American Thanksgiving questions---I can't wait!!?

Question

Who else can't wait for Thanksgiving dinner? It's my favorite dinner of the year!

What is your favorite part of the meal? ( stuffing here!)

Does you family serve any non tradititonal foods? ( not really but my brother started making pecan bourbon sweet potatoes a few years ago that actually made me start liking sweet potatoes!)

Answer 1

A wonderful celebration!

Coming from a European ancestry, food has always been a huge part of "family". Regardless of the time of year, when you entered a family home, you were invited to eat and drink.

Holiday meals were always a big deal and although 'traditional', my grandmother and mother always made sure our 'old' home was included in the tradition of our 'new' home.

Thanksgiving was turkey, dressing, mounds of mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, brussel sprouts jello salad, rolls, gravy, etc... and then golubtsy (Russian stuffed cabbage rolls); called klumpke in the Polish region. There are many versions depending on the region and country. Ours was made with tomato sauce. (I've noticed many are made with tomato soup - tried and did not care for). We also had pumpkin and apple pies, but also Kolacky, a pastry cookie with fruit inside and sprinkled with powdered sugar (pronounced co latch key), Kolach, a pastry roll filled with many different combinations (Nut and raisin; Apricot and coconut; poppyseed, prune, etc.)

One favorite dish that I've added is Broccoli, rice and cheese. Very simple - cooked broccoli, rice and velvetta cheese melted, some oleo and monkey dust (seasoning we make) and milk.

Actually, a number of foods that many Americans serve, we have never served such as sweet potatoes with marshmallows and green bean casserole - our green beans were served with bacon and onions.

I think my favorite part is just having the whole family together. Since getting everyone together as kids grow up and move away, it makes the time more precious.

As for the favorite part of the food... Thanksgiving evening - leftover turkey sandwiches and fried stuffing.

I'm ready to cook...!

Have a blessed, wonderful Thankgiving this year!

Angel hugs
Tina

Answer 2

I'm with you. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's all about the meal and family. It's interesting how traditions end and start. I'm older and both my parents are gone. So we've gradually graduated to creating our own traditions. We' just a few for the holidays, and my daughter is a vegetarian. But we enjoy creating the meal together.

The latest and greatest is the turkey breast. I purchase a large, fresh turkey breast from the butcher and have it butterflied. I make my stuffing from scratch (first seasoning and baking the bread to make the stuffing with). I lay out the breast, lay stuffing the length of it, then roll the breast, tie it well and season the top with lots of herbs, cover and roast for about 1-1/2 hours. I take the cover off the last 20 mins. to brown. Rolling it jellyroll style makes it look so beautiful with it's sliced. There are plenty of juices in the pan to make a nice gravy too! I also bake an extra dish of the stuffing. I make a basic stuffing mix (about the same texture as the Pepperidge Herb Stuffing mix). For the turkey, I add poultry seasoning, s&p, egg, grated onion, chopped fresh parsley, basil, and hot water to soften. My daughter has a baked stuff fillet of sole.. .made with the same starter mix, with dill added instead of poultry seasoning, and no egg added, and crabmeat.

We used to have the mashed sw. potatoe casserole with marshmellows on top. Now it's rosemary seasoned sw. potatoe slices baked in the oven, then turn on the broiler for a minute to crisp a little.

Now I can't wait!

Answer 3

I too like the stuffing. This year I'm making two kinds.. the traditional homemade stuffing where you mix up with your hands and get all yucky, and then a sausage, cornbread stuffing that my husband wants me to make. They are both good, but for Thanksgiving, I prefer the traditional stuffing. I've made Emeril's sweet potatoes made with pecans and cane syrup. I don't like sweet potatoes, but the pecan sauce is real good. (I make it for others who do like it.) A non traditional food that my husband likes is a 'dip' for tortilla chips called Kelaguin (sp?) It's something his family always makes on holidays and what you do is take shredded chicken and mix it with scallions, crushed red pepper flakes, lemon juice and shredded coconut. You add the ingredients to your taste and let chill a while. My husband, son and sister really like it, but I don't like coconut, so I don't eat it. My husband's family is from an island in the Pacific, so this would be traditional for them, but it's not for me. I've already started planning my menu so I can slowly start buying things. I am cooking this year, as I have most of the time I've been married, but now that I live near family, we usually go to my mom's house for dinner. She's out of town, so I'm hosting because my sister can't cook.

Answer 4

It's my favorite dinner of the year too! I load up on the mashed potatoes and gravy, and the stuffing FIRST. If I can finish a plate of that, then I might have a little turkey and some of whatever casserole is being served.

Answer 5

I love Thanksgiving!! I haven't been home for Thanksgiving in 5 years thou, (military =() but I love the homemade noodles with gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, juicy turkey, the hot butter rolls and of course the pecan pie, but most of all, I really miss being with my family

Answer 6

I know I cant wait!!
I love all the food but I'm gonna have to go with the stuffing also! I love stuffing with giblet gravy!! YUM YUM
I feel bad for my brother b/c he has missed our family dinner for the last 3 years b/c he is serving in IRAQ. :(

Answer 7

I love Thanksgiving!!!! My favorite part of the meal is.....it's so hard to choose....I'm gonna have to say the stuffing also. We have lots of traditional foods but my favorite is our cheese potatoes....yum!

Answer 8

ohhh yeah- i unbutton my pants before i start eating, my moms stuffing is the best too! but i love dipping dinner rolls in gravy

Answer 9

Sweet potato casserole. It is too awesome.
I could eat that and Turkey and be HAPPY!!!!

Answer 10

My favorite too, stuffing is best.