Pellet Fan

All Things Considered => General Discussion--Food Related => Topic started by: Kristin Meredith on November 19, 2019, 02:16:07 PM

Title: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Kristin Meredith on November 19, 2019, 02:16:07 PM
I am the Queen of the traditional Thanksgiving menu -- turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, cranberries, etc.  But I got to thinking about what would be more unique or different or creative for Thanksgiving?

I could not come up with much -- mine would be a take on a Hot Brown.  Keep the turkey, but using dressing instead of bread.  Keep the mornay sauce and the bacon, but substitue cranberries for the tomatoes -- or maybe a wedge of sweet potato. But that is still pretty Thanksgiving like.  Anyone with other ideas?
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: jgrayson on November 19, 2019, 04:03:29 PM
Hello,

My father doesn't eat poultry.  He says birds are descended from dinosaurs, and in his opinion dinosaurs don't taste good.  He might be right about birds being descendants of dinosaurs.  With this in mind, we frequently had seafood for Thanksgiving dinner - lobsters and crab cakes.  Sides are usually traditional Thanksgiving;  mashed potatoes, sometimes sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, etc.
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Kristin Meredith on November 19, 2019, 04:07:50 PM
Lobster and crab cakes for Thanksgiving sounds outstanding!!!  That may make the list for next year.
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Bentley on November 19, 2019, 04:11:42 PM
Substitute diver scallops for the lobster and I am all in!
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: yorkdude on November 19, 2019, 05:03:36 PM
Growing up in California my folks always had Dungeness crab, prime rib and fettucini.
I have priced the crab lately...boy howdy it sure is off the charts expensive now.
I would have never guessed the price.
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Hank D Thoreau on November 19, 2019, 05:44:31 PM
We often do items we have to assemble as a group, especially for Christmas, but this approach can easily be done for Thanksgiving.

Tamales are a classic. You can smoke the pork butt and have a group assembly. This is a holiday tradition in the Mexican community.

Jiaozi, a Chinese dumpling, is another thing we have done.

Wood fired pizza also works. I have four wooden pizza peels for assembling pizzas, and a metal peel for cooking. I cook them on my Daniel Boone.

This approach brings everyone together at the table. It often generates a bit of humor as folks struggle to develop the necessary skills.

Getting folks involved is a good ice breaker. It keeps you from separating into kitchen and non kitchen folks.
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: cookingjnj on November 19, 2019, 05:53:42 PM
Substitute diver scallops for the lobster and I am all in!

+1
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Jimsbarbecue on November 19, 2019, 10:31:01 PM
The last couple years have done a prime rib roast. Smoke for 60 to 90 minutes then sous vide to finish cooking. Thanks giving and Christmas is at one of our adopted family homes. This is why the sous vide works so well.  It gives a big allowance in time depending on the rest of the meal. We have done smoked salmon and king crab legs. Years ago my nephew decided we didn’t need to eat dry turkey
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: glitchy on November 19, 2019, 11:10:15 PM
Ours are usually turkey or prime rib, with green bean casserole and hash brown casserole so not a lot of help. Wish the girls ate seafood as crab legs would be nice.
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Hank D Thoreau on November 20, 2019, 01:51:03 AM
Green bean casserole. Where is the mid-west are you from?
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Kristin Meredith on November 20, 2019, 07:46:04 AM
Green bean casserole. Where is the mid-west are you from?

I spent 50 yesr in California, the final 30 in SoCal, and I make a mean green bean casserole.  Don't be so provincial in your cooking Hank! :pig:
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: urnmor on November 20, 2019, 08:25:34 AM
My lovely wife, Claire, is from Baltimore and it is traditional to have sauerkraut on Thanksgiving..  First time I had dinner at Thanksgiving t her parents house they’ had it.  All I will say it killed the meal for me as the beautiful smell of turkey died an inglorious death to the smell os the sauerkraut .  Needless to say not at our house.   :cool:
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: glitchy on November 20, 2019, 09:00:28 AM
Green bean casserole. Where is the mid-west are you from?

Iowa
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: ZCZ on November 20, 2019, 12:00:23 PM
Green bean casserole. Where is the mid-west are you from?

Iowa

MN - a staple here as well.

Z
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Bentley on November 20, 2019, 12:03:20 PM
I never considered green bean casserole a regional dish either...I always just assumed a marketing ploy of Campbell's soup.
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: yorkdude on November 20, 2019, 12:05:14 PM
It is a big item here in Kansas, I don't like it but I am by far in the minority.
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: egmont on November 20, 2019, 10:21:49 PM
It’s not a true Thanksgiving meal without it...
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Hank D Thoreau on November 22, 2019, 10:54:37 AM
Green bean casserole. Where is the mid-west are you from?

I spent 50 yesr in California, the final 30 in SoCal, and I make a mean green bean casserole.  Don't be so provincial in your cooking Hank! :pig:

Yesterday I was perusing the internet and found an article on the most searched savory Thanksgiving recipe by state. Idaho, Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico were green bean casserole. More interesting was the split between pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie on the desert map with sweet potato pie being big in Georgia, South Carolina and North Caroline, and pumpkin pie dominating the west, mid west and Rocky Mountain states. I think what folks are missing is butternut squash pie. My mother used to make it from squashes she grew in her garden. So what does this all mean? It means that every time you do a search it is getting recorded, analyzed and acted upon in ways we can only begin to understand.
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Kristin Meredith on November 22, 2019, 01:31:53 PM
I always had green bean casserole growing up, so as an adult I continued the tradition.
I was never a big fan of it until I made it from a scratch recipe I found on line.
Fresh green beans, a variety of fresh mushrooms, freshly fried shallots instead of the canned onions, crispy fresh bacon bits, and a rich roux.
Now, that was a casserole.

Sounds like how I make mine.  You can always take a classic and give it a good updating!!! (I use sauted pearl onions instead of shallots, but shallots sound good.)
Title: Re: Different/Unique/Creative Thanksgiving Menu
Post by: Clonesmoker on November 22, 2019, 02:21:24 PM
We always have to have that 3 layer jello salad. Green jello followed by a layer of filling that has pineapple in it and then a layer of red jello on top.