Thanksgiving Menu

[Rooka]

A little early I know, but what's everyone cooking up for the Holiday?


I am thinking I may smoke a Brisket, make some homemade loaded mash potatoes, baked beans with smoked sausage, deviled eggs, and maybe some bacon wrapped green beans. Haven't decided on the turkey, yet.

What will y'all be cooking up?

[PorkRinds]

Thanksgiving is at my house for the first time ever this year. I'm smoking a turkey and making dressing, broccoli and rice casserole, and grean bean casserole.  The wife is making a pumpkin cheesecake (her specialty).  Not sure what, but everyone else will bring a side dish or two as well.  My mother in law makes a really good sweet potato casserole, so I'm betting she brings that and her home made cranberry sauce. 

[Rooka]

Thanksgiving is at my house for the first time ever this year. I'm smoking a turkey and making dressing, broccoli and rice casserole, and grean bean casserole.  The wife is making a pumpkin cheesecake (her specialty).  Not sure what, but everyone else will bring a side dish or two as well.  My mother in law makes a really good sweet potato casserole, so I'm betting she brings that and her home made cranberry sauce. 

Forgot the dressing! Of course that is always a staple. Pumpkin cheesecake sounds awesome.

[PorkRinds]

Forgot the dressing! Of course that is always a staple. Pumpkin cheesecake sounds awesome.

It's fantastic. My wife has a great recipe too.  I learned my dressing technique from melding both my grandmother's recipes together.  I get compliments every year.

[Boarcephus]

we're headed south to Kilgore, TX for Thanksgiving this year to see grandkids so I have no idea what's on the menu.  I think my contribution will consist of the biggest bone-in ham I can find and take it down there.

Christmas on the other hand is at my house so we'll see what we can come up with

[DeltaBoy]

Mom and Dad got  Turkey Breast , Smoke Ham, Chicken and Dressing, Soup, Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry sauce , Gravy , Hot Rolls, Butter along with 2 gallons of Sweet Tea and a Pecan and Chocolate pies ! 

[HogCard]

Thanksgiving is at my house for the first time ever this year. I'm smoking a turkey and making dressing, broccoli and rice casserole, and grean bean casserole.  The wife is making a pumpkin cheesecake (her specialty).  Not sure what, but everyone else will bring a side dish or two as well.  My mother in law makes a really good sweet potato casserole, so I'm betting she brings that and her home made cranberry sauce. 

Mirror image of what we usually do right down to the wife's awesome dessert recipe.  Do I know you?

[HogScoutMaster]

I'm smoking a turkey

You know what I LIKE this idea.  I have never done that! 

Tips please.  I know how to smoke but is there any other difference?

[PorkRinds]

You know what I LIKE this idea.  I have never done that! 

Tips please.  I know how to smoke but is there any other difference?

I always  inject with butter and cajun seasoning. Put pats of butter under the skin. Coat the outside in olive oil, salt and pepper. My biggest suggestion is to give yourself plenty of time ahead of time to get the bird done. Nothing worse than waiting on a turkey when the table is set. I use a combo of hickory and cherry. I smoke mine at 250 until it's reading 175 in the thigh. Sometimes I'll crank the heat up to 300-325 for the last little bit if i haven't gotten the crispy skin I like. After its done tightly wrap in foil in a roasting pan until  your serve. Some folks brine the turkey but I usually don't. Plan on 45 mins per pound at least.  You may not take that long, but you won't be left waiting.

[dhornjr1]

Mom and Dad got  Turkey Breast , Smoke Ham, Chicken and Dressing, Soup, Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry sauce , Gravy , Hot Rolls, Butter along with 2 gallons of Sweet Tea and a Pecan and Chocolate pies ! 

What kind of soup?

[DeltaBoy]

What kind of soup?

For the past 50 years the ladies in the family have taken the last of the vegetables before frost and made what they call Soup starter. It is tomato based with potatoes and various variety of  beans and corn. They can it by the quart and all you do is open heat and serve. We served it with Chicken and dressing since the early 1970's 

[jacobp]

175 in the thigh is too much.
Pull it off when the deepest part of the thigh hits 160 and let it rest.

Turkey is done at 165. cooking to 175 will dry out all the white meat.

[HogScoutMaster]

My biggest suggestion is to give yourself plenty of time ahead of time to get the bird done. Nothing worse than waiting on a turkey when the table is set.

I was going to smoke it while I slept, then take it out when I awoke. 

[PorkRinds]

I was going to smoke it while I slept, then take it out when I awoke.

Not a bad idea.

[PorkRinds]

175 in the thigh is too much.
Pull it off when the deepest part of the thigh hits 160 and let it rest.

Turkey is done at 165. cooking to 175 will dry out all the white meat.

Fair enough.  I usually go higher, because I've had thigh meat still have pink juice (blood) running at 165.  I usually take it off at 170 or so and let it rest, and it rises to 175

[dhornjr1]

For the past 50 years the ladies in the family have taken the last of the vegetables before frost and made what they call Soup starter. It is tomato based with potatoes and various variety of  beans and corn. They can it by the quart and all you do is open heat and serve. We served it with Chicken and dressing since the early 1970's 

Sounds like a good winter soup.

[HawgWild]

                   TURKEY
                  TURKEYTURKEY
                TURKEYTURKEYTURK
                 TURKEYTURKEYTURKEY
                  TURKEYTURKEYTURKY
       URK         TURKEYTURKEYTURK
     <TURKEY        TURKEYTURKEYTUR
      T RKEY       TURKEYTURKEYTURK
      T  KEY      TURKEYTURKEYTURKE
        RKEY     YTURKEYTURKEYTURKEY
        RKEY  RKEYTURKEYTURKEYTURKEY
        RKEYTURKEYTURKEYTURKEYTURKEY
         KEYTURKEYTURKEYTURKEYTUREKY
         KEYTURKEYTURKEYTURKEYTURKE
          KEYTURKEYTURKEYTURKEYTURK
           KEYTURKEYTURKEYTURKEYTU
            EYTURKEYTURKEYTURKEYT
             EYTURKEYTURKEYTURKE
              YTURKEYTURKEYTURKEY
               YTURKEYTURKEYTURKEY
                YTURKEYTURKEY
                    KY YTUR
                     T  Y
                   rYK  T
                      ryK
                       Y

       HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!

[old hog]

   Roasted turkey, smoked ham, with the usual sides. And some fantastic yeast rolls from mother-in-law, along with her coconut cream pie and pecan pie. And the cooking has started already. House full of some wonderful smells.

[SteveInArk]

All the normal stuff ... and the dressing split between "with oysters (ME)" and "no oysters (WIFE)" .... sly trick of mine, because I like the dressing either way!

[DeltaBoy]

Mom and Dad got  Turkey Breast , Smoke Ham, Chicken and Dressing, Soup, Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry sauce , Gravy , Hot Rolls, Butter along with 2 gallons of Sweet Tea and a Pecan and Chocolate pies ! 

Good Lard it was Good.

[Tim Harris]

Last Thanksgiving for me this year and the only one at my house. Turkey went on the smoker early this morning, dressing and mashed potatoes will be going a little later.

[DeltaBoy]

Sounds like a good winter soup.

It is and we add noodles to it and serve it with Cornbread.

[Rooka]

Mom made a white chocolate 3 layer pumpkin pie....I'm still recovering...

[PorkRinds]

It is and we add noodles to it and sever it with Cornbread.

That must be some sharp cornbread! 

[DeltaBoy]

That must be some sharp cornbread! 

LOL another TYPO!