Turkey Day Help and/or Rant Thread

[JagFarlane]

This will be my first year ever making Thanksgiving dinner.

Luckily it's just my sister and my husband that are here today, so I'm at least not cooking for a large expectant group of people. And sister will help.

Menu is 12-lb Turkey, MiL's stuffing (made separately), mashed potatoes (no gravy - we're hessisch, we don't do that crap), carrots in rosemary butter, rolls and pecan pie. Our grocery store didn't have the unseasoned stuffing I needed, so I've got to get to toasting bread and making it myself.

I do hope the Turkey will be thawed by the time I need it to, and that I'll manage the stuffing, because otherwise the husband will be heartbroken.

Sister will be disappointed if the mashed potatoes don't turn out.

Just as a note on the turkey...if its not fully defrosted, put it in the sink under running COLD water...or in an absolute pinch...microwave it a bit under defrost, though keep that for an absolute last resort.

 

[lil_elvis]

What JagFarlane said

 

[cloudy]

Fruit pizza finished, youngest child is being an annoying little pest who's bouncing off the walls , husband is getting dressed, but locked me out of the bedroom in the process ....

So, once everyone else gets their shit sorted out, I may get to get dressed before we go to my mother's.



Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

 

[JagFarlane]

LOL roomie is still sound asleep. House is filling out with the scent of roasting turkey.

 

[3113]

Sister will be disappointed if the mashed potatoes don't turn out.

It's probably too late to ask/advise this, but do you have a ricer? You don't even have to skin the potatoes with a ricer. Just boil them up, put them in the basket, press, and you get the "mashed" potatoes all smooth and creamy--if that's the way you like mashed potatoes, of course. Some folk want them more rustic and lumpy.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/wsimgs/rk/images/p2/products/200848/0003/img81m.jpg

When it comes to making the perfect mashed potatoes, nothing beats the efficiency of our potato ricer. Unlike a traditional masher, this tool extrudes boiled potatoes in fluffy rice-like grains, incorporating air in the process. Just place potatoes in the extra-large hopper – there’s no need to peel them – then press the removable handle. The hopper is perforated on all sides for maximum yield, and rubber-coated ridges allow the ricer to rest on pots without scratching them. Stainless-steel and cast-aluminum construction. Dishwasher safe.

This website includes a video of how to make mashed potatoes.

 

[JagFarlane]

Usually we just make up mashed potatoes by boiling them with some salt in the water. Drain, then add in some butter and milk, then put in a hand mixer with regular beaters and mix it all together.

 

[lil_elvis]

Usually we just make up mashed potatoes by boiling them with some salt in the water. Drain, then add in some butter and milk, then put in a hand mixer with regular beaters and mix it all together.

Just don't overbeat them, otherwise they can get "gluey" from overworking the starch. Never that problem with a ricer.

 

[fieryjen]

Just as a note on the turkey...if its not fully defrosted, put it in the sink under running COLD water...or in an absolute pinch...microwave it a bit under defrost, though keep that for an absolute last resort.

Yeah, that's the plan. Thanks.

I bought it Tuesday evening, it's been thawing ever since. I don't think it'll fit in the microwave, actually.

 

[fieryjen]

It's probably too late to ask/advise this, but do you have a ricer? You don't even have to skin the potatoes with a ricer. Just boil them up, put them in the basket, press, and you get the "mashed" potatoes all smooth and creamy--if that's the way you like mashed potatoes, of course. Some folk want them more rustic and lumpy.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/wsimgs/rk/images/p2/products/200848/0003/img81m.jpg



This website includes a video of how to make mashed potatoes.

Thanks very much, but we have an exact family recipe for the mashed potatoes. She wants them to be just like home.

 

[tickledkitty]

Yeah, that's the plan. Thanks.

I bought it Tuesday evening, it's been thawing ever since. I don't think it'll fit in the microwave, actually.

Jen, change the water about every hour or so until it's thawed.

 

[3113]

Just don't overbeat them, otherwise they can get "gluey" from overworking the starch. Never that problem with a ricer.

True! Never try to make mashed potatoes in a food processor.

Added tips: Put out your butter prior to adding it so that it's not straight from the refrigerator, and warm your milk (whole milk or half-n-half) in the microwave. This will make sure that the potatoes stay warm rather than being cooled by milk and butter straight from the refrigerator.

And do remember to check potato doneness by piercing with a fork, not a knife. Knives are unreliable because, well, they're supposed to pierce.

 

[JagFarlane]

Yeah, that's the plan. Thanks.

I bought it Tuesday evening, it's been thawing ever since. I don't think it'll fit in the microwave, actually.

Eh should be mostly defrosted then.

LOL our microwave will fit a 25lber [had a 20lb one in it last year with room to spare heh]

 

[fieryjen]

Jen, change the water about every hour or so until it's thawed.

I will. Thanks.

Sister is making the pecan pie right now. It smells yummy.

 

[fieryjen]

Eh should be mostly defrosted then.

LOL our microwave will fit a 25lber [had a 20lb one in it last year with room to spare heh]

We just have a fairly small microwave. I don't really use it a lot. To warm up food, water or milk every once in a while, but that's it.

Oh, and to make popcorn, I suppose.

 

[JagFarlane]

We just have a fairly small microwave. I don't really use it a lot. To warm up food, water or milk every once in a while, but that's it.

Oh, and to make popcorn, I suppose.

-bites tongue...is "feelin good"...gives tipsy/drunken smile- Wine is goooooood

 

[SeaCat]

Cats Mashed Potatos.

Boil Spuds in salted water until done.

While doing this warm to room temp some Cream Cheese. Pull out some well seperated Roast Garlic (I'll roast an entire head of Elephant Ear Garlic for this. It's milder and has a great taste.) and a double handfull of minced Chives.

Cut the Potatos into smallish pieces and dump back into the pot. Start mashing them with the old fashioned kind of mashed. Once they have started breaking apart add the Cream Cheese and continue. Once they start smoothing out a bit add the Garlic and Chives while continuing to mash.

When they are as smooth as you want them dump into the serving bowl and place on the table.

Cat

 

[4glory6]

God I wish I could produce a turkey that wasn't dry. Happy to say the wine was not too dry though. Hic Hic

 

[JagFarlane]

God I wish I could produce a turkey that wasn't dry. Happy to say the wine was not too dry though. Hic Hic

Basting helps a bit. One suggestion would be...about 2/3 of the way through the roasting, cover the breast meat in foil.

 

[fieryjen]

Everything turned out awesome! I'm so happy!

Turkey got done just right and was pretty moist, stuffing tasted just like that of MiL (which made the husband very happy), mashed potatoes tasted just like home (which made sister happy), rosemary carrots had just the right mixture of softness and crunch, rolls were yummy, everything got done at the right moment. Husband even liked the cranberry-orange sauce he was so skeptical about.

I'm really excited nothing went wrong. I was expecting something to fuck up, but it didn't.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Everything turned out awesome! I'm so happy!

Turkey got done just right and was pretty moist, stuffing tasted just like that of MiL (which made the husband very happy), mashed potatoes tasted just like home (which made sister happy), rosemary carrots had just the right mixture of softness and crunch, rolls were yummy, everything got done at the right moment. Husband even liked the cranberry-orange sauce he was so skeptical about.

I'm really excited nothing went wrong. I was expecting something to fuck up, but it didn't.

That's because you are the awesomest!

Psst. How the arm pits holding up?

 

[fieryjen]

That's because you are the awesomest!

Psst. How the arm pits holding up?

Armpits are doing fine. Pussy, not so much.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I'm really excited nothing went wrong. I was expecting something to fuck up, but it didn't.

Good job!

Be careful, you'll be stuck doing Thanksgiving forever. The first Thanksgiving I did all by myself turned out like this... I thought it was a miracle. But for years after, everyone kept saying, "When are you having it at YOUR place again!?"

 

[tickledkitty]

Mmmmm...leftovers.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

There was a girl at the shelter yesterday. Maybe she was 11-years-old, but not any older. It was obvious that she was uncomfortable being there. She was embarrassed. She stayed away from her Dad and hung around her mother helping with her baby brother who looked to be about 3-years-old.

Her father had an alcohol or drug problem or both. I had seen him before and had helped him out with some cash when he told me had a family and kids. I knew they'd never see any of the money, but he was trying to do the right thing, he said. He was trying to clean himself up and get a job.

The little girl said she was at the shelter because her Daddy was killed in Iraq. Her Dad knew enough to give her some space but he eyed me talking to his little girl from the other side of the room. She broke my heart.

I told her about a man who I was proud of because he was trying to help himself and do the right thing for his family. I told her about all the good qualities that her father had. By the time I was done talking to her about how proud I was of her Dad she walked across the room and took his hand and was introducing him as her father and he was smiling.

I thought I had helped. I thought I had saved a family. Only, hours later when I was helping to clean up all the trash and garbage, her Dad was out back alone and with a bottle. I pretended that I didn't see him, dumped the garbage and went back inside.

This is the last year I'm helping to feed the homeless. It's hopeless. I'm depressed. There are too many of them. Many are good people who have had bad luck or never had a break. There aren't enough people willing to help those who have nothing. Every year, I see the same few people helping to give someone a hand.

On the drive home, I passed by all those luxury cars and SUVs and I was driving one of them. Normally, I feel good about lending a helping hand. This year, I felt bad.

I"ll still donate money, but I'd rather not see the army of sad faces, especially the children who have no place to sleep and nothing to eat. I can't imagine being on the street cold and homeless. I can't imagine being 11-years-old and having to tell a stranger that my Dad is dead because she's ashamed and embarrassed to be there and to be seen with him.

Hugs your kids and donate an extra dollar, especially this time of year to those who have nothing, not even hope. Donate a coat or an extra pair of socks, underwear or gloves. They need that more than they need your sympathy.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

By the way, not that any of you believe me and I don't care if you do or don't. This is the first year that I didn't have a Thanksgiving Day meal. I went home hungry. Normally, I sit at the table and have the same meal that they do. This year, when I finally got home, I had a bottle of water and an apple. That was my Thanksgiving meal.

This year was different. We didn't have enough food. Parents were sharing plates with their kids. Normally, every year we have extra food so that those who want it and need it can have second helpings. Not this year, this year was extra bad. We ran out of food.

Besides, I lost my appetite watching some of the people eat. I've seen people eat fast before but I was watching this one guy eat as if he were a dog. He had his arms around his plate and he shoveled the food in his mouth without taking the time to swallow or to take a breath.

I can't imagine being that hungry.

I only wish our politicians could be there to witness this.