Alternate menu on "Turkey Day"

[KarenDee]

Anyone else have a desire for something besides turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, etc. on Thanksgiving? I wouldn't bring it up, but for the last couple of years my kids have asked. If I leave it up to them, it'll be pineapple and bacon pizza from Dominos, or if they're closed, spaghetti and meatballs.

Why did I give birth to a couple of "non-traditionalists?"

 

[DemonOuterverse]

Well we usually have a ham as well over at the "House of 'verse".

Football enthusiasts may know about "Turducken", John Madden's blend of Turkey, Chicken, and Duck. (I believe it's Madden...but I'm not a "sports guy" so I may be wrong.)

For those "non-traditionalists" of yours:
A pizza with sliced turkey might work.
For the spaghetti, replace the beef with turkey bits.

 

[eudaemonia]

Hell, if I never have turkey+trimmings again it'll be too soon. Thanksgiving isn't defined by the menu but by what it stands for: a celebration of productivity (end of the harvest) over excellent repast shared with friends and family.

 

[midwestyankee]

Well we usually have a ham as well over at the "House of 'verse".

Football enthusiasts may know about "Turducken", John Madden's blend of Turkey, Chicken, and Duck. (I believe it's Madden...but I'm not a "sports guy" so I may be wrong.)

For those "non-traditionalists" of yours:
A pizza with sliced turkey might work.
For the spaghetti, replace the beef with turkey bits.

The dish terducken is a cajun specialty. It consists of a boned stuffed duck wrapped inside a boned stuffed chicken, wrapped inside a boned stuffed turkey and baked in a slow oven for about 12 hours. Properly done, each bird is stuffed with a different stuffing and one terducken can account for up to 18 heart attacks.

For the last several years I have threatened to prepare a "Tofurkey," which is a turkey-breast like dish made from tofu. My children threaten each year to disown me if I do so. Sometimes their behavior makes it tempting to call their bluff.

 

[KarenDee]

For the last several years I have threatened to prepare a "Tofurkey," which is a turkey-breast like dish made from tofu. My children threaten each year to disown me if I do so. Sometimes their behavior makes it tempting to call their bluff.

You can bolster the threat by mentioning that someday, any possible monetary gains that one would expect after your untimely demise might not be forthcoming in as much as the disownership would be handily canceling out that possibility.

 

[midwestyankee]

You can bolster the threat by mentioning that someday, any possible monetary gains that one would expect after your untimely demise might not be forthcoming in as much as the disownership would be handily canceling out that possibility.

Well, they already know that I'm too cheap to leave anything behind so that threat would be idle at best. I learned from some of New England's finest skin flints.

 

[midwestyankee]

Another thought for an alternative comes from an accommodation that my family makes for my low-fat and mostly vegetarian diet: a layered dinner salad that includes two or three sources of protein in addition to the usual suspects from the produce department. Now, this may not appeal to your teenagers but it may also send your thinking in a different direction.

 

[KarenDee]

A lot is going to hinge on the possibility of my new gentleman friend who might be coming to dinner. I'm thinking that maybe serving "Tofurkey" or something similar might not be in my best interest at the moment. The kid's suggestions may be in limbo until next year.

 

[midwestyankee]

A lot is going to hinge on the possibility of my new gentleman friend who might be coming to dinner. I'm thinking that maybe serving "Tofurkey" or something similar might not be in my best interest at the moment. The kid's suggestions may be in limbo until next year.

Based on what you've said about him elsewhere, you might consider asking him if he'd like to prepare and bring a dish that is part of his own T'giving tradition. It would give him a chance to participate and to feel a bit more "at home" all at once. And he sounds like a guy who might just know a little bit about his kitchen besides how to toss a frozen lump into the microwave.

 

[KarenDee]

Based on what you've said about him elsewhere, you might consider asking him if he'd like to prepare and bring a dish that is part of his own T'giving tradition. It would give him a chance to participate and to feel a bit more "at home" all at once. And he sounds like a guy who might just know a little bit about his kitchen besides how to toss a frozen lump into the microwave.

Gosh I could hug you...what a great idea! I never would have thought of that. You don't think that would be putting too much pressure on him, asking him to bring a dish? I mean, if someone told me to do it, I'd be all over it, but your typical guy??

On the other hand, he does seem like the type that would handle it without causing a commotion. Maybe I can slyly bring up the subject in a way that makes it appear to be his idea.

 

[midwestyankee]

Gosh I could hug you...what a great idea! I never would have thought of that. You don't think that would be putting too much pressure on him, asking him to bring a dish? I mean, if someone told me to do it, I'd be all over it, but your typical guy??

On the other hand, he does seem like the type that would handle it without causing a commotion. Maybe I can slyly bring up the subject in a way that makes it appear to be his idea.

Just tell him that you know how hard it would be to miss out on all the things that have been a part of his Thanksgiving tradtion and suggest that he might enjoy bringing something that would make him feel at home. In the same breath you could offer to make it for him if he'd like or perhaps he'd prefer to make it himself. Either way, you'll make him feel more comfortable and learn about his culinary skills in the bargain. Seems like a win-win to me. (Just be careful if he tells you that Twinkies or Ho Hos are part of his family's holiday tradition. Anyone with that sort of evil in his past is not a good bet for your future.)

 

[KarenDee]

Just be careful if he tells you that Twinkies or Ho Hos are part of his family's holiday tradition. Anyone with that sort of evil in his past is not a good bet for your future.

LOL...this guy works out at the same health club that I do. Trust me, there are no Twinkies in his diet!

 

[midwestyankee]

LOL...this guy works out at the same health club that I do. Trust me, there are no Twinkies in his diet!

Any man who avoids Twinkies is a perfect man in my view. Good choice!

 

[SweetErika]

We're not traditionalists. Last year I think we had a choice of marinated chicken breasts, fish, or a vegetarian soup. For the past few years it's been a small gathering, and everyone kind of chooses something they like and want, and they generally just bring it. My mom and I love cranberries, hubby can't live without mashed potatoes (at any time of the year, no gravy though), we usually have a salad, a veggie, and an easy main dish. We always have at least one pie (it's been Lemon Merengue for the past few years) because the process of making it is meaningful for my mom and I...we use my grandma's crust recipe and techniques, and it's a good opportunity to remember and talk about how special she was to us.

So, the Thanksgiving menu is always a hodgepodge that we try to keep simple and stress-free. We go for what we like, traditional or not, and when it comes down to it, most of the food is meaningless. The focus is always on spending time with loved ones and being grateful for all we have, and that'd happen with pizza, spaghetti, or no food at all.

 

[Cathleen]

<snip>
For the last several years I have threatened to prepare a "Tofurkey," which is a turkey-breast like dish made from tofu. My children threaten each year to disown me if I do so. Sometimes their behavior makes it tempting to call their bluff.

If your children don't disown you, I will! Also the image I have is from the TV show 'Everybody Loves Raymond' when Marie prepared a tofu thing.

*mumbles only Yank*

 

[Cathleen]

In the last few years my siblings and I have done a kind of toss up - the question is 'Are we doing this?' Then the kids say YES. That leads to 'Where are we doing this?' More hours and days of moaning, bringing the next question, 'What are we going to have?'. Yes, more moaning, until I say 'I'm ordering the whole thing from the market. Done deal!'

This year I am going to try a few recipes from a diabetic holiday cookbook I picked up. At least that's what I'm saying today.

If anyone cares to share some low carb recipes, I'd be appreciative. Especially if they include chocolate!!

 

[KarenDee]

I keep thinking maybe I should just go out for dinner!

 

[FurryFury]

Anyone else have a desire for something besides turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, etc. on Thanksgiving? I wouldn't bring it up, but for the last couple of years my kids have asked. If I leave it up to them, it'll be pineapple and bacon pizza from Dominos, or if they're closed, spaghetti and meatballs.

Why did I give birth to a couple of "non-traditionalists?"

As I don't eat Turkey, yeah! In fact, Hell Yeah! But um can we still the the mashed potatoes? I LOVE those.

Poor kids, dominos pizza? I love pizza but there are better pies!

Fury

 

[midwestyankee]

If anyone cares to share some low carb recipes, I'd be appreciative. Especially if they include chocolate!!

I have a really tasty recipe for tofu-stuffed sweet potatoes and also one for a magnificent lentil-green bean casserole. My favorite, though, is for tofumkin pie topped with vanilla tofutti.

 

[Eilan]

I could survive quite well on a Thanksgiving (and Christmas) dinner consisting solely of oyster stuffing and mashed potatoes sans gravy.

 

[midwestyankee]

I could survive quite well on a Thanksgiving (and Christmas) dinner consisting solely of oyster stuffing and mashed potatoes sans gravy.

Agreed.

Of course, the only problem with eating oysters is that only the first dozen work.

 

[Cathleen]

I have a really tasty recipe for tofu-stuffed sweet potatoes and also one for a magnificent lentil-green bean casserole. My favorite, though, is for tofumkin pie topped with vanilla tofutti.

Tofutti to you too!

 

[Cathleen]

I keep thinking maybe I should just go out for dinner!

I've had Christmas dinner at Denny's!

 

[midwestyankee]

Tofutti to you too!

Hey, it's a time-honored tradition among vegans to sprinkle toffutti on newly wedded couples.

 

[midwestyankee]

I've had Christmas dinner at Denny's!

Thanksgiving here, once.


In Godforsaken, Iowa as I recall.