Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

Hi all.....I decided to try some new recipes....along with the old requested ones....took them from the Food Channel....and started the casseroles on Monday...and put them in the freezer....

So far, the Pecan Dressing and Oyster Dressing are done...along with a spinach casserole and sweet potato casserole....

The turkey is defrosting in the refrigerator....I am going to see if I can remove the neck and giblets so that I can start the gravy....

I would like a green bean casserole that someone thinks is a 5-star side dish....the last two years were just not special.....anyone?

So....what are you all having...?   :D    Mere

Mere, this is what we are preparing for Thanksgiving.

- Lasagna
- Turkey
- Stuffing
- Sweet Potatos
- Mushrooms both stuffed & sauted
- Broccoli
- Mashed Potatos
- Artichokes
- Apple & Pumpkin Pies

Just got home with my $1.99 Chicken Fried Steak Dinners, Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes w/White Gravy, Cole Slaw and Biscuit.

Also stopped by my local Sub Shop, Moe's, and got a 14" Ultimate Sub Sandwich for lunch tommorrow. Think there's 4 meats and 4 cheeses and Vinegar/Olive Oil dressing.

I generally buy 4 KFC Dinners and 4 sub sandwichs for 4 days meals.

A microwave is a wonderful instrument.

MeMere,
there is a green bean casserole recipe in the SM cookbook by Susebear that looks yummy....



we are having:

Artichokes
mashed potatoes
sweet potatoes
broccolli
turkey
dressing
pecan pie
pumpkin pie
wine
tea
green bean casserole...

and lots of leftovers... !!!

meice pudding

sounds wonderful, one of the things about not fixing and dinner at home now is that I don't have all those nice left overs in the fridge to snack on several times a day.  we will be traveling to one of my daughters for dinner.

Oh Gosh!!  I am having one side of the family for lunch and the other side for supper!  But it is okay - everyone is bringing something....  We're gonna have:

Turkey
ham
tater salad
dressing & gravy
broccoli casserole
corn
green beans
yams
oriental salad
rolls
mac & cheese
and various deserts.....  

Needless to say, I will be sleeping it off on Friday!!!

(http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k101/daisysistah/anifac/32611776.gif)

to my sweet MeMere  :D

Wow...everything sounds delicious..... :D

turkey was not defrosted yet ...so in the morning I will make salads, pumpkin gooey butter cake, gravy and the big bird goes in the oven for an afternoon dinner along with mashed potatoes....and the casseroles that were finished earlier....

Thought I would pressure wash the deck (in my spare time...lol) but the machine gave way after about 20 seconds.....SIL is an engineer and I think he believes I break things on purpose so that he can fix them...!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.....special thanks to Klaas.....Hugs, Mere

For the past two years (since the estrangement with my daughter), I have spent Thanksgiving with my longtime friend LoLo at her sister Ellen's house. This year, her cousins are hosting Thanksgiving in a fine restaurant in Santa Monica at 4:30. I'm overwhelmed at the kindness of her family. They always welcome me with open arms. I am so grateful.

I used to LOVE to cook a turkey. When I was younger, I thought it would be so hard to do. When I got a job with Xerox in 1984, my boss told me a turkey is the easiest thing in the world to cook. He gave me a sheet of paper listing everything about cooking a turkey. He said to phone him if I had a problem.

So I cooked plenty of turkey dinners. For my elderly mother, for my exhusband who would fly in from New York City, and for my precious daughter Kristi. Then we would go out to a movie. I'm just getting a bit tearful thinking that all three of them are no longer in my life.

I am so thankful for all the Scared Monkeys who have been in my life since Natalee disappeared.

Wish that she could be found someday.

Happy Thanksgiving Monkeys, with love from Louise

Louise, if you were in Alabama, I'd have you front and center at my table!!!

I'm having:
Turkey
Cornbread dressing
gravy
yeast rolls
sweet potato casserole
green bean casserole
potaotes au gratin
tossed salad
heavenly hash, which is a fruit salad
pumpkin pie
apple pie
iced tea
coffee

That sounds so yummy!!!

Since my dad passed a few months ago, I have been having a really hard time and do not feel up to hosting, or preparing, a big dinner.  Holidays can be so bittersweet!  But my son arrived from San Diego earlier tonight and that helps a lot.  My kids and my ex will be gathered at my table for:

Honey baked ham
Mashed potatoes
Yams
Salad
Green bean casserole
Bread
Pumpkin Pie for desert

Happy Thanksgiving all!!

Good morning friends.....Happy Thanksgiving and do wish we could all have these wonderful meals together.....I found the recipe for the green bean casserole (thanks mrs. and Sueebear)....looks great and we will have it later today...now everything is perfect....the first couple is on the road and will be here is about an hour.... :D

Well, looks like I'll be having turkey after all.

Neighbor just brought over a large platter of smoked turkey just for me.

Heck, I was already thankful just for being around and now I have more to be thankful for.

Good for you George, I'm glad your neighbor brought you some turkey. Happy Thanksgiving!

BUMPING THIS UP.......carry on.....

While I know this thread was all about food, it is a bit different for me this year.  I am sure the food will be wonderful.  However, it is not that which will make this Thanksgiving a great one.  For the first time in 10 years I will be traveling to one of my daughters and have all four of my kids and my eleven grandchildren together all at one time. 

I can't think of a more wonderful way of spending the day.  I am also sure my children know what my favorite holiday foods are so I certainly do not expect to go hungry.  Food not only to fill the stomach, but it will be much more nutritious for my heart.

May all of you be so fortunate.

What a terrific Thanksgiving you are gonna have GO!  As for us. DH, me and our son and DIL...we will be on the beach in Jamaica having lobster and jerk chicken and dirt bananas ::MonkeyDance::

WOW Sunny, that sounds so COOL!!!!  Do you always travel on Thanksgiving or is this some special trip? I wannnnna go!

We will be having the traditional turkey and cornbread dressing.  My memaw's receipe.  Me & my sister will fix most of it the night before over a bottle of wine.  We have the best time cooking together.  I am fortunate that she lives up the street from me.  My mom will make TOO many pies.  ::MonkeyHaHa:: that ironically will all get eaten. 

PDH3 - where are you in Alabama?  I am in Birmingham.

That sounds delicious.  A meal fit for a two hour nap afterwards.  I can remember my thanksgivings from the 40's and 50's.  I just wish I had more appreciation for them then.  My grandfather would also seek out some comfortable chair after dinner and sleep.  I didn't know why at the time.  Now I do.   

Nothing goes together quite like great food, family and remembering the things we have to be thankful for even when not everything in this world is going smoothly.  It is always a day which seems to isolate your own world from the trials of the past and the worries of the future.

Everyone enjoy!!!   Please do keep posting menus.  I will just have to have a napkin over my keyboard to make sure I don't drool on it.

OK, I just realized that this thread started in 2006.  Seems like I would have caught a clue when it was mentioned that one couple was on their way over ...
 ::MonkeyHaHa:: ::MonkeyHaHa:: ::MonkeyHaHa:: ::MonkeyHaHa::

I have got to start paying more attention ...

CBB!  Any chance you can put a silly turkey with my precious Daisy?  Or make it a little Thanksgiving festive?  TIA

No problem Jennifer!

I am originally from Birmingham, but now I live in a suburb of Huntsville, if you can call it that. I'm not sure Huntsville is big enough to qualify having suburbs... ::MonkeyLaugh::
Birmingham is still home to me though!  I really do miss it!


This year, I'm having my children and a few of their friends at my table for Thanksgiving. My college daughter has friends who are too far from home to travel for the holiday, so we'll take care of them.  No one will go hungry, that's for sure!

I have my menu all planned:
Turkey
Dressing
gravy
Green bean casserole
Carrot souffle'
broccoli with home-made cheese sauce
squash casserole
fruit salad
rolls
apple pie
peach pie
pumpkin pie
coffee
tea

And a whole crew of college kids to clean up the mess while I relax with a cup of tea....yeah...like that's gonna happen! ::MonkeyLaugh::

Prepare a Safe and Easy Thanksgiving Dinner - One Day at a Time

Preparing Thanksgiving dinner can be a wonderful experience, yet daunting for those planning it. The goal is to have a safe and delicious turkey dinner, and if planned one day at a time, it can be a fun and memorable experience.

A good way to start is one week before the big day – on Thursday, November 19 at 3 p.m. ET – join the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a live Facebook chat featuring a holiday food safety expert from its Food Safety and Inspection Service. Members of the public can submit questions about safe preparation of the holiday meal—turkey, stuffing and other holiday favorites--and get live answers right on the USDA Facebook page. For more information about the chat or to submit questions in advance, visit the USDA Live page at http://www.usda.gov/live and become a fan of USDA on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usda .

To ensure a successful and safe celebration this Thanksgiving, USDA recommends a Thanksgiving countdown. Ahead of the Nov. 19 Facebook chat you can:

•Plan your menu and gather recipes.
•Check your pantry to see what you have.
•Make a shopping list of needed ingredients.
•Check to make sure you have all the equipment you will need, including a roasting pan large enough to hold your turkey or meat.
•Buy a food thermometer if you don't already have one.
•Start using foods that are taking up space in your refrigerator and freezer to make sure you have plenty of room for your turkey, ham, or roast and other dishes.
Thanksgiving (T) minus 6 (Friday): If you decided to buy a frozen bird and haven't purchased it yet, buy it today so you have adequate time to thaw it in the refrigerator. For thawing a frozen turkey, move it into your refrigerator now. Leave the frozen bird in its original wrapper and place it on a tray to catch any juices that may leak from the package as the turkey thaws. Bacteria in poultry juices can cross-contaminate other foods that will be eaten without further cooking or that are already cooked, possibly causing foodborne illness. Allow approximately 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. For example, a 16-pound turkey would take 3 to 4 days to thaw. A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1-2 days before cooking. Purchase fresh turkey only one to two days before cooking.

T minus 5 (Saturday): Do a thorough cleaning job on your refrigerator and the appliances needed for preparing the Thanksgiving meal. Sanitize all countertops and cutting boards using a solution of 1 tablespoon unscented chlorine bleach per gallon of water.

If using an electric roaster oven, bring it into the kitchen and make sure it is working. If smoking a turkey, have adequate charcoal and/or other fuels.

T minus 4 (Sunday): Set the table including serving dishes and utensils, and round up the needed chairs. Plan your Thanksgiving Day cooking timetable based on the size of your turkey or other meats. For cooking timetables and more information, go to http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fact_sheets/index.asp , "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).

T minus 3 (Monday): Make vegetable side dishes and breads ahead of time. Store the side dishes in the refrigerator (40 °F or below).

T minus 2 (Tuesday): If buying a fresh turkey, this is the day to bring it home from the store. If you forgot to thaw the frozen turkey or don't have room in the refrigerator for thawing, don't panic. You can submerge the turkey in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes. Allow about 30 minutes defrosting time per pound of turkey. Cook immediately after thawing.

T minus 1 (Wednesday): No. Don't even think of pulling an all-nighter with your turkey. It's not safe to cook a turkey all night at 200 °F. The minimum oven temperature is 325 °F to ensure any bacteria are destroyed.

Check again to make sure you have all the ingredients you need to prepare your holiday meal. Although stores are probably crowded, buying needed ingredients now is essential.

Prepare wet and dry stuffing ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate them separately. Don't combine the ingredients until just before cooking the stuffing – inside or outside the turkey.

T (Thanksgiving Day)

If you still need to thaw your turkey, microwave thawing is probably your only option now. Check the manufacturer's instructions for the size turkey that will fit into your oven, the minutes per pound, and the power level to use for thawing. Cook immediately after thawing.

If you plan to stuff your turkey, mix the wet and dry stuffing ingredients just before placing the stuffing inside the turkey cavity or into a casserole dish. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, since heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment. Stuff your turkey loosely and place it in the oven immediately. Lacking a thermometer, cook the stuffing separately.

Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of turkey and stuffing. A cooked whole turkey is safe at a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the bird and stuffing. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh, wing, the thickest part of the breast and the stuffing. To see how to check the internal temperature, go to: www.fsis.usda.gov

All turkey meat, including any that remains pink, is safe to eat as soon as all parts reach at least 165 °F. When turkey is removed from the oven, let it stand 20 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving the turkey.

After Thanksgiving dinner, cut the leftover turkey into small pieces; refrigerate stuffing and turkey separately in shallow containers within 2 hours of cooking. Use leftover turkey and stuffing within 3-4 days or freeze these foods. Reheat thoroughly to a temperature of 165 °F or until hot and steaming.

On Thanksgiving Day, consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov (English) or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time (English and Spanish). Listen to timely recorded food safety messages at the same number 24 hours a day. Visit the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov .

Normal, non-holiday business hours for the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time (English or Spanish). Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. E-mail questions to MPHotline.fsis@usda.gov . Follow us on Twitter for the latest food safety news and tips at http://www.twitter.com/USDAfoodsafety .

More food safety tips for cooks preparing holiday meals can be found at the Partnership for Food Safety Education's new web site, www.holidayfoodsafety.org . The site includes food shopping and preparation tips, recipes, and food safety advice and activities and a Holiday Food Safety Success Kit prepared by USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/Food and Drug Administration to address consumer concerns about safe food preparation.

Contact:
Diane Van 301-344-4777
Kathy Bernard 301-344-4746
FSIS Food Safety Education Staff
Published on: 2009-11-11
http://7thspace.com/headlines/325294/preparing_for_a_safe_and_easy_thanksgiving_dinner___one_day_at_a_time.html 
 

A local restaurant that our family loves is offering a carry out dinner this year that they will be preparing...turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, assorted homemade breads and pumpkin pie...Serving 20-25 people for $131.00...that is what I am doing this year! I may make a few side dishes and of course munchies but I know that the food will be wonderful from this restaurant and honestly, I could not buy all of this food for that many people for the amount that it will cost us!  I am wimping out this year and I don't mind admitting it!
 I am thrilled...now I can enjoy a dinner that I have not had to spend all day preparing...and can enjoy the day with family .....

Ok I thought I'd add a humorous note to my Holiday Horrors!

I've been married 17 yrs and switch Turkey day on and off between the families and have hosted 3 times up to 25 peeps at my house.  I always have everyone bring their specialty and just do Turkey and appetizers/staples.  So this year it's Hubby's families turn and I just got the call from the MIL.
No I am not requested to make any of the lovely dishes she knows I am very skilled at making or picking up a great bottle of wine. 

No with Hubby's family once again I am asked to bring.....Brown N Serve Rolls!  I just cannot win!  Ok that's it gripe #1 for the Holidays.  Ha Ha!  I know I should be relieved really but I guess I just see it as an insult to my cooking capabilities.  Anyway there you go.  I got that off my chest to an impartial unknown jury.  I'm probably just to sensitive?!  Laugh away.

I've done that before Cookie when I had a ton of extra's coming and it was wonderful and a real lifesaver.  Too actually slow down and enjoy company was a nice treat.  Enjoy it!

thank you doll...and the same to you and your family! I am actually all set..went to the grocery today to get the incidentals to avoid the rush tomorrow..it was busy enough early this morning!

 ::MonkeyHaHa:: ::MonkeyHaHa::   You're not just too sensitive -   I know exactly where you're coming from as far as the in-laws are concerned!    This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful my in-laws are located on the opposite coast of the U.S.     ::MonkeyRoll:: ::MonkeyTongue::

I've done this before and its worked out very well.     ::MonkeyAngel::
More time to watch football!    ::MonkeyFootball::

Hubs and I have eaten one meal in my MIL's home in all the years that we have been together...
she on the other hand has had many meals at our home and has yet to ever bring one thing, ask what I needed or if I needed any help with anything....never lifts a finger to clean up and always arrives empty handed..... ::MonkeyNoNo::  AND she is the first one to fill her plate up! tsk tsk...gotta love those MILs! and I am one myself !  ::CowboySmiley::