar and flour, then beat in eggs. Add vanilla, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Pour into pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. It will set as it cools.

It sort of makes it's own top crust. It's easy. It's rich and delicious. Just top with some whipped cream.

[CATHYnKY]

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SCALLOPED OYSTERS[/i][/b]



2 (12 oz) CONTAINERS FRESH OYSTERS

2 CUPS SALTINE CRACKER CRUMBS

¾ TEASPOON SALT

¼ TEASPOON PEPPER

1 STICK BUTTER – DIVIDED

2 EGGS BEATEN

1 CUP HALF AND HALF MILK

1 TEASPOON WORCHESTERSHIRE SAUCE

¼ TEASPOON HOT SAUCE

2 TABLESPOONS CHOPPED FRESH PARSLEY (optional)


Drain oysters, reserving 1/3 cup oyster liquor. Set aside.


Sprinkle ½ cup cracker crumbs in a lightly greased 8 inch square baking dish. Layer half each of oysters, salt, pepper, butter, and cracker crumbs in dish. Repeat layers.


Combine eggs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and reserved oyster liquor; mix well. Pour over oyster mixture. Sprinkle with parsley. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until lightly browned. Serves 6

NOTE: I bake mine in an old loaf pyrex glass dish. My grandmother used it for cobblers, my mother for the oysters. Put on a baking dish in case it overflows.

[capcat]

Bless you trublu and Cathy. I was just about to head out to the grocery store :).
Cathy, my mom got a little sentimental when I mentioned the oysters, said she was thinking that morning about the good scalloped oysters her mom used to make.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Going to my parents house because I have everybody on Christmas Day......



HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL THE BIG BLUE FAITHFUL

[PsychoCat]

Sweet Potato Casserole

4 cups cooked sweet potatoes (well mashed so no lumps)

1/3 c butter melted

2 eggs (beaten)

½ c milk

1 tsp vanilla

½ c sugar

½ tsp cinnamon
Topping
½ cup chopped pecans

½ cup coconut

¼tsp cinnamon

½ cup packed brown sugar

2-½ Tbsp butter (softened but not melted)

Directions
Mix potatoes, butter, eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamonand sugar well

Spread in a greased casserole dish

Topping – combine all ingredients and sprinkle over top
Bake @ 375 for 30 minutes

*Note - You may use canned sweet potatoes but I preferusing fresh (about 5) I cook sweet potatoes day or two ahead and mash them.... put in fridge till ready to use

To cook, leave skins on and place in large pan with just enough water to barely cover…..boil until very tender (about 45 mins) check with fork

Let cool slightly, cut off each end and make a slit down length and the skin peels off in one piece (very easy)….then mash :)

[capcat]

Thanks Kristen! Thatis just what I was looking for. Now, I'll quit stealing everyone's great recipes and wish all UK fans wonderful times with family and friends over this Thanksgiving holiday :).

[CoquieKat]

Heading to the in-laws' on Wednesday, staying until Thursday. Then we come back, DH goes to work on Friday, and I decide if I'm brave enough to try early-morning Christmas shopping that day (yea for paid day off from work!).

Not sure what all is on the menu. I'm supposed to take green-bean casserole. We'll probably do turkey, dressing, my MIL's broccoli salad, hash-brown casserole--all of the typical things.

[trublu]

PsychoCat, I'd like to thank you for the dressing recipe. Everyone loved it-even my picky daughter.:)