What are your Thanksgiving plans?

So, what are people planning to do this Thanksgiving?

I was planning on going to my brother's out in Ohio. It would be small gathering - 5-6 people at most.

But not I'm not so sure, with the way the pandemic is kind of raging. My brother and I are both high risk individuals.

Any thoughts? What will you be doing this year?


Most likely self isolating due to COVID concerns.  Likely catch up on reading, watch some TV, etc.  Hopefully, phone calls with family. 

Update:  Virtual Thanksgiving with family.  We will see how computer semi-literate family member handles this one.  


I've been giving thanks since Friday.


Conversing with kids now about this very subject. It looks pretty bleak. 


Considering the good news from Pfizer I have no issue not seeing extended family this Thanksgiving or Christmas.   There is always next year 


Spouse, who is otherwise pretty conservative about covid (we're both ancient, and he also has lung problems) has invited son and his girlfriend from Philadelphia and bought airline tix for them (direct flight from Phila to Milwaukee, no layover, no O'Hare).  Son has been working from home throughout, and gf works in pharma manufacturing, hence always a clean environment and now doubly so.  I think they've been pretty cautious about other contacts, though not fully isolated.  I am a little ?? about this, and will advise son to use his judgment.  I guess we'll find out.


Did you see the Ledger piece awhile back about families who did a full Thanksgiving weeks ago, outdoors and distanced, but still turkey and stuffing and pie? Kind of brilliant to take advantage of the weather in that way. 


Wow, that was smart!  


Going to drown myself in turkey gravy... But really, I am having my sister and nephew over for dinner. We have been a pod in caring for my sister. I am at her apartment almost every day, so I don't see any additional risk. Four for a whole turkey, and my nephew is vegetarian. Oh well... there's always soup, gallons and gallons of turkey soup.


marylago said:

Four for a whole turkey, and my nephew is vegetarian. Oh well... there's always soup, gallons and gallons of turkey soup.

I've been getting turkey parts from Ashley for the past few years instead of a whole turkey. Cooks faster, takes up less room in the oven, and everyone who wants a leg can have one... 


Well, we've decided to play it safe. No trip to Ohio this year.  LOL


Staying home and celebrating with family that live with me.  But I am going to prepare

a Thanksgiving dinner for my former brother in law and my niece and nephew and take that to them on Thanksgiving eve.


6 people all immediate family this has been the bubble since the start . 


We'd normally be away visiting family west coast. No desire to cook or even take in turkey like food. Parkwood open until 2 for take out. Any other suggestions for non-turkey takeout? As I said no desire to cook except for maybe lobster depending on price at Shoprite. lol


Updating 11/9 post:  Cancelled travel plans a couple of days ago.  This was definitely the smart thing to do, and luckily new Pennsylvania rules more or less forced it:  they now require a negative test within the past 72 hours for anyone entering the state, or else 14 days' quarantine.  For son and gf's Sunday a.m. flight to PA, it would be virtually impossible to get a test tomorrow/Fri/Sat AND get the results by Sun, and gf has to be at work on Mon. 

Local friend here in Wis has also decided to stay home, but will accept leftovers : ).

So it's just 3 of us and 14# of turkey.  Fortunately, i love the foods and don't mind the cooking (remind me of that tomorrow), so...

Happy, safe holiday to everyone!


It’s 3 of us and 14# of turkey also. Haven’t done this in many years as we have visited friends in previous years. Any ideas for simply cooking a fresh turkey?



Someone just sent me this:


"Any ideas for simply cooking a fresh turkey?"

I just do it the ancient way:  take out the package of giblets, wash the bird, stuff with something yummy (or if not stuffing, put some aromatics in the cavity), rub the skin with oil/herbs/pepper/lemon, insert meat thermometer (hopefully in the right place), and bake breast-up (start at 425 and turn down to 325) till it's ready to eat.  If the thermometer is a bust, look for juices to run clear when pierced and leg to move easily.  If breast skin starts to get too dark, tent with foil.  Enjoy!

Sooo many ways to make mistakes that are funny later, but generally a happy day unless the cook starts yelling.


I decided to cook a pork shoulder picnic roast. I've never cooked one before and I'm now wracked with indecision after reading a bunch pf recipes and watching a bunch of videos.

Can someone help?  LOL


Staying home

Me, better half and daughter #1( lives in queens and has been quarantined voluntarily)

Vegetarian menu


Dinner for two:

  • Appetizer:  
  •    Brie covered with cranberries
  • Main course:
  •    2 lbs of turkey tenders, to be served Wellington (covered with mushroom duxelle, and wrapped in puff pastry).
  •    Green beans almandine
  •    Sweet potato caserole (with butter, brown sugar, crushed pineapple & brandy)

That's all folks.


Will be the 7 in our pod. 

Menu (because we all have different favorite side dishes):

  • Chicken (instead of turkey)
  • Raspberry sauce
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Lemon green beans
  • Carrot souffle
  • Mashed Turnips
  • Yams
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Nutmeg stuffing balls
  • Chestnut stuffing (from Ashley)
  • Turkey giblet gravy (from Ashley)
  • mac & cheese for the kids.

ETA: And the Midnight Jack Mead from the local Meadery.

Apple & Pumpkin pie for dessert.


Wife Liz stuck in Africa by travel restrictions (and of course they don't do Thanksgiving there). Son Glenn, girlfriend Patricia and granddaughter Blake coming chez moi for dinner. They were living here for most of the first lockdown, and I necessarily spend a lot of time with them to help with Blakeminding since they both have jobs. So no new risks. It looks like we're cooking enough for about 30, with food traditions from US, UK, and Haiti. Turkey with British stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, proper gravy (which is brown), curry puffs, beet and potato salad, lasagne (not sure how that crept in), some other veg, apple and blackberry crumble with custard, pumpkin pie,  and home-made bread. Possibly other stuff too. Phew!


Just had a walk around the neighborhood.  Maplewood smells DELICIOUS right now.  Thank you all and Happy Thanksgiving!


My wife and I just had a two-hour zoom conversation with our three grown kids and two grandkids.   Grown kids are a very different generation and they talked about lots of computer games with our grandchildren.  But I could see that they really did love each other and communicated well.  We are blessed.  

In a roll reversal, our kids told my wife  and I to be careful of Covid.   We were used to always telling them to be careful.  


Thanksgiving Dinner Menu 2020, for 2:

Chicken Tarragon

Rice Pilaf

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Carrots

Biscuits

Sugar-Free Apple Pie from The Ritz Diner

Tea

Jeopardy!

Peace & Quiet...

Happy Thanksgiving, SOMa!

-s.

BTW:


drummerboy said:

I decided to cook a pork shoulder picnic roast. I've never cooked one before and I'm now wracked with indecision after reading a bunch pf recipes and watching a bunch of videos.

Can someone help? 
LOL

 This is delicious. Be sure to read in the comments about skimming off the scum before adding the other ingredients. I was too lazy to peel off the zest and just dumped half an orange in the pot. I had too much liquid and never got the crispy texture, but we loved the flavor.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012463-tacos-de-carnitas?action=click&module=Local%20Search%20Recipe%20Card&pgType=search&rank=1


kthnry said:

drummerboy said:

I decided to cook a pork shoulder picnic roast. I've never cooked one before and I'm now wracked with indecision after reading a bunch pf recipes and watching a bunch of videos.

Can someone help? 
LOL

 This is delicious. Be sure to read in the comments about skimming off the scum before adding the other ingredients. I was too lazy to peel off the zest and just dumped half an orange in the pot. I had too much liquid and never got the crispy texture, but we loved the flavor.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012463-tacos-de-carnitas?action=click&module=Local%20Search%20Recipe%20Card&pgType=search&rank=1

 Thanks. I can try this for the other half of the roast.


Our plate was delicious I



For the first time in too long to remember my husband was off for Thanksgiving.  It was just the five of us.  My MIL asked us a couple of times to come out, but I refused.   Sitting outside on the deck is one thing, but eating a full meal I knew it would be indoors and even just two households I didn’t feel comfortable with the risk.

Looking at my FB newsfeed though, I’m sadly disappointed in the numbers of people who decided to gather and/or travel in apparent denial of what is happening.  And one of these people is a medical professional who should know better.


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