Who Cooks The Turkey????

RobS · Nov 26, 2003

Normally I cook the turkey and thoroughly enjoy the process. This year however, we will be at my sisters so my job has been reduced to only the stuffing. Apparently, I have the ability to recreate our mother's stuffing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anyone else have rutabagas with all the other food? It's long been a family tradition with us but it seems few others even know what a rutabaga is /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Boondox · Nov 26, 2003

We grill our bird, and since it involves open flame outside I have the honor. I rub it down with seasoning, then plop it on the grill with the butt end down and the neck end open so we get a chimney effect and the turkey cooks from the inside out.

Delicious! Pete

Golfgar4 · Nov 26, 2003

Well, we do the tag team kind of thing. We both work together, although she is the head turkey chef. I'm the head pie maker (the mother-in-law gets REAL mad if I don't make a pumpkin pie - which I don't even like!) and since I'm the only one who likes cranberries, I get to make those too! Otherwise, we pretty much work on the whole thing jointly. We crank up the Christmas music since it's the first official day of the season, and we try to make the time in the kitchen a party.

This year, however, will be a little more difficult as it will be the very first Thanksgiving that neither of our kids will be home. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Going to be real quiet with just the in-laws and the wifes aunt. Of course, that does mean there will be more leftovers! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Docsknotinn · Nov 26, 2003

Rob, at my mother in laws house those are a must for it to be considered a true thanxgiving. In my grand mothers house it was always succotash YUCH ! lol. well at least thats what I thought as a kid. Now I can imagine that it must have been kinda neat even then to eat the food you had grown on your own property. Happy Turkey day to every one /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Dave

Bob_In_MN · Nov 26, 2003

Although we are going to the in-laws, we are bringing the turkey. I'm planning on soaking it in a brine solution this year--saw it on TV program. The process is supposed to keep the bird extra moist. Anyway--I'll get up early to drive the Turkey over to the in-laws.

It has become a tradition that either on Thanksgiving or Christmas (whichever holiday we host), I make a ham on the grill (Turkey is typically made in the oven). I buy a non-cooked ham and during the grilling process I baste it with a sauce made from equal parts molasses, brown sugar and water. When done, the sauce has carmelized and since the ham is fresh, the flavor gets into the meat. Since we are not hosting Thanksgiving, this will wait until Christmas.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Bob

trkbldr · Nov 26, 2003

tc35dforme, I got a good laugh from your comment about the rolls burning in the oven /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. This is a tradition at my mother-in-laws. The rolls come out extra crispy on the bottom and original recipe on top. We named them "Granny Rolls". Any time my wife gets the rolls the slightest bit too brown, we tease her about fixing "Granny Rolls". As for who cooks the turkey at our house, well, we each have our own talents. My wifes talent is cooking. My talent is eating. Works out great that way. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

BubbaJr · Nov 26, 2003

That sounds like dinner at Mom's house. When we were kids the most heard comment from Mom in response to my brothers or I at mealtime was " It's not burned, it's just browned". Now the wife and I both do the Turkey day preparations. My specialty is candied yams, and the <font color="brown"> "see food diet". </font> Then it's off to watch very little football and the mandatory nap.

<font color="red"> HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!</font> /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

cisco · Nov 26, 2003

My wife, aka "the boss". My son's home from college, and my daughter's friends are elsewhere (their families), so it'll be the traditional "free range" turkey and all the associated stuff, including a pecan and a pumpkin pie. That said, for this Sunday, it's a cajun spice coated (outside and inside) and injected deep fried turkey on my outdoor burner, "wild" rice and a double chocolate pie. Yup, next week will be spartan, as I try to take off the extra pounds.

cisco · Nov 26, 2003

Gee, almost forgot. We have a "work party" tradition on Thanksgiving. We get up about 8am, have a huge breakfast (buttermilk pancakes, deer sausage, fruit salad), and then all go to my country property to work for 5-6 hours. I've rented a Vermeer stump grinder, and just this week got a DR Chipper for my tractor (I'll let you know how it works). Then, we return home, shower (and shave if male), start a fire in the fireplace, put on some classical background music, and start cooking and gossiping.
It's a long day, but the object is bonding, with work, food and friendship. Have a good one, TBN'ers

Hoosier_Daddy · Nov 26, 2003

Bob,

The Ham meal reminds me of a friend of ours. His wife got a ham one year for Easter and spent all day constantly basting it. Sure did smell good. Would have tasted good also if she didn't have to remove the very seasoned smoke wrapper that was still on. It was very moist and done though.

Not a story we bring up if she is within hearing range.

Tom